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Home Care In Ladora, IA

Home Care Ladora, IA

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Harold "Pie" Keller Memorial gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Ladora, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Ladora, IA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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Elderly Care for James T.
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“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care”

Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!
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In-home Care for Michael H.
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“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all”

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.
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Senior Care for Melanie S.
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“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable”

Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!”

James T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.”

Michael H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!”

Melanie S.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Ladora, IA?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Ladora, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Ladora, IA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care Ladora, IA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers Ladora, IA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lake Iowa Park (Iowa County Conservation) with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
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Home Care Ladora, IA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Linden House or visit Old Arnold House Historical Marker, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

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In-Home Care Ladora, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Ladora, IA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Ladora, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care Ladora, IA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your IA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Ladora, IA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Ladora, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care Ladora, IA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Ladora, IA

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Sunrise Assisted Living Suites
  • The Cedars Assisted Living
  • Windsor Manor Assisted Living Community
  • Rose Haven Nursing Home
  • Panora Assisted Living
  • The Lakeside Village
Home Care Ladora, IA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care Ladora, IA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Ladora, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Elderly Care Ladora, IA

Latest News in Ladora, IA

Ladora Bank To Reopen As Caucus Bistro

A new restaurant will help keep a historic building open in one Iowa small town, after a well-loved bistro closed down earlier this year.Diners would travel from miles and even states away to eat at the Ladora Bank Bistro, a white-table cloth joint tucked into a nearly one hundred year old building. With the original marble, chandeliers and teller cage still in place, t...

A new restaurant will help keep a historic building open in one Iowa small town, after a well-loved bistro closed down earlier this year.

Diners would travel from miles and even states away to eat at the Ladora Bank Bistro, a white-table cloth joint tucked into a nearly one hundred year old building. With the original marble, chandeliers and teller cage still in place, the bistro developed a reputation as a romantic destination known for its spread of cheese boards, local sausuges and bacon-wrapped scallops.

When the chef and business owner closed down the restuarant this February, it wasn't clear what was next for the building.

But now a new restaurant is opening up, called Caucus Bistro, led by the building's owner Dimitri Makedonsky. He first came upon the building while riding through town on a motorcycle in 2004 and spent years renovating it.

He says he's thought on and off for years about opening a restaurant that revolves around the state's signature political event. Now he's decided the historic bank in the small community of about 270 people is the place to do it.

“Iowa plays that big, that major role and why not celebrate it? And long after the caucuses are over this year and 2020, in January when they all go away and head off to New Hampshire, Caucus Bistro still has a story to tell about Iowa and our political heritage,” he said.

Makedonsky is redecorating the place with caucus memorabilia and campaign photos, like one of then-candidate Jimmy Carter at the Iowa State Fair.

“And if you look at the crowd, I’m sure there’s going to be people coming into the Bistro saying ‘oh my gosh, there I am, or there’s my uncle, or there’s my mom holding me as a baby 45 or 50 years ago'," he said. "So I’m looking forward to getting people’s reactions when they come in.”

Makedonsky and chef Scott Sukovich are fine-tuning a menu that will celebrate Iowa's first in the nation status, featuring plates like the Incumbent, the Dark Horse and Lame Duck.

While some may see a night out as a break from the political news cycle, Makedonsky says the Caucuses, and people who obsess over them, deserve to have a place of their own.

"As far as I'm concerned Iowa is famous for two things: Dan Gable and the Iowa Caucuses. And I just feel that...Dan Gable has his museum, we don't really have anything to celebrate the Caucuses," Makedonsky said. "The bistro would be a perfect setting."

And between his politics and those of Chef Sukovich, Makedonsky says they're already building some bipartisan concensus. They plan to open Caucus Bistro in May.

This one-of-a-kind eatery was named best small town restaurant in Iowa

It's unusual to find a restaurant in a small town that serves crispy potstickers filled with shredded duck, cabbage and Asian seasonings served with sweet soy dipping sauce and ginger-orange hoisin sauce — or one that's located in a historic bank building with Greek revival architecture.But this tiny Iowa town has a tasty spot that's been nationally recognized for doing both.Interested in Iowa food news? Follow ...

It's unusual to find a restaurant in a small town that serves crispy potstickers filled with shredded duck, cabbage and Asian seasonings served with sweet soy dipping sauce and ginger-orange hoisin sauce — or one that's located in a historic bank building with Greek revival architecture.

But this tiny Iowa town has a tasty spot that's been nationally recognized for doing both.

Interested in Iowa food news? Follow @BriinDSM on Twitter and @briindsm on Instagram.

Thrillist, an online food and travel magazine just named The Ladora Bank Bistro in Ladora the "best small town restaurant in Iowa." Thrillist chose the restaurant for representing the best of small towns across the country, including "historic farmhouses to roadside diners, BBQ pits, and seaside shacks."

Located in the former Ladora Savings Bank building in a town of 281 people, about 85 miles east of Des Moines, this quirky little eatery is worth taking a road trip to sample tasty morsels like Boursin-stuffed sweet Medjool dates wrapped in Dayton Meat's peppered bacon and drizzled with pepper jelly.

The menu is full of small plate items meant to be shared communally among the table including cheese and charcuterie plates, bulgogi beef bao (steamed buns), red snapper tacos and fennel and onion Italian sausage en croûte (puff pastry) with a sweet chili sauce and stone ground mustard.

Be sure to save room for the Bonbon — a cake-like confectionery center with a chocolate outer shell. Flavors of the dessert change daily.

A full list of beer and wine is available to pair with the various creative dishes.

It's easy to envision bank customers interacting with the tellers behind the lovingly maintained bars and marble of the kiosks with views of vaults beyond.

According to its website, the building, adorned with two massive Doric columns, was originally built to be a bank in 1920, but it closed in 1931 during the Great Depression.

Since then, it's "served as a meeting place for local civic organizations, a 'flop house' for truckers, a polling station, a civil defense shelter, a Red Cross office during World War II, an antique store, an attorney's office, and a drapery business."

More:The essential pizza restaurants of Des Moines

In 2004, Dimitri Makedonsky discovered the building while traveling through Ladora on a motorcycle ride and embarked on a four-year renovation project. Chef Jim Vido joined the bistro in January of 2014. Jim and his wife, Holly, took over the business in May of 2014.

On August 3, 1990, The Ladora Savings Bank was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Follow the Des Moines Register on Facebook | Download the Des Moines Register app

The Ladora Bank Bistro

Location: 811 Pacific St., Ladora

Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.

Contact: (319) 623-7766; ladorabank.com; Facebook

Mohr family honored with Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

Fourth generation Iowa County farm family recognized for contributions to communityIowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Mohr family of Marengo Friday, June 2, at the Mohr family farm near Marengo.This fourth-generation family farm is owned and operated by Alan and Sara Mohr with help from their children, Tyson, 16, and Easton, 12. In addition, the family recognizes Alan’s parents Barry and Marna Mohr, Sara’s brother Steven Warnick, farm employee Brett Pope, Sar...

Fourth generation Iowa County farm family recognized for contributions to community

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Mohr family of Marengo Friday, June 2, at the Mohr family farm near Marengo.

This fourth-generation family farm is owned and operated by Alan and Sara Mohr with help from their children, Tyson, 16, and Easton, 12. In addition, the family recognizes Alan’s parents Barry and Marna Mohr, Sara’s brother Steven Warnick, farm employee Brett Pope, Sara’s father Dennis Shine, and many other neighbors, friends and family who have played an integral role in the farming operation.

The farm began when Alan’s grandfather, the late Ronald Mohr, took over the farm at the age of 12 with his mother after his father’s untimely passing. Alan's family bought the current homestead in 1944, but the family has been farming since 1891. They began feeding cattle in 1947 and built a new cattle barn in 2018, which was when Cornfed Farms, LLC was incorporated.

“For four generations, the Mohr family has led by example in being good stewards of their land and livestock. Their commitment to service extends beyond their own community, as they have positively impacted families all around the country,” said Secretary Naig. “The Mohrs embody the true character of Iowa agriculture, and I am pleased to present them with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

The Mohr family grows corn and soybeans, runs a small cow-calf herd and maintains a 1,000-head cattle feedlot. Animal care is the top priority for the Mohrs, and the family has demonstrated this by ensuring that they are Beef Quality Assurance certified. They use a wide array of technologies to ensure their cattle are getting the best care possible. They utilize Performance Livestock Analytics, which provides up-to-the-minute precision on feed rations and rate of gain. They track water consumption by pen and maintain detailed health records.

The Mohrs also incorporate conservation practices into their operation by implementing grass waterways, utilizing no-till planting, and seeding cropland with cereal rye cover crops. They have been planting cover crops since 2010 and were one of the first producers in their area to incorporate them. Their operation also includes custom cover-crop application.

In addition to running their operation, the Mohrs are very involved in their community. Alan is a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Iowa County Farm Bureau and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. He also serves as a board member of the Iowa County Cattlemen Association. Sara serves as the Trailblazers 4-H Club leader, as a township trustee, and as an Iowa County Farm Bureau board member. She works for Grant Wood AEA and is involved with the Iowa County Agriculture in the Classroom and committees within their school district.

The Mohrs coordinated and transported 26 loads of supplies for relief efforts during the Kansas wildfires in 2017, which included thousands of tons of hay and fencing supplies. They also assisted with derecho cleanup efforts in Benton County in 2020. They are sponsors of the Iowa County Farm Bureau Food Drive and Ladora Community Development and host the Iowa County Annual Youth and Open Class Quality Beef Show. The Mohr family belongs to St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Williamsburg.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is made possible through a partnership with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) and The Big Show on WHO Radio. This award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment and their livestock and have demonstrated a commitment to their community. The award is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a longtime WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

Presidential plates: Caucus Bistro opens in former Ladora Bank Bistro

LADORA — When the Ladora Savings Bank opened in 1920, its builders inscribed maxims along the ceiling of the vaulted main room. Written above the tall windows are slogans such as 'Integrity is the companion of success,' and 'Diligence is the mother of virtue.'Almost 100 years later, 'Maybe some politicians could take those to heart,' the building's current owner, Dimitri Makedonsky, said with a laugh.He thinks the slogans are apropos to the theme of the new restaurant he has opened in the space. The Caucus Bistro, complet...

LADORA — When the Ladora Savings Bank opened in 1920, its builders inscribed maxims along the ceiling of the vaulted main room. Written above the tall windows are slogans such as 'Integrity is the companion of success,' and 'Diligence is the mother of virtue.'

Almost 100 years later, 'Maybe some politicians could take those to heart,' the building's current owner, Dimitri Makedonsky, said with a laugh.

He thinks the slogans are apropos to the theme of the new restaurant he has opened in the space. The Caucus Bistro, complete with campaign memorabilia from numerous politicians and historic photos of presidential hopefuls visiting Iowa on the walls, opened Wednesday, replacing the Ladora Bank Bistro.

Makedonsky said he knows passions around politics can run high. His goal, however, is not to provoke — he wants the space to have a nonpartisan feel.

'We live in a really volatile time in this country, and I don't want to get into political discussions. I want to celebrate,' he said. 'Every four years, Iowa is truly on a world stage. Why not celebrate that?'

Political history is mixed with Ladora history in the building. The bank closed during the Great Depression and housed several other businesses before sitting empty for years. Makedonsky saw it while riding his motorcycle along Highway 6 between Grinnell and Iowa City one day. Even with the building overgrown with weeds outside and in disrepair inside, he fell in love.

'I thought, 'Wow, this is amazing,'' he recalled. 'This is just locked in time.'

He bought the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and spent several years renovating it, doing everything from replacing the plumbing and HVAC systems to installing a new ceiling. During the process he was able to maintain many of the building's original elements, such as ornate light globes hanging from the vaulted ceiling and marble bank teller counters.

When it first opened, the bank was one of the first buildings in the area with indoor plumbing and offered a 'Lady's Parlor' complete with a separate entrance meant to offer women in the community discrete access to the indoor toilet. Now, that parlor is a seating area. The bank's vault houses the wine storage room, while the former safety deposit box room, with the deposit drawers still lining the wall, holds the modest kitchen.

Makedonsky's original thought was he would live in the building, but a friend in the wine industry convinced him the space would be a good place for a restaurant and wine bar. He agreed, and in 2008, the Ladora Bank Bistro opened.

When the bistro's chef and Makedonsky's business partner Jim Vido decided to leave, Makedonsky, who splits his time between Ladora and Des Moines, decided it was time to reinvent the space. The Ladora Bank Bistro closed March 1.

Makedonsky recruited Scott Sukovich, previously the chef at another restaurant in a former bank, Popoli in Cedar Rapids, to be the Caucus Bistro's executive chef.

The kitchen is small, which limits the possibilities for the menu and led the duo to focus on a 'share plate' concept. Along with appetizer plates like stromboli, stuffed dates and baked Brie, the bistro offers naan flat breads. Menu items have politically-themed names like the Incumbent — flat bread with figs, goat cheese, prosciutto and fresh spinach — or the Lame Duck — flat bread with duck rillette, caramelized onion, olive oil, spinach and balsamic reduction. The eatery also serves wine and beer, along with mead cocktails.

'You can always get a tenderloin and fries,' Makedonsky said. 'If people are going to drive the long distance to get here, you want to give them something different.'

He recommends guests coming from out of town call ahead and make a reservation before driving to Ladora, which has a population of around 270 people.

'It is a destination spot. This bistro really has served that purpose over the years,' he said.

Once at the bistro, he hopes they sit back and take their time enjoying the historic ambience, along with the food. Whether they talk about politics or not is up to them.

'A caucus is a meeting of like minds. An older definition is a chalice that holds wine,' he said. 'The idea is really for people to just relax and engage.'

• Comments: (319) 398-8339; [email protected]

If you go

l What: Caucus Bistro

l Where: 811 Pacific St., Ladora

l Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

l Details: (319) 623-7766, caucusbistro.com

Here are 6 haunted attractions in eastern Iowa to get spooked at this Halloween season

However you celebrate the spooky season — "Hocus Pocus" viewings, munching on candy corn or carving pumpkins — there’s one thing that’s certain to give you a fright.Haunted attractions.Whether it's a haunted house or a creepy maze, those seeking a bit of a thrill this Halloween season can rest assured they have a few options this year.Here are six haunted attractions in eastern Iowa where you can test your courage.Eclypse Haunted Attraction, 171 Highway 1 W., Iowa ...

However you celebrate the spooky season — "Hocus Pocus" viewings, munching on candy corn or carving pumpkins — there’s one thing that’s certain to give you a fright.

Haunted attractions.

Whether it's a haunted house or a creepy maze, those seeking a bit of a thrill this Halloween season can rest assured they have a few options this year.

Here are six haunted attractions in eastern Iowa where you can test your courage.

Eclypse Haunted Attraction, 171 Highway 1 W., Iowa City

Bring a change of bottoms if you dare visit Eclypse Haunted House, or at least that’s what the haunted attraction recommends to its visitors.

The Eclypse Haunted House boasts of pure evil that visitors will have to navigate through, including two “lights out” evenings where guests will be armed with only a flashlight.

The Iowa City attraction opens Friday. Dates are as follows:

Times depend on the date, but are generally from 6:30-10 p.m. Visit Eclypse's website for more information or to purchase tickets. General admission is $25.

The 5th Realm, 4444 First Ave. N.E. Suite 0001, Cedar Rapids

The good people of Cedar Rapids must deal with a portal opening in the Lindale Mall that transports visitors to a sanitorium with a dark history.

The “theatrical, interactive” haunt is a 6,000-square-foot maze, all indoors, that takes roughly 15-20 minutes to navigate, according to its website.

The 5th Realm opens this Friday at 7 p.m. through 10:30 p.m.. Dates are as follows:

Visit the 5th Realm’s website for more information or to purchase tickets. General admission is $20.

Marengo Haunted Barn, 1694 U.S. Highway 6 Trail, Ladora

Get ready for some good scares at the haunted barn, and perhaps catch a classic Halloween film as you wait in line.

The haunted attraction opened at the end of September and screened “Jaws” and “Night of the Living Dead” for attendees, according to its Facebook page.

The haunted barn is open Fridays and Saturdays through October from 7-11:30 p.m.

Prices are $12 per person, cash only. If you bring a non-perishable food item, you’ll receive $2 off.

Visit the haunted barn's Facebook page for more information.

Scream Acres, 3260 69th St., Atkins

How will you spend your time at Scream Acres?

The answer is in the name.

The returning haunted attraction in Atkins boasts four creep-tastic attractions from zombies and a nightmarish carnival to a haunted cornfield.

Expect crowds as Scream Acres’ website recommends people come earlier in the season or early in the evening for reduced wait times to attractions.

Scream Acres’ hours are 6:30-10 p.m. Dates are as follows:

Visit Scream Acres' website for more information or to purchase tickets. Prices are $36.95 online and $43.95 at the gate.

If getting terrorized doesn't appeal to you, Scream Acres sits on Bloomsbury Farm, which hosts a pumpkin patch and a variety of activities for some calmer, seasonal fun.

More: 8 pumpkin patches in eastern Iowa to visit this fall, complete with corn mazes, pony rides

Circle of Ash, 201 Central City Road, Central City

This returning haunt has a forest brimming with monsters, a funhouse maze overrun by clowns and a classic haunted house.

Circle of Ash is open Fridays and Saturdays through the end of October from 8 p.m. to midnight.

General admission is $25, but Circle of Ash offers fast passes and VIP tickets for those looking to get ahead of the lines.

Visit the haunted attraction's website for more information or to purchase tickets.

Thrashers House of Terror, 405 E. Thresher Road, Mount Pleasant

Thrashers House of Terror is a 12,000-square-foot haunted attraction that opened in 2007, bringing mad doctors and clowns to visitors who find the courage to stop by.

Thrashers House of Terror is open every Thursday through Saturday until the end of October.

Times are:

Visit Thrashers House of Terror's website for more information or to purchase tickets. General admission is $10.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at [email protected] or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

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