It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
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.
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 Linden, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 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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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.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
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.
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.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home 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:
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:
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.
Common companionship services include:
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. 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.
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:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
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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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.
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 Linden, 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.
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:
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 Linden, 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
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 Linden, 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.
Last month, I wrote about a unique 100-foot cottonwood tree growing in the middle of the road near Brayton, Ia.Well, this four-legged archway tree in Cedar Falls is giving it a run for its money as the coolest Iowa tree ever.A Faceboo...
Last month, I wrote about a unique 100-foot cottonwood tree growing in the middle of the road near Brayton, Ia.
Well, this four-legged archway tree in Cedar Falls is giving it a run for its money as the coolest Iowa tree ever.
A Facebook post last week by Vintage History — a page dedicated to showcasing "old or unique items" among other things across the country — went viral, garnering almost 3,000 shares and 100 comments. The page had also posted a photo of the tree in August 2016, which went even more viral, if that's considered a thing: 27,500 shares and 500-plus comments.
Tim Olsen, who owns the home where the tree is located on the 1800 block of Tremont Street in Cedar Falls, provided a historical rundown of the tree's life in that August post.
A German immigrant named John Henning tied and slightly spliced four Linden saplings in 1915, five years before Olsen's house was built, he wrote. It then formed an archway as the trunks entwined. Attempts of presenting the tree at the world's fair in Chicago were made in 1933 because nobody at the time had seen anything like this before, but second thoughts came about, the process halted and the tree remained at its current location.
In a story published by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier in July 2014, the tree "has been significantly diminished since a 2009 storm stripped nearly 60 percent of its upper foliage." Olsen wrote that the storms split the top of the tree in half, with one half leaning over the street. He decided to cut down that half for the safety of cars, houses and people in the area.
"We left the base up to where it wasn't rotted out so they are still tied together in the hopes that that the one living would intact, maybe reproduce and make it look like a tree again," Olsen wrote.
Longtime former Mayor Jon Crews grew up in the house of the tree, the Courier's story said. He had said that he didn't think much of it at the time, but often built forts out of the tree's trunks.
“I know there were people who would occasionally stop by to ask my parents about it,” Crews said. "When I tell people where I grew up, they always know where I'm talking about."
Aaron Young is a reporter at The Des Moines Register, focusing on what Iowans are talking about on the internet and on social media. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 515-284-8213. Twitter: @AaYoung15. Facebook: Facebook.com/AaronYoung28.
A recent report was released by the Iowa Auditor’s Office pertaining to a community in Dallas County about some unusual financial issues.Iowa Auditor Rob Sand opened a special investigation into the City of Linden from the time period of December 7th, 2020 to February 28th, 2023 after city officials requested that he review transactions made by former City Clerk, Mandi Hutchins. According to Sand’s findings, he discovered that there were approximately $10,670 of undeposited utility billings, about $3,400 of improper disbur...
A recent report was released by the Iowa Auditor’s Office pertaining to a community in Dallas County about some unusual financial issues.
Iowa Auditor Rob Sand opened a special investigation into the City of Linden from the time period of December 7th, 2020 to February 28th, 2023 after city officials requested that he review transactions made by former City Clerk, Mandi Hutchins. According to Sand’s findings, he discovered that there were approximately $10,670 of undeposited utility billings, about $3,400 of improper disbursements, and $3,500 of unsupported disbursements.
Sand tells Raccoon Valley Radio that in order to do a special audit, his office must receive a request from an elected official, an employee, or a petition that has an undisclosed number of signatures, and that determining factors normally relate to fraud. One of Sand’s recommendations to help prevent problems that one person handling all of those financial transactions is to segregate those duties. Sand brings up that he recently spoke with the Superintendent of the Hartwick-Ladora-Victor School District, who created a “segregation of duties” team to put multiple eyes on different areas. He reveals the benefits this could have on a smaller community like Linden.
“Segregation of duties is the idea that you don’t want one person to have the keys to the kingdom. If you do, you’re in trouble, and it just gives them a much bigger opportunity to steal money or to mispend it because no one else is looking. Certainly, Linden could do this in part with Dallas County and part with another neighboring city, and if you take a person from each of those entities and ask them to do one part of it, you can build that segregation of duties team across a couple of different local governments that can help you make sure that you’ve got proper oversight in checks and balances.”
Sand describes that his office was notified by city officials that Linden hadn’t sent out utility bills in November and December of 2022. He notes that Hutchins resigned from her position and then when the new city clerk was hired, city officials learned that bills were not shared with the city council, as well as payroll concerns on the City of Linden’s credit card. Sand encourages Iowa communities to implement procedures to ensure the city’s internal controls are strengthened.
The Board first entered into a closed session to speak with County Attorney Dana Minteer on the Survey Permit Ordinance that was approved at a previous meeting, and after returning to open session, they reaffirmed to uphold the ordinance beginning April 17th. They then held a public hearing on the 2025-26 budget in which County Auditor Dani Fink shared that based on the county’s budget history, they are looking forward to the coming years.
“So speaking specific to general basics, our fund balances in those funds have been healthy. Like, ending fund balances have been healthy over the last several years. And a lot of it is just more increased in revenue and services. Local option sales tax, in rural services, has really helped in that side as far as that revenue coming in. But, you know, it’s just been healthy over the last several years. So our actuals have seen that trend and we’re hoping to continue to see that trend.”
Then following the hearing, the Board adopted to appropriate the taxes for fiscal year 2025-26, along with the annual salary for the same fiscal year, and approved appropriating 50 percent of each department’s budget for the beginning of the new fiscal year. They also briefly discussed the vicious animal ordinance, and are having it looked over by Minteer once again, and tabled a decision on renewing health insurance to the next regular meeting, as there was no information to review at the time.
Two Greene County road replacement projects are happening soon.
County Engineer Wade Weiss says road closures are now in place for the first project to overhaul County Road P-46 from County Road E-18 south to County Road E-26. He notes the other road replacement project is on County Road E-18 from Iowa Highway 144 to the Boone County line, and the road closures will be established late April or early May. Weiss points out that these eight miles will have a thicker road surface with the existing concrete crushed to serve as the sub-base.
The Greene County Board of Supervisors approved the contractor at their March 10th meeting to Cedar Valley Corporation for $10,348,713 that will be paid for upfront with a bond not to exceed $11.5 million and reimbursed with tax increment financing (TIF) funds from the Urban Renewal Plan. Weiss shares his thoughts on going through the process of utilizing TIF funds for projects like the two road replacements that are scheduled to be done this year.
“Well, it is nice. However, as a taxpayer I’m a little reluctant to give it all the kudos, mostly because we have to incur debt before we can start the project, and that’s just counterintuitive that what I normally do. I like to save money up, do the project, (and) not have debt. But the only way to use this money is to incur debt, which we’re going to be paying interest on money which takes up some of the valuable money we could be spending on the roads. So, we’re still happy that we’re able to get it completed. I think it’s been a real problem area over there. We’re going to get things looking better here shortly.”
The TIF funds were established after several wind turbines were installed in the northeastern portion of the county by MidAmerican Energy.
Area residents are invited to visit the recently renovated Linden Public Library during National Library Week, celebrated this year from April 4-10.“Our library foundation group [Linden Public Library Foundation Inc.] received a grant from the Bock Family Foundation,” Library Director Julie Bishop said. “Although it did not cover the full amount that was needed, we were able to replace the carpet, paint, fix and freshen up the inside of the library, easily the first time in over 40 years.”...
Area residents are invited to visit the recently renovated Linden Public Library during National Library Week, celebrated this year from April 4-10.
“Our library foundation group [Linden Public Library Foundation Inc.] received a grant from the Bock Family Foundation,” Library Director Julie Bishop said. “Although it did not cover the full amount that was needed, we were able to replace the carpet, paint, fix and freshen up the inside of the library, easily the first time in over 40 years.”
The Linden Public Library originally served as traveling library until the 1960s before becoming a modern-day library with a board of directors. The latest change to the library was a building remodel during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
The library closed in November of 2020 and reopened in January of 2021. While Bishop said they aren’t completely done with their remodeling plans, an open house is set for 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 10 to celebrate the renovation.
The foundation friend’s group fundraised all summer on the bike trail, selling water and cookies to pay for the paint and supplies. A patron donated 15 gallons of paint. Six volunteers helped pack up while others helped paint and build frames. They also donated wood and materials to clean and fix the shelving.
“Karen Fluharty with our foundation group, was instrumental in making all of this happen,” Bishop said. “We had duct tape holding our carpet together.”
The city of Linden and the library split the cost of the carpet that the Bock Family Foundation grant did not pay.
The foundation friend’s group plans to open up again in May to serve the bicyclists that use the trail. The library also achieved tier 1 status last year through the State Library of Iowa, which will open up some extra funding for the library.
Bishop shared that it is difficult to fund small libraries in America because cities cannot afford them. They currently receive a yearly amount from the city of Linden.
“Dallas County funding is where most of our funding comes from, along with the 1% sales tax option,” she said. “Without those funds, we would not be here.”
Last year, their foundation achieved 501(c)(3) status. This allows them to apply for grants that they were previously not eligible for. Fundraising is also very important for the success of the library.
Bishop has been volunteering at her local libraries since she was a young mom. She did anything to provide for her family and is working hard to keep the history alive for the town. She has a background in childcare, healthcare, financial and volunteers as much as she can.
Her favorite thing about working at the library is the people, namely the children that come through the door, watching their eyes light up with questions and the older folks that poke their heads in to talk for a few minutes.
The library is currently offering STEM bags in coordination with the SW STEM council. The children have completed the ‘Winter – a Flurry of Possibilities’ activities and are in the process of picking up their prizes.
“I love hearing about all the different experiments and the thought process that went into the projects,” Bishop said.
She is making literacy bags for the children to check out to enhance their education and fun. Their foundation has applied for grants to cover the costs of the books and supplies that go into making each bag.
“Although I would love nothing more than to have the children back in for weekly craft projects, we just do not have the space to do that safely,” she said. “We will use the literacy bags with crafts and science experiments this summer.”
They plan to meet in the park and although the summer reading program will not look the same, they still want the kids to read and to play. Prizes will still be earned.
The library plays a larger role in the Linden community by having a weekly or bi-weekly food pantry, in conjunction with Hunger Free Dallas County.
“Linden is small,” she said. “There is not a convenience or grocery store. I have been known to pick up groceries for a patron while delivering books. The library is vital to our citizens for the social economic impact on the town and it’s a great place to get books.”
In 2019, the population in Linden was around 208. The library serves approximately 60 adult patrons and at least 60 children. Around 20 people visit the library on a daily basis. They currently have three part-time people and are ready to hire another helper.
“I have learned very quickly to not recommend books,” Bishop said. “I can only steer the patron to the correct section in the library and help answer questions. Each person is different in what they like.”
The library recently moved to the automated Follett/Destiny check out system. With the physical collection and the e-books that are available, they top out at over 94,000 books available to their residents. Their physical collection is 6,900 books, movies, games and puzzles.
“With a recent donation given to us, we have been able to purchase new releases, best sellers and we are able to take requests,” Bishop said. “I love being able to tell a child that his/her new book is in to read!”
Bishop would like to see the library offer additional virtual programs and more space would also be appreciated in the future.
“We would love to set up a teen program and an adult program,” she said. “We have talked about setting up programs to come in and give presentations to the community [and] a technology-based area for our patrons.”
The library hours are 2-5 p.m. Monday, 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, 1-5 p.m. Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Friday and 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The library board is currently exploring options of different hours to fit the needs of their community. They are looking at opening on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.
“With COVID, we are open almost any time my car is out front,” Bishop said.
For more information, call 641-744-2124 or follow the Linden Public Library on Facebook. Their website is www.linden.lib.ia.us and the library is located at 131 S. Main St.
April 4-10 - National Library Week
May 1 - Storm Science children's program with Dallas County ISU Extension Office at 10 a.m.
May 2 - Canvas painting fundraiser with the Art Exchange and Gina Lloyd from 1:45-4:45 p.m. Cost is $40 for a windmill painting. The fundraiser will be held at 3384 268th Street, Linden. Call the library to reserve a spot. All materials are provided and no experience is needed
May 5 and 12 - After-school archery program with Raised At Full Draw.
STEM bags and literacy kits with the summer reading program
June 22 - Blank Park Zoo program at 1 p.m.
Weekly food pantry services through Hunger Free Dallas County
An Iowa jury has leveled a $4.5 million verdict against a community hospital and two top administrators accused of firing a longtime lab director who refused their orders to retire following his cancer diagnosis.The award to Poweshiek County resident Gregory Hawkins came Monday afternoon following a 10-day trial against his former employer of almost four decades, the Grinnell Regional Medical Center, a private nonprofit hospital that serves residents across six central Iowa counties. Hawkins contended in an age discrimination and reta...
An Iowa jury has leveled a $4.5 million verdict against a community hospital and two top administrators accused of firing a longtime lab director who refused their orders to retire following his cancer diagnosis.
The award to Poweshiek County resident Gregory Hawkins came Monday afternoon following a 10-day trial against his former employer of almost four decades, the Grinnell Regional Medical Center, a private nonprofit hospital that serves residents across six central Iowa counties. Hawkins contended in an age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit that he was fired from the hospital in June 2015 while in remission from breast cancer, then replaced by a new lab director more than 10 years younger than him.
Des Moines employment attorney Brooke Timmer, who represented the former lab director, said the jury award consisted of $220,009 in back pay to Hawkins, $2 million for past emotional distress and another $2.28 million for future emotional distress. In court documents, Timmer alleged that Hawkins was "targeted" for months before his firing with negative critiques of his work in retaliation for declining an order from the hospital's president and CEO, Todd Linden, and two other administrators to retire following his initial diagnosis in November 2013.
"Just show a little compassion if you have an employee that’s dealing with something like this," Timmer said in an interview on Tuesday. "I think that was what stuck out to me the entire time. Here you have a guy who just truly wants to keep working.”
Denise Lamphier, communications director for the hospital, said Grinnell Regional Medical Center leaders are "very disappointed in the outcome of the case" and intend to file post-trial motions to overturn the verdict and an appeal.
"We believe the evidence does not support the verdict or the extraordinary jury award," Lamphier said. "The case has always been about the patients who choose GRMC for their care and we stand by our staff and providers who work hard every day."
The verdict comes as the Grinnell hospital has struggled financially in recent years, losing $2.1 million in 2015 alone.
The hospital announced in November that it was negotiating an agreement to be managed by the larger Des Moines-based Unity Point Health System and those talks are ongoing, Lamphier said. Linden, the CEO, has blamed the money problems partly on the fact that the hospital is too big to participate in a federal program that gives extra Medicare money to smaller hospitals.
Linden, who was initially named as a defendant but was later removed, is known nationwide as a leader on rural healthcare issues and has testified before both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He regularly speaks at industry conferences, according to his official biography.
Hawkins, 63, was promoted to the lab director position in 1985 after spending a decade working at the hospital as a medical technologist, according to court records. The 49-bed hospital employs approximately 400 people and treats patients from Poweshiek, Jasper, Benton, Iowa, Mahaska and Tama counties.
According to the lawsuit, Hawkins was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2013 and began chemotherapy the following January after undergoing a mastectomy. The lab director took medical leave between December 2013 and the following March, when he returned to work on a part-time basis.
In a June 2014 meeting Hawkins was told by Linden, Human Resources Director Debra Nowacheck and Vice President of Operations David Ness that the lab needed a full-time director and he needed to retire with 90 days, according to the lawsuit. However, Hawkins' oncologist expected him to make a full recovery by the end of the year and he wanted to resume full-time work then.
The next month, in July 2014, the hospital suspended Hawkins from working at all until December, though he returned that October and was soon able to resume a full work week with his cancer in full remission. But Hawkins was fired the next June after administrators claimed that he failed to adequately manage the lab and its employees.
Attorneys defending the hospital denied in court filings that the firing and subsequent hiring of a new director had anything to do with Hawkins' age or cancer diagnosis. The interim director that was hired in Hawkins' place after his firing was 65, attorneys Mary Funk and Stephanie Techau wrote in a brief outlining their defense.
But Timmer said she believes their claims were contradicted by lab employees who worked under Hawkins and supported him as a boss. Hawkins regularly received raises and positive performance evaluations from his bosses, she said. During his tenure, Hawkins led the lab through five successful accreditation inspections, according to court records.
Hawkins cited his job at the hospital in a June 2014 email to his bosses as a significant force that helped him fight the cancer diagnosis — a main reason that he did not want to retire.
"Honestly, I don't think I'd be doing as well as I am without having a job to keep my mind off the cancer," he wrote.
Jurors found that the hospital violated Iowa laws barring retaliation, disability discrimination and age discrimination in the workplace. The lawsuit also named Nowacheck and Ness as individual defendants.
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