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.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Samuel and Emma A. Ranshaw House in North Liberty, IA 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 North Liberty, 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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“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!”
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. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Centennial Park in North Liberty, IA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
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. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Tin Roost or visit Cornerstone Nature Area, 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.
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 North Liberty, 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 North Liberty, 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.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
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 North Liberty, 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.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.IOWA CITY — Two months after delaying the timeline of its new $2 billion inpatient tower, citing federal health care-related funding cuts, University of Iowa Health Care next week will ask the Board of Regents to approve $45.5 million in facilities upgrades across its three inpatient hospital campuses.Largest among the spending requests is a $19 million to $25 million ask to “build out all shell space projects at the UIHC ...
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
IOWA CITY — Two months after delaying the timeline of its new $2 billion inpatient tower, citing federal health care-related funding cuts, University of Iowa Health Care next week will ask the Board of Regents to approve $45.5 million in facilities upgrades across its three inpatient hospital campuses.
Largest among the spending requests is a $19 million to $25 million ask to “build out all shell space projects at the UIHC North Liberty campus.”
The university’s new five-story, 469,060-square-foot orthopedics-centered hospital at the corner of Forevergreen Road and Highway 965 debuted in late April — realizing years of planning and overcoming a range of obstacles, including an initial state denial of the project’s certificate of need and rising construction costs that ballooned its budget.
“The number of patients seen at North Liberty campus has exceeded expectations, with a high demand for surgical services,” UIHC officials reported in their new request of regents to build out the shell space. “The need to enhance operating room capacity at the North Liberty campus is consistent with what UI Health Care is seeing across campuses and reflects the growing surgical needs of Iowans.”
After the State Health Facilities Council in September 2021 approved the $230 million hospital portion of the North Liberty project — having initially denied it in 2020 — UIHC officials unveiled the full $395 million scope of the project, encompassing academic, research and clinical space. Less than a year later, in July 2022, UIHC officials returned to regents with a 33-percent budget hike request to $525.6 million — citing industry challenges, inflation, limited materials and labor shortages.
Initially, the project was constructed with unfinished space aimed at accommodating future expansion, officials said in the request going before the board next week for blanket approval to build out all the shell space.
“This authorization provides the flexibility to plan for the completion of shell space as needed to accommodate growing patient volumes and service needs,” according to the request. “The estimated $19 million to $25 million total cost for all projects would be funded by UI Health Care earnings and equity, 100 percent.”
Per the UIHC request, officials said they intend initially to move forward with outfitting four shelled operating rooms, pre- and postoperative areas, and the campus’ post-anesthesia care unit.
“The remaining shelled areas, including additional inpatient beds, imaging, and staff support spaces, would be completed at a future date as needed,” officials said, indicating plans to initiate the design process as soon as possible.
Regent approval of shell-space construction could bring the North Liberty campus’ total cost up to $575.6 million.
Also at next week’s meeting, UIHC officials are seeking regent permission to spend $20.5 million renovating and upgrading the UIHC Medical Center Downtown, its surgical pathology lab suite on the main campus, and its helipad.
The helipad project would spend $5 million to relocate outdoor air intakes in a Level 8 Roy Carver Pavilion mechanical room that provide ventilation and conditioning for support spaces on the fifth and sixth floors.
“The relocation of the outdoor air intakes is required to minimize the infiltration of helicopter exhaust fumes into the building during unique weather conditions,” according to the UIHC request. “The proposed scope of work addresses this issue by relocating the outdoor air intakes of the two affected air-handling units to the south side of the facility, thereby increasing separation distance from the helicopter landing pads and reducing the likelihood of contaminant entrainment into the ventilation system.”
That project, if approved, would start in the upcoming spring and continue for a year through spring 2027.
Additionally, the university wants to spend nearly $10 million renovating 14 operating rooms and associated diagnostic and treatment platforms at its Medical Center Downtown — which had been the community-based Mercy Iowa City hospital until UIHC bought it for $37.4 million at bankruptcy auction in November 2023.
“UI Health Care is working to enhance operating room capacity across its campuses to meet the growing surgical needs of Iowans,” according to the UIHC regent request for proposed downtown upgrades, referencing its North Liberty ask. “The operating rooms at downtown campus need modernization to meet current UI Health Care standards of care that enhance patient outcomes and clinical efficiency.”
The $10 million would go toward outfitting the campus’ operating rooms with new equipment, replacing finishes, updating infrastructure, upgrading information technology, and improving medical gas systems.
And another $6 million on the main campus would allow UIHC to renovate its surgical pathology lab suite.
“As UI Health Care works to meet the growing surgical needs of Iowans by modernizing and expanding operating rooms across campuses, there is also a need to update support spaces,” UIHC officials said in its board request. “This includes improvements to the surgical lab suite that provide greater efficiency and capacity.”
In late August, UIHC officials announced changes to its many campus construction plans — including the proposed 842,000-square-foot Jacobson Tower, which the university expected to start this year and finish by 2030, according to board documents.
Given federal health care-related funding cuts expected to strip $9.5 billion from the State of Iowa over the next decade, UIHC decided to delay three projects pitched as enabling the new $2 billion tower.
Hospital parking ramp 1 — a 57-year-old, 165,000-square-foot structure that has “extensive deferred maintenance and was not built to the design standards of today’s vehicle size” — will “remain open for now.” Sitting on the site of the future inpatient tower, that ramp was supposed to come down in early 2026.
Additionally, the four-story, 69,000-square-foot Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center — built in 1967 and scheduled for demolition this fall — will “remain for now.”
And plans for hospital entrance and skywalk improvements — among nearly $73 million in early-phase tower work the board approved in June — also were placed on hold.
Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.
Comments: (319) 339-3158; [email protected]
This is the 55+ Connections weekly update. If you would like to sign up to get more updates from the city go to .55+ Connections: Tuesday GatheringTuesday, October 1410:30 AMNorth Liberty Library – Meeting Room CDFor our craft this month we’re getting into the autumn spirit! We’ll have tiny pumpkins that you can paint and decorate!Join us each week for a social gathering full of activities and friendly conversation – board games, crafts, puzzles, ...
This is the 55+ Connections weekly update. If you would like to sign up to get more updates from the city go to .
Tuesday, October 14
10:30 AM
North Liberty Library – Meeting Room CD
For our craft this month we’re getting into the autumn spirit! We’ll have tiny pumpkins that you can paint and decorate!
Join us each week for a social gathering full of activities and friendly conversation – board games, crafts, puzzles, book discussions, and more! No registration required. You can choose which events you would like to attend and are not obligated to go weeks when the activity is not of interest to you.
Friday, October 17
11:30 AM
North Liberty Rec Center – Rooms 3&4
For lunch this week, Jan & Kim are graciously providing BBQ pulled pork sandwiches! After lunch we’ll play a few rounds of bingo, which is free to play with the chance to win small prizes!
Registration for lunch is $5 and required for all who attend lunch. Participants must register before noon on Thursday, October 16th Call the Rec Center to register (319)626-5716 or go online to your and register yourself.
55+ Connections: Friday Meal Raffles
Thanks to a generous donor, we have 100 free meals to give away to participants of the 55+ Connections Friday Lunch! We have decided to hold raffles every week for the rest of 2025 to distribute these meals. Three names will be drawn weekly and the three winners will have the cost of lunch that day refunded to them. Anyone who is registered for lunch can participate, but you can’t win twice in one month.
Friday, October 17
2 PM
Iowa City Senior Center
Come to the Senior Center to watch a movie and eat popcorn!
October 17th movie: 20,000 Species of Bees (2023)
During a summer in a village house linked to beekeeping, an eight-year-old and her mother experience revelations that will change their lives forever.
Saturday, October 18
1 – 3 PM
Coralville Public Library and Tom Harkin Trail
Explore Tom Harkin Trail and learn about autumnal foraging with Sarah DeLong-Duhon from the Prairie States Mushroom Club. Meet at the Coralville Public Library for this event. Then carpool to the Tom Harkin Trailhead after an introduction to mushroom foraging. Please wear pants and closed toed shoes for this activity.
Tuesday, October 21
10:30 AM
Centennial Park – 1565 St. Andrews Drive, North Liberty IA 52317
The community is invited to a ribbon cutting and open house as we unveil Hy-Vee Center & Amphitheater and celebrate the completion of Phase 1 construction at Centennial Park. 10:00 a.m. Small bites and refreshments. 10:30 a.m. Remarks and ribbon cutting. 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Open house and a variety of entertainment.
What is LIHEAP? LIHEAP is a federally-funded program designed to assist low income families meet the cost of home heating by providing a one-time payment to the heating utility.
Who can apply? Both owner-occupied and renter-occupied households are eligible to apply. Households with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty income guidelines may be eligible for assistance.
When can I apply? Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis November 1 – April 30 of each year. Households with a member 60 years of age or older, those who are disabled, and those in crisis can begin applying October 1st.
Where can I submit my application? At the Waterfront Office: 367 Southgate Ave Iowa City, IA 52240.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.IOWA CITY — The Iowa City Council on Tuesday approved $927,000 for the purchase of three town homes in North Liberty to be used by the Iowa City Housing Authority for affordable housing.The housing authority was awarded $368,000 from the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County after North Liberty directed some of its American Rescue Plan Act funds toward affordable housing efforts within the city. The other $559,000 comes for the h...
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
IOWA CITY — The Iowa City Council on Tuesday approved $927,000 for the purchase of three town homes in North Liberty to be used by the Iowa City Housing Authority for affordable housing.
The housing authority was awarded $368,000 from the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County after North Liberty directed some of its American Rescue Plan Act funds toward affordable housing efforts within the city. The other $559,000 comes for the housing authority accounts.
The three attached town homes are all three-bedroom units located in North Liberty, south of Centennial Park.
“This opportunity allows us to better serve residents throughout our whole jurisdiction, to strengthen access to housing where people live and work. … These are new construction, so we anticipate maintenance needs to be low for the first five to 10 years,” Tracy Hightshoe, neighborhood and development services director, said at a city council meeting.
The Iowa City Housing Authority serves all of Johnson and Iowa counties as well as part of Washington County. Currently there are around 220 housing choice voucher recipients living in North Liberty.
The housing authority will look to use the units for housing choice voucher recipients upon acquisition of the units, slated for December of this year.
As terms of the Housing Trust Fund agreement, two of the units will need to be leased to tenants making less than 50 percent of the area median income for 40 years.
Should the Housing Authority look to sell the properties, it must get approval from the Housing Trust Fund or repay the funds.
“When the housing authority owns and manages property, we consider that permanent affordability. So even if we sold it, we'd invest that back into the community,” Hightshoe told the city council.
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Former University of Iowa basketball player and Murray Elite Program Advisor Kenyon Murray is building a new sports facility in North Liberty.The new facility will be located at the southeast corner of Dubuque Street and North Liberty Road on roughly four acres of land.The building itself will be a one story, 44,000 square foot facility, Murray said in a recent presentation to the North Liberty City Council.The project timeline has a goal of being finished before Dec. 31, 2026, with estimated project costs around ...
Former University of Iowa basketball player and Murray Elite Program Advisor Kenyon Murray is building a new sports facility in North Liberty.
The new facility will be located at the southeast corner of Dubuque Street and North Liberty Road on roughly four acres of land.
The building itself will be a one story, 44,000 square foot facility, Murray said in a recent presentation to the North Liberty City Council.
The project timeline has a goal of being finished before Dec. 31, 2026, with estimated project costs around $13 million, Murray said.
Murray Elite is receiving $5 million through investors, specifically venture capital investors. The rest is being financed through a banking lending institution.
For over 20 years, Murray Elite Basketball has provided opportunities for young athletes in the Iowa City area to play competitive basketball. Murray Elite Basketball is a grassroots basketball team working to train athletes to reach their full potential as players and members of society.
The program emphasizes training that creates well rounded athletes on and off the court by working to improve athlete’s discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
Jamie Pettigrew, executive director for Murray Elite, said the decision came after years of struggling to find gym space in the community.
“Historically, we always practiced in various schools in the Iowa City School District, but as we continued to grow, we realized it’s getting more difficult to find spaces [to practice in] because more and more programs are popping up in the area,” Pettigrew said.
Murray Elite is partnering with Elite Fitness, a gym located in Cedar Rapids, with the creation of the new facility. Along with basketball courts, the fitness center will also include a workout facility provided by Elite Fitness, along with a strength and agility section of the building.
Pettigrew said Murray Elite would also be open to potential partnerships with Liberty High School, since the school is directly across the street.
Murray Elite recently sponsored the Liberty High School Color Run in September, kickstarting their partnership with the school.
A goal in the program is to create financial opportunities for athletes in the area.
The team has helped over 100 high school athletes get Division I scholarships and over 90 athletes get Division II scholarships.
The program has produced a number of notable UI athletes, Pettigrew said, including Connor McCaffery, Patrick McCaffery, Austin Ash, Jarrod Uthoff, and Joe Weiskamp.
“We’ve been blessed to have so many guys come from our program and stay home in Iowa to play,” Pettigrew said.
Murray said he feels the new facility will set itself apart from competitors, making it a destination in the Iowa City area.
“When you have a physical therapy company, 24-hour fitness center, and court space to do a number of activities, which obviously includes basketball, we really separate ourselves from what other facilities like ours are doing,” Murray said.
Emerson Adams, a student-athlete at Liberty High School, said she sees the addition of this new sporting complex as a positive to the community, as the Liberty gyms will be more accessible to student athletes.
“Our gym space is always limited at Liberty, and with multiple sports taking place at the same time, it can be very difficult to schedule practices,” Emerson said.
North Liberty is a growing community, going from a population of 20,393 in 2022 to 20,782 in 2023. Liberty High School is relatively new, opening nine years ago.
Because of these things, Emerson said she believes it is important to establish a strong culture within the basketball community in the area.
“I feel like this new facility will really help define the basketball culture in our community. It will give players in the community a chance to improve,” Emerson said.
As the construction begins, Pettigrew said he wants to emphasize the foundation of Murray Elite is to teach athletes skills that go beyond the court.
“Basketball teaches young people so many values that carry over into life. What we are here to do is help you get a college education using the game of basketball so that when you are done, you can be a productive member of society,” Pettigrew said.
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This is the 55+ Connections weekly update. If you would like to sign up to get more updates from the city go to .55+ Connections: Tuesday GatheringTuesday, October 710:30 AMNorth Liberty Library – Meeting Room CDIt’s time for our regularly scheduled board game day! We’ll have several games to choose from and you are welcome to bring a game to play as well. Coffee and light snacks will be provided and afterward we’ll have chair yoga (see below).Joi...
This is the 55+ Connections weekly update. If you would like to sign up to get more updates from the city go to .
Tuesday, October 7
10:30 AM
North Liberty Library – Meeting Room CD
It’s time for our regularly scheduled board game day! We’ll have several games to choose from and you are welcome to bring a game to play as well. Coffee and light snacks will be provided and afterward we’ll have chair yoga (see below).
Join us each week for a social gathering full of activities and friendly conversation – board games, crafts, puzzles, book discussions, and more! No registration required. You can choose which events you would like to attend and are not obligated to go weeks when the activity is not of interest to you.
Tuesday October 7
11:45 AM
North Liberty Library – Meeting Room CD
Through the end of 2025, we will have chair yoga on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Kellee Forkenbrock, the Public Services Librarian at the North Liberty Library, will be leading us in a 20-30 minute chair yoga activity. No previous yoga experience is required and all yoga poses will be done from a seated position in a chair. This easy, relaxing exercise is for everybody and every body! No registration required.
Wednesday, October 8
1 – 4 PM
North Liberty Community Center – 520 W Cherry St.
The Healthy Aging Fair is a free event where all are welcome to attend to learn about optimal aging!
Presentations in the Library: 12PM- Dementia Friends 1PM- Bone Health 2PM- Meal planning for 1 and 2 3PM- Interactive Tai Chi demonstration
Clinics and Outreach:
Friday, October 10
11:30 AM
North Liberty Rec Center – Rooms 3&4
For lunch this week, we’ll have food from Mexico Lindo. Afterward, Kellee Forkenbrock will lead us in chair yoga. The theme for yoga this month is “Move with Monk” in celebration of jazz legend, Thelonious Monk.
Registration for lunch is $5 and required for all who attend lunch. Participants must register before noon on Thursday, October 2nd. Call the Rec Center to register (319)626-5716 or go online to your and register yourself.
55+ Connections: Friday Meal Raffles
Thanks to a generous donor, we have 100 free meals to give away to participants of the 55+ Connections Friday Lunch! We have decided to hold raffles every week for the rest of 2025 to distribute these meals. Three names will be drawn weekly and the three winners will have the cost of lunch that day refunded to them. Anyone who is registered for lunch can participate, but you can’t win twice in one month.
Friday, October 10
2 PM
Iowa City Senior Center
Come to the Senior Center to watch a movie and eat popcorn!
October 10th movie: Tótem (2024)
Seven-year-old Sol is spending the day at her grandfather’s home, for a surprise party for Sol’s father, Tonatiuh. As daylight fades, Sol comes to understand that her world is about to change dramatically.
Friday, October 10 & Saturday, October 11
During regular library hours
North Liberty Library – Meeting Rooms
Shop the Friends Book Sale during North Liberty’s Fall Garage Sales on October 10 and 11 in the library during regular library hours. Cost is $20/bag (as many as you can fit in the provided bag) or free will donation for smaller purchases.
Saturday, October 11
8:30 AM
Big Grove Brewery & Taproom – 1225 S. Gilbert Street, Iowa City
The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Iowa City walk will be held Saturday, October 11th at Big Grove Brewery & Taproom, 1225 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City, IA 52240.
Registration begins at 8:30AM with the opening ceremony at 9:30AM and the walk immediately following. There will also be a free Post-Walk concert.
For questions about the event, please contact Tad Hulst at [email protected] or at 319-238-7645 extension 8302.
Begins October 15
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. This is your yearly opportunity to review and make changes to your Medicare coverage. Even if you’re happy with your current plan, it’s a good idea to compare options to ensure you’re getting the best coverage and value for your needs in 2026. Need help navigating your choices? Make an appointment with a SHIIP Counselor through the Iowa City Senior Center at this link:
877-292-2126
