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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.

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Home Care In West Des Moines, IA

Home Care West Des Moines, 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.

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 West Des Moines, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care West Des Moines, 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 Coreline I.
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“Tracey Gray helped me in the biggest way today! She saved my day and I”

Tracey Gray helped me in the biggest way today! She saved my day and I am so thankful for her choice to help me! Thank you! #CertPrint #AlwaysBestCare
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Elderly Care for James T.
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Google

“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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Google

“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

“Tracey Gray helped me in the biggest way today! She saved my day and I am so thankful for her choice to help me! Thank you! #CertPrint #AlwaysBestCare”

Coreline I.
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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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA

Types of Elderly Care in West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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.

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 West Des Moines, 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. 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 West Des Moines, IA

Benefits of Home Care in West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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.

Home Care West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA

Latest News in West Des Moines, IA

Dave & Buster’s expands in Iowa with new 2026 location

Iowa is about to land a second location of Dave & Buster’s, the wildly popular full?scale “eatertainment” venue that brings a restaurant, sports bar and massive arcade all under one roof.Iowa's first Dave & Buster’s opened in West Des Moines in July 2023. The second debuts in Davenport in early 2026.“The new venue will bring hundreds of arcade games, immersive sports viewing, craveable food, and handcrafted drinks to the local community, all under one roof,” a spokesperson for Dave &a...

Iowa is about to land a second location of Dave & Buster’s, the wildly popular full?scale “eatertainment” venue that brings a restaurant, sports bar and massive arcade all under one roof.

Iowa's first Dave & Buster’s opened in West Des Moines in July 2023. The second debuts in Davenport in early 2026.

“The new venue will bring hundreds of arcade games, immersive sports viewing, craveable food, and handcrafted drinks to the local community, all under one roof,” a spokesperson for Dave & Buster’s said.

Some of the premium games and experiences in the “Million Dollar Midway” include immersive titles like “UFC Challenge,” “Hot Wheels Victory Lap” and “Top Gun: Maverick” simulators.

The Davenport location opens at 5248 Elmore Ave. near Golden Corral and Hawaiian Bros Island Grill.

A spokesperson said the location will include private game suites where groups can play games like High Tech Darts or Social Shuffleboard, with private TVs and in-suite food and drink service.

How to see Dave & Buster’s before it opens

The venue also plans to hold a citywide Find the Flag scavenger hunt Jan. 6-10. Five Dave & Buster’s flags will be hidden across Davenport, and each flag found equals VIP access and prizes.

Dave & Buster’s releases two clues daily via daveandbusters.com/davenportfindtheflag. Each day, one winner who finds a flag will receive a $100 Dave & Buster’s gift card, an invite to the exclusive VIP preview party for six and a chance to experience the new Davenport location before it opens to the public.

Where to find Dave & Buster’s in the Des Moines metro

Where to find Dave & Buster’s in Davenport

Sign up for our new dining newsletter, Table Talk DSM, which comes out on Wednesday mornings with all the latest news on restaurants and bars in the metro. You can sign up for free at DesMoinesRegister.com/tabletalk.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].

West Des Moines weighs future of Walnut Creek School amid backlash

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —West Des Moines Community Schools is considering closing Walnut Creek School, its long-running alternative high school, as soon as next school year and replacing it with a new alternative program based at Valley High School.District leaders say the idea has been on the table since last year, after a new strategic roadmap set goals around equity, earlier intervention, and data-driven decisions. An audit and follow-up analysis then raised concerns about outcomes at Walnut Creek: stude...

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —

West Des Moines Community Schools is considering closing Walnut Creek School, its long-running alternative high school, as soon as next school year and replacing it with a new alternative program based at Valley High School.

District leaders say the idea has been on the table since last year, after a new strategic roadmap set goals around equity, earlier intervention, and data-driven decisions. An audit and follow-up analysis then raised concerns about outcomes at Walnut Creek: students who attend the school are absent far more often than their peers, score lower on state tests, and graduate at a rate of 83.6% compared with 95.1% for other students.

Executive Director of Secondary Education Steven Schappaugh says the proposal is about shifting resources earlier and more broadly, not about blaming the school.

“We see an opportunity to be better aligned with those strategic directions,” he said, adding that the district wants to “take some of the wonderful things that are happening at Walnut Creek with the smaller environment [and] the flexible pacing, and apply that to a different setting.”

At Monday’s board meeting, however, alumni and families packed the room to oppose the plan.

“Shutting down Walnut Creek tells former students like me we didn’t matter,” one graduate told the board. “It tells the current 183 students that they don’t matter.”

Alum Jake Burriola, who credits Walnut Creek with getting him to graduation, fears a school-within-a-school at Valley won’t work for students who already failed in that environment.

“If you put me back at Valley back in my day, I'd get in a fight my first day, and I'd probably drop out of school," Burriola said. "It’s not a replacement.”

If the board approves the change, the district says it will meet one-on-one with every current Walnut Creek student to create a transition plan. There are no final decisions yet on how the Walnut Creek building itself would be used.

The board is expected to vote on the proposal Jan. 12.

KCCI skycams: See views at 25 sites across Iowa from the KCCI camera network

Scroll to see skycam views across Iowa from the KCCI 8 News camera network.Images are updated every 60 seconds on this page.Sign up to receive email alerts when severe weather happens in your area. You can also track alerts and advisories in Des Moines and central Iowa on the KCCI 8 News alerts page.Check the latest weather conditions and view our interactive radar at any time with the KCCI 8 News app. Download our app: Apple | Google PlayDes Moines: KCCIDes Moines: Iowa State Fairground...

Scroll to see skycam views across Iowa from the KCCI 8 News camera network.

Images are updated every 60 seconds on this page.

Sign up to receive email alerts when severe weather happens in your area. You can also track alerts and advisories in Des Moines and central Iowa on the KCCI 8 News alerts page.

Check the latest weather conditions and view our interactive radar at any time with the KCCI 8 News app. Download our app: Apple | Google Play

Des Moines: KCCI

Des Moines: Iowa State Fairgrounds

Des Moines: Northeast mixmaster

To view this and other DOT cameras live, visit 511ia.org.

Des Moines: Principal Park

Algona: Security State Bank

Altoona: Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel

Ames: Flyover ramp

To view this and other DOT cameras live, visit 511ia.org.

Ankeny: The District

Arnolds Park Amusement Park: West Lake Okoboji

Downtown Atlantic

Bettendorf: Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge

Boone: Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone: Seven Oaks Recreation

Council Bluffs: Bayliss Park

Council Bluffs: Lewis and Clark Monument Park

Creston Greater Regional Health

Indianola: Simpson College

Iowa City: University of Iowa Pentacrest

Lamoni: Amish Country Store

Malcolm: Interstate 80

To view this and other DOT cameras live, visit 511ia.org.

Marshalltown: Westown Apartments

Osceola: Interstate 35/Highway 34 overpass

To view this and other DOT cameras live, visit 511ia.org.

Panora: Lake Panorama

Pella: The Amsterdam Hotel

Polk City: Big Creek Marina

West Des Moines: West mixmaster

To view this and other DOT cameras live, visit 511ia.org.

Walnut Creek school saves lives, and it should stay open. | Opinion

For our daughter and so many others, the small school, classroom and personalized attention is an integral part of Walnut Creek’s success.The teachers and staff at the Walnut Creek Campus in West Des Moines helped save my daughter’s life. That’s not an exaggeration.You can imagine my disappointment when I learned that West Des Moines school district leaders are seriously considering closing the school, which is a small high school campus focused on at-risk students.My plea to district leaders: Please ...

For our daughter and so many others, the small school, classroom and personalized attention is an integral part of Walnut Creek’s success.

The teachers and staff at the Walnut Creek Campus in West Des Moines helped save my daughter’s life. That’s not an exaggeration.

You can imagine my disappointment when I learned that West Des Moines school district leaders are seriously considering closing the school, which is a small high school campus focused on at-risk students.

My plea to district leaders: Please keep the campus open.

I’ll start with our story.

Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!

Imagine dropping your child off at school, and you go about your workday. Around 9:30, you get a call from her pediatrician, letting you know your daughter is contemplating suicide. Just as you begin to wrap your head around that, a school counselor calls and asks for a meeting because your daughter was researching suicide online. Imagine your daughter looking you in the eye and telling you she wants to die.

Our daughter, Norah, spent the better part of two years in mental health residential care, including Orchard Place. (God bless all the folks who helped to keep her alive and provided her the skills and love to keep going and growing.)

After she came home from care, we hit a wall. We could not find a school that would work for her. The options were too big and overwhelming for a student with social anxiety. There also was online school with very little socialization.

Thanks to friends, the resources to explore options, and a lot of God moments, Norah enrolled in Walnut Creek — just two days before school started. It was a miracle for our family.

From day one, the teachers and administration met her where she was at. They lifted her up and challenged her. They kept her safe. Because of them, Norah Faith Wanke graduated from Walnut Creek last year. She is now a freshman about to finish her first semester at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Most importantly, thanks to Walnut Creek, she’s alive.

Yet, this is not just my daughter’s story. It’s the story of so many young men and women given a better life and future thanks to Walnut Creek. Changing to a program within a large school is not the answer. For our daughter and so many others, the small school, classroom and personalized attention is an integral part of Walnut Creek’s success.

Like every school, Walnut Creek is not without its challenges. But without the school, many students wouldn’t have graduated.

The joyful celebrations we witnessed and stories we heard from students on graduation night were like nothing I’d experienced. Norah’s grandparents said it better than I can when they described the school’s ceremony, “We listened to the testimonies of some of her classmates and what they have gone through in life. … This school has given them hope and a whole new perspective of their life and future.”

Please reach out to leaders of the West Des Moines Community School District and ask them to keep the Walnut Creek Campus open.

Randy Wanke, who lives in West Des Moines, is an advocate for youth mental health, former Walnut Creek PTO president and former communications director for the Minnesota Department of Education.

Iowa gymnasts file lawsuits over alleged abuse at West Des Moines gym

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —Two former students of Chow Gymnastics in West Des Moines have filed civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by a former coach, Sean Gardner, and accusing oversight bodies USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport of failing to protect them. The lawsuits claim Gardner sexually abused, harassed and molested the girls and that Chow's Gymnastics failed to investigate and report the abuse to law enforcement.The lawsuits also target USA Gymnastics and SafeSport, stating they "tu...

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —

Two former students of Chow Gymnastics in West Des Moines have filed civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by a former coach, Sean Gardner, and accusing oversight bodies USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport of failing to protect them. The lawsuits claim Gardner sexually abused, harassed and molested the girls and that Chow's Gymnastics failed to investigate and report the abuse to law enforcement.

The lawsuits also target USA Gymnastics and SafeSport, stating they "turned a blind eye to warnings about his conduct in order to maintain the status quo, in utter dereliction of their legal, moral, and ethical duties to protect minor gymnasts."

John Manly, a California attorney representing the gymnasts, said, "This gentleman, and I use that term loosely, was allowed to go there. And he preyed upon these young girls."

Manly further commented, "These girls give their whole childhood and their whole adolescence to compete for our country, and they're being treated like garbage by the system that's supposed to protect them."

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Chow Gymnastics did not respond to requests for comment. However, its attorney previously stated that Gardner was fired after SafeSport notified Chow of issues with the coach.

SafeSport released a statement saying, "We are grateful to those who come forward with their stories, which allow us to take action to hold individuals accountable. Upon receiving the first report of sexual misconduct against Mr. Gardner in 2022, the Center imposed temporary restrictions followed shortly by a temporary suspension, which removed him from coaching, and was published on our public Centralized Disciplinary Database (CDD). This is the only reason Gardner was barred from coaching young athletes in the years until his arrest."

USA Gymnastics also issued a statement, saying, "We appreciate the seriousness of this case. As it is ongoing, we cannot offer further comment."

The civil lawsuits filed in Polk County District Court do not specify a dollar amount for damages. Manly emphasized, "The money will never make them whole. Money is simply a symbol of the harm done."

Gardner is currently in federal custody in Mississippi on sexual abuse allegations involving gymnastics students. The civil lawsuit also names the Iowa gymnasts, but their names are not being used in KCCI's reporting. Their attorney stated they are not ready to speak on camera about their alleged abuse or the lawsuit.

Watch: Gym owners react to sexual abuse allegations against coach Sean Gardner

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