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Home Care In Allison, IA

Home Care Allison, IA

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

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

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

In-Home Care Allison, 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.

Hear from Our Clients
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“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the”

Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.
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“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose”

I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.”

DouglasJJIWF
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.”

Carol64210350

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Allison, 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 Allison, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, IA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

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

Common companionship services include:

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

Respite Care Services

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

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

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

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In-Home Care Allison, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, IA

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

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

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

  • Rehabilitation Center of Allison - ABCM Corporation
  • Allison Park Group Home
  • Maple Manor Village - ABCM Corporation
  • Cedar Vale Assisted Living
  • The Meadows of Shell Rock
  • Dutchman's Oaks Independent and Assisted Living Apartments
Home Care Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, 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 Allison, IA

Latest News in Allison, IA

Drake basketball's Allison Pohlman on Taylor McAulay's return, Iowa, Iowa State games

Drake women’s basketball coach Allison Pohlman spoke with confidence Monday during her team’s media day ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, and her optimism is not misplaced.The Bulldogs were ranked third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll and received six first-place votes, one less than second-place Illinois State. Newcomer Belmont received 32 first-place votes.“I think one of the great things when you think about our team, we return four starters," Pohlman said. "Four start...

Drake women’s basketball coach Allison Pohlman spoke with confidence Monday during her team’s media day ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, and her optimism is not misplaced.

The Bulldogs were ranked third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll and received six first-place votes, one less than second-place Illinois State. Newcomer Belmont received 32 first-place votes.

“I think one of the great things when you think about our team, we return four starters," Pohlman said. "Four starters from a team that found themselves in postseason play and found a way to really get it done in postseason.

“We were able to win a couple games. I think that experience really sparked the hunger of this group and seeing what they were able to do.”

Drake is the only Missouri Valley team with multiple student-athletes on the preseason all-conference team, with Megan Meyer and Grace Berg making the cut. But Meyer and Berg aren’t the only players returning to the Knapp Center this fall. Maggie Bair and Katie Dinnebier both started 32 games last season. Anna Miller, Courtney Becker and Sarah Beth Gueldner also saw a lot of playing time.

The Bulldogs (20-14, 9-9 MVC in Pohlman's first year as head coach) added two freshmen to the roster as well − Ava Hawthorne from Gilbert and Taedyn Gray from Lenexa, Kan.

Off to a strong start

Pohlman and the Bulldogs will not face an easy schedule. Drake plays No. 4 Iowa and No. 22 Nebraska – both at the Knapp Center – in the second and third games of the season. Before the end of the calendar year, the Bulldogs also must get through No. 8 Iowa State and No. 21 Creighton.

It won’t be an easy task for Drake, but it’s a set of nonconference games that Pohlman knows will make her squad better.

“I think what we’re gonna get out of that is really just a guage,” Pohlman said. “Where does this team stand? How competitive are we? What are we willing to do to be able to put the ball in the hole or get that extra stuff that we need when we need to get it?”

An injury update, or lack thereof

Drake men’s basketball has several players working through injuries just weeks before the start of the new season. That is not the case for the school's women’s basketball program.

When asked if the Bulldogs were dealing with any injuries heading into the schedule, Pohlman’s only update was that there were “none,” before knocking on the podium.

More good news: Drake will have 5-foot-11 guard Taylor McAulay back after she missed all of last year with an injury.

“One of the other people that we’ve added back … and people haven’t talked about her in a year because she’s been injured, is Taylor McCauley, who’s done a really phenomenal job of stepping back into this group,” Pohlman said.

“It’s not going to take you long to recognize which one she is, because she’s had a phenomenal fall. Really excited for us to be able to showcase her talents.”

How the schedule tips off

Drake opens the 2022-23 campaign with a Sunday exhibition against Northwest Missouri State. The regular-season opener is Nov. 7 vs. Green Bay. Then Iowa at home (Nov. 13) and Nebraska at home (Nov. 19). Then Massachusetts and an opponent to be determined at a Thanksgiving tournament in Florida. Then five more non-conference games in December before the Valley opener Dec. 30 at Illinois State.

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

Iowa high school tennis: Allison Szalay adds to Dowling Catholic's tennis prowess with 2A title

IOWA CITY, Ia. — Almost everything on the Class 2A tennis scene is coming up Dowling Catholic.Less than a week after Maroons standout Daniel Lu captured the boys' singles title in Cedar Rapids, Dowling junior Allison Szalay accomplished the same Thursday in Iowa City...

IOWA CITY, Ia. — Almost everything on the Class 2A tennis scene is coming up Dowling Catholic.

Less than a week after Maroons standout Daniel Lu captured the boys' singles title in Cedar Rapids, Dowling junior Allison Szalay accomplished the same Thursday in Iowa City. Szalay toppled West Des Moines Valley's Claire Gu (6-4, 6-3) in the Class 2A girls' singles championship match at Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex.

As the bracket's top two seeds — Gu at No. 1, Szalay at No. 2 — a championship collision between these two seemed inevitable. Gu began the day with a semifinal win over Ames' Arunadee Fernando, 6-3, 7-5. Szalay held up her end with a cruise-control win over Ankeny Centennial's Abbie Peterson (6-3, 6-1).

With the June sun bearing down, Gu and Szalay went at it with everything on the line. The Dowling standout needed a strong start to match Gu's top-ranked prowess. And Szalay got it with a 6-4 win. Now on the doorstep of a state title, Szalay wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away.

She grabbed control in the second set and didn't leave anything to chance. Szalay completed the upset with a 6-3 win, sending those wearing Dowling maroon into jubilation.

More:Iowa high school tennis: Dowling Catholic's Daniel Lu, A-P's Cameron Luhring win boys' singles titles

On the doubles' side, Cedar Falls' dynamic duo of Mira Keeran and Maya Mallavarapu toppled Dowling's Ava Petersen and Mackenzie Klein in the 2A championship match.

The Maroons nearly made it a singles/doubles sweep, grabbing the first set, 6-3. But the Tigers' tandem stormed back with 6-4 wins in the second and third set to clinch the title.

Epic final in Class 1A singles

The championship showdown between Columbus Catholic's Sasha Hyacinth and Cedar Rapids Xavier's Miyako Coffey will be remembered in Iowa's tennis community for quite some time.

It went like this at Waterloo's Byrnes Park.

Coffey, the No. 2 seed, grabbed the upper hand with a dominant 6-2 win in the first set. Hyacinth, the No. 1 seed, needed to re-group in a hurry. And did she ever.

More:Iowa high school boys' state soccer: Roundup of Thursday's semifinal games

An emphatic 6-1 win in the second set up an epic final showdown. Back and forth Coffey and Hyacinth went, neither budging in a high-pressure environment. After Hyacinth fought off five match points, then failed to put the title away on her first three match-point attempts, the Columbus Catholic standout finally emerged with a 12-10 victory.

Having won this title as just a sophomore, Hyacinth is set up for strong upperclassman years as the Sailors' tennis anchor.

More:Waukee's Matt Pries named 2021 All-Iowa Girls' Track Coach of the Year

It wasn't all bad for Xavier, either. On the 1A doubles' side, the Saints tandem of Ally Burger and Courtney Carstensen took home the title over Fairfield's Yana Gaskell and Penelope Higdon. The win came in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.

Former Iowa State basketball star Alison Lacey enjoying Sweet 16 rides for men's and women's teams

GREENSBORO, N.C. — As the Iowa State men’s basketball team was closing in on an NCAA Tournament second-round win over Wisconsin on March 20, Alison Lacey kept busy in the stands of the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Lacey, a former basketball star for the Cyclones, ...

GREENSBORO, N.C. — As the Iowa State men’s basketball team was closing in on an NCAA Tournament second-round win over Wisconsin on March 20, Alison Lacey kept busy in the stands of the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Lacey, a former basketball star for the Cyclones, was trying to follow the women's game, watch the men's game coached by her husband T.J. Otzelberger and find a way to keep their daughter Olivia occupied.

“I was actually coloring and checking stats (of the women's game) and sometimes looking up at T.J.’s game,” Lacey said.

MORE: What does Ashley Joens' pro potential look like?

The Cyclones booked not one, but two trips to the Sweet 16 with the men's and women's programs picking up second-round wins that evening. Lacey, who has ties to both teams, was able to celebrate both big wins with two Iowa State teams going to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000.

"I'm just so excited for both programs," Lacey said.

Lacey, one of the greatest players in Iowa State history, has a lot to be excited about. Over a decade after finishing her Iowa State career, Lacey remains one of the most notable players in the program's history. She scored 1,620 career points and took the Cyclones to four NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2009 and the Sweet 16 in 2010.

She went on the play in the WNBA and win a title with the Seattle Storm in 2010, and she's now retired from playing. But basketball remains an important part of her life. It's what brought her back to Ames. Lacey, who first crossed paths with Otzelberger when he was an assistant for the men's team, moved back to Ames when he was named the new head coach following last season.

FROM THE ARCHIVES:T.J. Otzelberger, Alison Lacey find love through basketball at Iowa State

Their first year back in Iowa couldn't have gone much better. Otzelberger has made the Cyclones, who won just two games last season, one of the biggest surprise stories in college basketball. The women's program, meanwhile, enjoyed a historic season with a school-record 25 regular season wins. Lacey has been able to enjoy it all. She says she's watched every Iowa State women's game this season and found time to make it to two games at Hilton Coliseum.

MORE: Iowa State women take aim at Creighton in Sweet 16 matchup

"I just love watching this group come together and be so young and you can just tell they have a really good spark together," Lacey said.

The highlight of the season came last Sunday. The men were in the second half of their win when the women tipped off back in Ames. After the men won their game, Lacey and her kids got on a bus and waited to hop on an airplane to head back to Iowa. Lacey continually checked the live stats. Things were going perfectly for the Cyclones. They built up an early lead and rolled to an easy win over Georgia.

"It was the perfect overlap, where T.J.'s game was finishing and everyone in our group from Iowa State, the wives and the administrations, were on a high," Lacey said. "We were so excited. It was fun to carry that over and follow the women's game."

It was a monumental moment for the programs and a special one for Lacey, who had been a part of Iowa State's last Sweet 16 team back in 2010. The Cyclones won 25 games that season and Lacey was a big reason why. Despite a concussion and a three-week bout with pneumonia that kept her out of four games, Lacey earned All-Big 12 first-team honors and led the team in scoring, averaging 15.8 points per game.

"It literally feels like a lifetime ago," Lacey said.

Lacey said most of that final season is a blur to her and that her four seasons at Iowa State tend to blend together. But she still understands the importance of what her teams were able to accomplish over a decade ago. Lacey said she remembers the Iowa State coaching staff talking to her teammates about the success of previous teams. Now her teams are the ones being talked about.

"If you're a part of a team that goes to the Sweet 16, there's so few of them, that you kind of get moved to maybe a different group that is remembered more," she said. "You're just kind of put into a different group and you're a team that's going to be talked about by the coaches for a long time."

More:Iowa State vs. Creighton in women's Sweet 16: Key matchups, time, channel, how to watch

The excitement isn't over. This season's team now has a chance to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since Lacey's playing days. The men also have an opportunity to continue their remarkable run through the postseason. And later this year, Lacey will be inducted in the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame.

"We could not have written this any better if we tried," Lacey said. "It's just surreal and we're loving every moment of it."

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at [email protected] or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.

Notebook: WVU quarterback Jack Allison has topsy-turvy showing vs. Iowa State

Football, Sports, WVU Sports MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Thankfully for West Virginia, it doesn’t sound like quarterback Austin Kendall’s injury is as bad as it appeared.Following a third-down blitz by Iowa State...

Football, Sports, WVU Sports

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Thankfully for West Virginia, it doesn’t sound like quarterback Austin Kendall’s injury is as bad as it appeared.

Following a third-down blitz by Iowa State on the Mountaineers’ second drive of the game, Cyclones safety Anthony Johnson hit Kendall right as he threw, pulling Kendall’s right throwing arm behind him. As he walked toward the sideline, he wouldn’t lift his arm, and took off toward the locker room, only to emerge in the third quarter without pads, but fortunately, no sling.

“I think we’ll know more [Sunday] and Monday,” coach Neal Brown said. “He got hit right in the act of throwing. His arm kind of got behind him. The good thing is it’s not an arm or shoulder injury. It’s more in his chest area, so we’ll k now more after 24 hours or so where he’s at.”

In comes Jack Allison, who backed up Will Grier last season and earned the start in the Camping World Bowl against Syracuse in December. Kendall beat Allison out in fall camp, but at least to start, the junior appeared to be in complete control of the offense, thanks in large part to a game plan change by Brown.

“When you do different things, you want to make sure that your starting quarterback is getting a ton of those reps [in practice],” Brown said. “Jack didn’t get a lot of reps so we kind of had to change and basically went to some plays that we thought he was comfortable with.”

In the first half, Allison was 10 of 12 for 107 yards and a touchdown, which came just before the end of the second quarter to tie the game at 14.

The second half was a much different story — Allison went 8 of 12 for just 33 yards and an interception. The yardage total is skewed since the Cyclones had the ball 12 minutes longer than West Virginia in the second half, so there weren’t many opportunities, but when it did have chances, WVU’s offense did nothing with it.

“We couldn’t get much going offensively in the second half — that’s probably an understatement,” Brown said. “Offensively, we just struggled. They beat us in some one-on-one situations up front. We struggled to get the run game going versus some decent box numbers. It’s tough to ask Jack to go in and play when you’ve got limited reps. It’s tough to ask of him, but I thought he did some good things.”

Allison said he wasn’t caught off guard when Kendall went down — that’s his job as the backup quarterback to be ready whenever needed — but he hopes he can correct the second half mistakes, especially if he’s needed next week at Oklahoma.

“I think we got caught with some bad field position in the second half,” he said. “I think it’s execution at the end of the day for me. I think the rest of my team played a great game. There’s a couple plays I wish I had back, but you’ve just got to live with it and learn.”

Pettaway hopeful for redshirt

In 2016 during running back Martell Pettaway’s freshman season, his redshirt needed to be burned in the 10th game out of necessity.

Fast-forward to this season, Pettaway’s senior year, the hope is for Pettaway to finally get that fifth year back, according to Brown.

“He, coach [Chad] Scott and I talked and have had some ongoing discussions, so the plan, if everyone stays healthy, is to redshirt him,” Brown said. “That’s one position where we do have some depth even though [Alec] Sinkfield went down in the second half, but that’s why Martell wasn’t dressed.”

Brown said Pettaway isn’t having the year he expected — 72 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns —- but since he’s only played four games, he is eligible to redshirt under the new NCAA rule established in 2018. With Kennedy McKoy set to graduate, Pettaway would be a welcomed member of the 2020 team in the backfield, along with Sinkfield and Leddie Brown.

Wide receiver Tevin Bush remains injured, Brown said. A possible redshirt is still in the works for him, as well, only playing in two games.

O’Laughlin all the way

Freshman tight end Mike O’Laughlin had his biggest offensive output of the season against Iowa State, though it didn’t seem like much. He had three catches for 16 yards, but the tight end spot, with O’Laughlin and Jovani Haskins, hasn’t been a part of the passing game this season.

O’Laughlin thinks Saturday was more of a coincidence than an actual conscious effort to get him the ball.

“I just think I was in the right place at the right time this week, but Jovani and I have just been switching off,” he said. “Jack was just able to find me a few times.”

Camping at Wilder Park Allison Iowa

Listen to our full interview with George North, Allison Park Board president here:Videos by OutdoorsCamping at Wilder Park Allison IowaCamp Iowa: I’m talking with George North today. He’s the Allison Park Board President. We’re going to talk about Wilder Park today. Where are you guys located at, George?George: This is a municipal park, city-owned park, in Allison, Iowa. We’re on the junction of Highway 3 and 14, about halfway between Hampton and Wave...

Listen to our full interview with George North, Allison Park Board president here:

Videos by Outdoors

Camping at Wilder Park Allison Iowa

Camp Iowa: I’m talking with George North today. He’s the Allison Park Board President. We’re going to talk about Wilder Park today. Where are you guys located at, George?

George: This is a municipal park, city-owned park, in Allison, Iowa. We’re on the junction of Highway 3 and 14, about halfway between Hampton and Waverly, Iowa. This is a town of 1,026 people.

Camp Iowa: How long has Wilder Park been there?

George: Land was purchased in 1992 and development started in ’93, so this year is our 20th year of development.

Camp Iowa: Is there camping in the park?

George: We have 54 RV sites and we have 8 or 10 tent sites. That’s gradually increased over the last 10 years, probably. The first 14 sites were put in probably in 1998, 1999. They’ve been in about maybe 12 or 13 years, 14 of them. And then we’ve gradually added the other sites over the last – we’ve been at 54, though, for a couple of years now.

Camp Iowa: That’s a really good size. What are the main reasons that people come and stay there?

George: Because we have a lot of amenities. It’s just a nice place, #1. The trees we’ve planted over those years, we’ve planted 15,000 trees. It was a farm with a pond and one tree when we got it in ’92. So we planted a lot of trees, we’ve got about 17 acres of prairie. We’re on a bike trail, Rolling Prairie Bike Trail is where you come off of the Rolling Prairie Bike Rail into the park. You can. We have about a mile and a quarter inter-park asphalt trail.

Camp Iowa: How long is the Rolling Prairie?

George: Rolling Prairie currently is paved from Shell Rock to the Allison parcel, which is about 17 miles.

Camp Iowa: Wow.

George: I just read in the paper, and they’ve applied for some grants to go west, and the county west of us, Franklin County, they’re extending it. By next year, they are supposed to be to the county line. But that’s not an asphalt trail. Some of it is, but most of it’s fine rock, rolled rock trail. Anyway, we’ve got biking, hiking, walking. A lot of walkers go out there from town. We’ve got two fishing ponds, two ponds that are stocked and there’s fishing there.

Camp Iowa: What kind of fish?

George: Mostly bass and bluegill and catfish. It’s fished heavily. Bike trails. We’ve got an 18-hole disc golf course. We’ve got an 18 embedded putt-putt mini golf course. We’ve got a playground, horseshoes, basketball, tetherball. So we have a lot. And all the amenities, there are three shelter houses. Most of the bases covered. The bulk of our clientele probably come within about a 50-mile radius.

Camp Iowa: What’s your favorite activity in the area?

George: What’s my favorite activity? I only work here. [laughs] No, I like to do a lot of those things. A big attraction for us, actually, particularly in the spring of the year, is we have severe weather shelters. As far as we know, we’re one of three parks in Iowa that have bona fide, certified severe weather shelters.

Camp Iowa: Wow. What do those look like?

George: They’re big steel tanks buried in a hill. In 2006, we excavated 30,000 cubic feet out of the old pond, the original pond, and then we piled all those dredgings up into a sledding hill and buried these tanks in this hill. We created a sledding hill for wintertime and then, like I said, we have storm shelters.

Camp Iowa: Wow. How many people can fit in there?

George: About 150. About 50 to 60 people per tank.

Camp Iowa: Are those open to check out in the summer, if you want to take a look at them?

George: Oh, they’re just available, yeah. You can go in them any time. We do seal them in the wintertime. But yeah, through the camping season, they’re open. Absolutely.

Camp Iowa: Interesting.

George: We also have a shower house. That was done in about 2005, maybe. I’d have to look at that grant. And then another building that has men’s and women’s bathrooms in it. No showers in that building, but that was the original building.

Camp Iowa: Sounds like there’s quite a bit to do in the area down there.

George: Yeah. And then in the summertime, starting in June, actually, on Saturday nights, we have entertainment, and on Wednesday nights through July and August. We just finished up, a weekend ago, last Saturday actually, with our final – had a country western band. Had about 250 people there. On one of the shelter houses, we built kind of an entertainment stage venue so that we could do that kind of thing.

Camp Iowa: Sounds like a lot of fun.

George: Yeah, that’s gone over really well. That’s gone over really well.

Camp Iowa: So if someone were to come into town and camp, and they picked the right weekend, they’d have some live music too.

George: That’s exactly right. In July and August, it’d be on Wednesday nights and the weekend in June. And the one in September is on the weekend too. It’s usually the weekend after Labor Day.

Camp Iowa: That sounds great. Anything else you want to add?

George: In the RV park, if you camp three nights, we give you Wednesday night free. We’re very affordable. Compared to most, we try to be a very affordable entity. Except for the RV parking and the tent camping, everything else is free. We do not charge rent for the shelter houses. There’s no amenity that is charged for other than the parking. And that’s currently $12 for electrical and $16 for full hook-up, and I think $8 for tent campsites.

Camp Iowa: Very reasonable.

George: Yeah. We’re very affordable, and we are not in any flood plains or anything. This year, half the campgrounds in this area were flooded out this summer, and we don’t have that issue at all. We’re high and dry, and people can depend on the place to be open. We have about 20 of the sites that are reserveable in advance; the rest of them are take your chances. But you can make a reservation in advance. For people that are coming from a distance, you want to make sure you’ve got a site.

On the weekends this year, we’ve had average about 90% occupancy. Obviously, holiday weekends were overflow, and we’ve been close. We only had three openings I think last weekend, of the 54 sites. So we’ve had a really, really good summer.

Camp Iowa: If somebody wanted to make a reservation, is there a website they could go to, or a phone number they can call?

George: They would call City Hall – let’s see. It’s 319-267-2245. The clerks at City Hall take care of all of our reservation issues.

Camp Iowa: That sounds great. Thank you so much for taking some time out of your afternoon to explain a little bit about Wilder Park.

George: You go on Google Earth and go to Allison, and in the southeast of the town itself, you can pull that easily. You can see the RV sites and the whole nine yards.

Camp Iowa: Cool.

George: Okay. If you need any other information at any time, let me know.

Camp Iowa: All right. Thank you so much, George.

Photos courtesy of Wilder Park, Allison Iowa

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