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Home Care In Cedar Rapids, IA

Home Care Cedar Rapids, 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 Ushers Ferry Historic Village 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 Cedar Rapids, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Cedar Rapids, 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
Elderly Care for DouglasJJIWF
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Caring

“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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In-home Care for Carol64210350
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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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Morgan Creek 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cobble Hill or visit Brucemore, 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 Cedar Rapids, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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:

  • The Views of Cedar Rapids
  • RidgeView Assisted Living
  • The Views of Cedar Rapids
  • MeadowView Memory Care
  • Corridor Crossing Place
  • Garnett Place
Home Care Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids, IA

Latest News in Cedar Rapids, IA

Construction begins on Sub-Zero’s new $140.6 million Cedar Rapids manufacturing facility

Project will create 200 jobs, attracts new company to IowaMarissa Payne CEDAR RAPIDS — Crews have begun moving dirt to build a massive new $140.6 million manufacturing facility for Wisconsin-based high-end appliance company Sub-Zero — marking a milestone for a project that will create 200 jobs and bring a new company to Iowa.State and city of Cedar Rapids officials, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Sub-Zero Gro...

Project will create 200 jobs, attracts new company to Iowa

Marissa Payne

CEDAR RAPIDS — Crews have begun moving dirt to build a massive new $140.6 million manufacturing facility for Wisconsin-based high-end appliance company Sub-Zero — marking a milestone for a project that will create 200 jobs and bring a new company to Iowa.

State and city of Cedar Rapids officials, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Sub-Zero Group Inc. development partners celebrated the beginning of construction of the 614,000 square-foot factory at 10015 Sixth St. SW during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. The facility is near The Eastern Iowa Airport and Interstate 380 in the fast-growing southwest quadrant.

“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our journey of economic development in Cedar Rapids,” City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said.

In June, the Iowa Economic Development Authority board awarded $2.56 million in investment tax credits and sales and use tax credits to Sub-Zero. The state also approved giving Sub-Zero a $1.135 million forgivable loan at the end of a seven-year contract period, contingent on a local match.

The Cedar Rapids City Council in June signed off on a 20-year, 75 percent tax break on the increment value generated by the project — an estimated net present value of $15.4 million.

Construction is slated to be complete by August 2025.

Pomeranz said the city and Economic Alliance responded to a request for proposals to lure Sub-Zero here.

“In a business world, it's relationships that really become absolutely critical, particularly as you move through the process and get closer to bringing the entity to your state and to your community,” Pomeranz said.

Scott Wareing, senior vice president of operations and product design with the Sub-Zero Group Inc. project development team, said the three years since COVID-19 began to spread challenged the supply chain, prompting the company to evaluate its future road map and manufacturing strategy.

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“It boiled down to say we need more manufacturing footprint and it says we need to import more of the manufacturing that we currently have with partners today if we want to ensure resilient supply for our consumers,” Wareing said. “That ultimately was the driving point of saying we need another facility.”

Wareing said the collaborative effort by the city and Economic Alliance and helpful spirit of area businesses influenced the company to choose to locate its new facility in Cedar Rapids. Economic Alliance staff arranged for Sub-Zero to meet with plant managers and business owners of about 10 local companies.

Despite the competition for talented workers while employers contend with a labor shortage, Wareing said business leaders showed openness, candor and an attitude of “rising tides lift all boats.”

Sub-Zero hired Toronto-based real estate services firm Avison Young to help identify the company’s priorities and come up with a list of about 900 communities to choose from, Wareing said. With that list, officials narrowed it down to about 17 communities and eventually nine that they visited in person.

The third-generation, family-owned company is approaching its 80th year in business. It has three large manufacturing plants around the United States that have grown and are full, Wareing previously said.

Sub-Zero has three brands: Sub-Zero refrigerators, Wolf ovens and ranges and Cove dishwashers.

“We don't go out and build factories every day,” Wareing said. “We are a relatively small company, so building a factory of this size is a huge deal for us, so we took this process extremely seriously.”

Ron Corbett, vice president of economic development for the Economic Alliance, said the high-quality job creation will amount to a multimillion-dollar payroll coming out of the facility every year.

“That money trickles out to the community” to restaurants, retailers, banks and other financial institutions, Corbett said.

With other communities around the Midwest competing for this facility, city and state financial incentives — as well as lower state corporate tax rates — support Iowa’s ability to attract companies like Sub-Zero, Corbett said.

Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, said Iowa is moving from being one of the least to most competitive states with its tax rates by 2026, when there will be a flat corporate tax rate of 5.5 percent and a personal income tax rate of 3.9 percent.

“The company works tirelessly to live up to its legacy of designing and innovating consumer products with premium-grade materials that quite frankly instill very strong brand loyalty — and I am speaking from personal experience,” Durham said. “In Iowa, we don't just wait and hope for growth in this important sector — the state's largest. We actually strive every day to create a culture in which our businesses can prosper.”

Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell was unable to attend the groundbreaking Wednesday, but Mayor Pro Tem Ann Poe shared a letter on her behalf and said strengthening industry clusters such as manufacturing and attracting new businesses to Cedar Rapids are all part of the city’s economic development strategy.

“Sub-Zero’s manufacturing facility will provide more of these vital opportunities for our residents and further enhance the city's reputation as the center of industry and innovation,” Poe said.

Comments: (319) 398-8494; [email protected]

Univ. of Northern Iowa’s Center for Urban Education expanding to Cedar Rapids

The University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Urban Education will now provide a positive environment in six schools in the Cedar Rapids School District.CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Urban Education has helped students in the Waterloo area for years, but on Nov. 9, they announced they will now provide a positive environment in six schools in the Cedar Rapids School District.They help first generation and low-income students envision new possibilities after high school....

The University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Urban Education will now provide a positive environment in six schools in the Cedar Rapids School District.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Urban Education has helped students in the Waterloo area for years, but on Nov. 9, they announced they will now provide a positive environment in six schools in the Cedar Rapids School District.

They help first generation and low-income students envision new possibilities after high school.

The program will serve sixth through 12th graders providing mentorship, ACT prep, help with time management and more.

UNI-CUE has gone through several expansions.

It was originally started for people of color and low income white families, as well as first generation students, to make sure they have access to educational opportunities.

Now the focus is expanding beyond Waterloo, but also the Cedar Rapids area.

The center can help give students a first-hand look at what opportunities are out there.

“What we try to do is to make it fun for them and provide field trips were getting ready to go see the Wiz. They get to see a Broadway show. They get to talk with the crew, they can say oh I can be a prop designer, I can actually be a stage designer. So we are about getting them to think about what the possibilities are,” said Cedar Rapids Director of Educational Talent Search Dr. Denita Gadson.

The program will cater to ages and grades and include other opportunities like taking high schoolers to college campuses.

Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell was at the announcement to learn more about the partnership and spoke on how critical it is to make sure all citizens are set up for success, no matter their background.

“Diversity matters, it’s a part of what makes our community interesting in a variety of different ways, and it’s important for all of us to recognize that it makes us a richer community, and we need to be intentional about cultivating that,” O’Donnell said.

With the support of the mayor, program leaders say their goal is to continue to expand and have more programs in Cedar Rapids.

Federal funding will be used for the program, and it aims to serve 500 children in Cedar Rapids over five years.

Copyright 2023 KCRG. All rights reserved.

Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation celebrates Dolly Parton’s birthday, literacy impact with Imagination Library

CEDAR RAPIDS — As Dolly Parton turns 78 this week, the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation will be celebrating some numbers exponentially larger than the number of candles on her cake.Since becoming a local affiliate of the country singer-songwriter’s Imagination Library in 2018, the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation has distributed more than 360,000 books to almost 12,000 children — an average of about 30 books per child adding up to over 60,000 books each year in Cedar Rapids.To celebrate, the librar...

CEDAR RAPIDS — As Dolly Parton turns 78 this week, the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation will be celebrating some numbers exponentially larger than the number of candles on her cake.

Since becoming a local affiliate of the country singer-songwriter’s Imagination Library in 2018, the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation has distributed more than 360,000 books to almost 12,000 children — an average of about 30 books per child adding up to over 60,000 books each year in Cedar Rapids.

To celebrate, the library will host its second annual birthday party for Parton while meeting the families that the program has impacted over the last six years. The rekindling of joy around a love for the popular artist and for reading celebrates the impacts of the program that has served children across the country and the English-speaking world since 1995.

“It was really nice to be able to meet some of those families and hear from the children that received the books or have graduated from the program,” said Jess Netolicky, development associate for the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation. “We’re really proud of how many children we’ve served in those six years.”

If you go

What: Dolly Parton’s Birthday Party

Where: Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20

Cost: Free

Details: Events will start with a welcome and happy birthday song to Dolly at 10:15 a.m., followed by story time at 10:30 a.m., a dance party at 11 a.m., and another story time at 11:30 a.m.

Children under 5 years of age can be registered for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. Children’s books will be on sale for $1 each from Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Community partners will provide resources and activities throughout the event.

As an affiliate of Imagination Library, the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation sends out about 5,400 books each month to children in Cedar Rapids. The foundation covers the cost of books and postage, relying on enrollment partners to build awareness around the program and enroll families.

But the impact, for many, is something beyond words.

Children who grow up with books in their home at an early age achieve three more years of education than those who do not, Netolicky said. By increasing access, even families with transportation or financial barriers to books can find a path to giving their children a lifelong love for literature and reading while building an important developmental bond between children and their parents or guardians.

Through the annual birthday celebration, the foundation can see the impacts of the program up close with enrolled families, since the program does not permit direct contact with them.

Families are eligible to enroll their children starting at birth. Children receive one book each month until age 5, when they receive their final book, “Lookout Kindergarten, Here I Come!” by Nancy Carlton.

“The biggest comment we hear is that children and families are developing this love of reading at an early age,” Netolicky said. “We know there are so many benefits of reading to children when they’re young, even before they can comprehend everything they’re reading.”

The average retail price of a children’s book is $13. The Dollywood Foundation, which manages Imagination Library, chooses book selections and reduces the cost to about $2.20 per book with postage thanks to its massive buying power.

“It really is a significant cost,” Netolicky said. “In addition to relying on community partners, we rely on donors to support it.”

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In addition to serving as an Imagination Library affiliate, the foundation supports well-rounded programming including its preschool outreach program since 1990, which provides resources and story times to students in preschools, as well as library staff development supports and an online resource of newspapers and magazines from across the world.

To support the program, visit crlibrary.org/children/imagination-library.

To wear your support for the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation on your sleeve, choose from a selection of custom shirts by Raygun that benefit the foundation, available online.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or [email protected].

6 Reasons to Move to Cedar Rapids, IA

Looking for a new place to call home? Here's why you should consider relocating to this Midwestern gem in Iowa.Located in Eastern Iowa on the Cedar River, the warm and welcoming community of Cedar Rapids offers endless outdoor recreation opportunities, a thriving craft beer, wine and spirits scene, and plenty of options to further your education. Though it is the second-largest city in Iowa, Cedar Rapids maintains its small community feel. Here are si...

Looking for a new place to call home? Here's why you should consider relocating to this Midwestern gem in Iowa.

Located in Eastern Iowa on the Cedar River, the warm and welcoming community of Cedar Rapids offers endless outdoor recreation opportunities, a thriving craft beer, wine and spirits scene, and plenty of options to further your education. Though it is the second-largest city in Iowa, Cedar Rapids maintains its small community feel. Here are six reasons why it may be the right time to make a move to Cedar Rapids.

In This Article

1. You Can Afford to Live Here

The city has a typical home price of $180,900 (Zillow, November 2023). If you move to Cedar Rapids, you’ll enjoy great quality of life amenities include museums, two main theaters, 74 parks, four golf courses, six public swimming pools, two major hospitals and Eastern Iowa Airport. Other advantages include top-notch schools, a vibrants arts scene and a pro-business government.

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2. You Can Collaborate Here

Cedar Rapids deploys forward-thinking initiatives when it comes to issues like sustainability. The City of Cedar Rapids’ Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) was approved in fall 2021, fulfilling the goals of the City Council’s Climate Resolution to reduce greenhouse gases, build resilience to climate hazards and support access to basic needs for all residents. Cedar Rapids has committed to becoming a carbon-free community where residents can meet their basic needs within a 15-minute radius by using means such as walking, biking and low-emissions public transit. The city also has committed to ensuring residents have access to green space, healthy food, clean air and water, and being a place where neighbors help each other with community resources.

3. Score a Top-Notch Education

The region is home to award-winning colleges and universities including the University of Iowa, Mount Mercy University, Cornell College, Upper Iowa University-Cedar Rapids, Coe College and Kirkwood Community College. Whether taking courses for a certification, getting a bachelor’s degree or going for a master’s degree, Cedar Rapids has numerous options to choose from.

Experiences & Adventures

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4. Be in the Middle of it All

Cedar Rapids is in a prime location in the center of it all and is within driving distance to several metros, including Minneapolis, Kansas City, Chicago, Omaha, Milwaukee and St. Louis. The Eastern Iowa Airport offers direct flights to great places such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando and Phoenix.

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Immerse Yourself in the Vibrant Cedar Rapids Arts Scene

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5. Sip Your Way Through the City

The craft beverage scene in Cedar Rapids is thriving. Breweries like Iowa Brewing, Lion Bridge Brewing and Quarter Barrel are community hubs with events, games and live music. Another brewery, Big Grove Brewery, recently joined the ranks, and just outside of town, residents can also enjoy Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery and Millstream Brewing Co.

6. Explore an Outdoor Oasis

A move to Cedar Rapids means you’ll be surrounded by great outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, cycling, and activities on the water, too. There are hundreds of miles of trails in the area. Favorite spots include Indian Creek Nature Center, which also offers indoor and outdoor interactive nature exhibits, and the paved 12.6-mile Cedar River Trail, which is popular for people on wheels. Several great parks are right in the city’s backyard, including Rock Island Botanical State Preserve, Palisades-Kepler State Park and Seminole Valley Park. Cedar Rapids also offers a unique vista from the top of Mount Trashmore, a landfill turned recreation area.

Dangerous winter weather sweeps through Iowa, spiking road hazards

Blizzard conditions will reach Eastern Iowa by Friday evening, when whiteout conditions may obscure roadwaysBrittney J. Miller After the first winter storm of the year passed through earlier in the week, blizzard conditions descended Friday on Iowa with snowfall and strong winds, paired with declining temperatures, spelling perilous travel on roadways.The Iowa Department of Transportation had more than 675 plows on the roads Friday ...

Blizzard conditions will reach Eastern Iowa by Friday evening, when whiteout conditions may obscure roadways

Brittney J. Miller

After the first winter storm of the year passed through earlier in the week, blizzard conditions descended Friday on Iowa with snowfall and strong winds, paired with declining temperatures, spelling perilous travel on roadways.

The Iowa Department of Transportation had more than 675 plows on the roads Friday morning. However, the combination of wind, snow and low temperatures made their jobs harder: After plows passed through rural areas, drifting snow quickly flooded some roadways again. Even if blowing winds make the roads look cleared, there still may be a layer of ice present.

Road treatments like brine become less effective in temperatures lower than 0 degrees, keeping roads slick and dangerous. Operators may switch to rock salt in colder weather, but it doesn’t stick to roadways as well as brine.

Plows will remain on the roads until it’s unsafe to do so, said Andrea Henry, Iowa DOT director of strategic communications. Hazards include declining visibility and increases in drifting snow.

“It's really based on the operator and our maintenance supervisors in those areas,” Henry said. “If they're getting to a point where they can barely see in front of them, where they can't see where they're at on the roadway, then we would pull those plows. But generally we're going to stay out there as long as we possibly can.”

As of noon Friday, no state plows had been taken off the roads yet.

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The Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT and National Weather Service are urging residents to stay off the roads. Snow-covered or partially covered roadways infiltrated the entire state. Travel was not advised for about a third of the state, including most of Eastern Iowa to Des Moines. Most counties were marked as “towing not recommended.”

At least two Iowa roads were marked impassible by noon Friday: US-6 and IA-3, both in Western Iowa.

By 9 a.m., there already were “too many partial closures to list” east of Des Moines on Interstate 80, the Iowa State Patrol said. A stretch of the interstate near Williamsburg was temporarily closed in both directions early Friday due to four jackknifed semi-trailer trucks.

“The No. 1 advice we give is if you don't have to make a trip, don't go,” Henry said. “If you do have to go, use your resources. Make sure you're listening to the forecasts.” She recommended keeping tabs on the Iowa DOT’s Iowa 511 road condition map and packing a winter survival kit if traveling.

A blizzard warning is in effect for a swath of Eastern Iowa, from Waterloo down to Keokuk, until noon Saturday. The warning was expanded to Northeast Iowa late Friday morning.

The most significant travel impacts are forecast to engulf Eastern Iowa on Friday night into Saturday, when strong winds up to 50 mph cause blowing and drifting snow. As of Friday morning, the National Weather Service Quad Cities Bureau still was unsure how widespread whiteout conditions would be, and how much blowing snow to expect Saturday.

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A wind chill watch will follow from Saturday evening until Tuesday morning. Wind chills will drop to at least minus 40 degrees from the weekend into next week, with the coldest expected early Monday and Tuesday mornings.

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As of Friday morning, between 1 to 4 inches of snow had fallen overnight in Eastern Iowa. The weather service’s Quad Cities Bureau projected Cedar Rapids and Iowa City may see between 5 and 8 inches of additional snow into Friday evening, while areas northeast may see up to a foot more.

Snowfall should end in Eastern Iowa between 10 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday, depending on the location. Blowing and drifting snow and travel impacts may continue longer into Saturday morning.

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Brittney J. Miller is the Energy & Environment Reporter for The Gazette and a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

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