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Home Care In Ladora, IA

Home Care Ladora, 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 Harold "Pie" Keller 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 Ladora, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Ladora, IA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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“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
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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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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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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 Lake Iowa Park (Iowa County Conservation) 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 Ladora, 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 Linden House or visit Old Arnold House Historical Marker, 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 Ladora, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Cedars Assisted Living
  • The Lakeside Village
  • Panora Assisted Living
  • Sunrise Assisted Living Suites
  • Rose Haven Nursing Home
  • Lodge On Lafayette
Home Care Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, 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 Ladora, IA

Latest News in Ladora, IA

Ladora to celebrate sesquicentennial this weekend

[email protected] second of two sesquicentennial celebrations in Iowa County will be taking place the weekend of Aug. 24-26.This time, the destination of the three-day celebration is Ladora.Events on Friday, Aug. 24 include slow-pitch softball games starting at 5 p.m., with the first game pitting players over 40 against those under 40; live music with Kurt Gillette, a Little Mr. and Miss Contest, with participants riding in the parade on Saturday; and pit barbecue from 6-7 p.m.On Saturda...

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The second of two sesquicentennial celebrations in Iowa County will be taking place the weekend of Aug. 24-26.

This time, the destination of the three-day celebration is Ladora.

Events on Friday, Aug. 24 include slow-pitch softball games starting at 5 p.m., with the first game pitting players over 40 against those under 40; live music with Kurt Gillette, a Little Mr. and Miss Contest, with participants riding in the parade on Saturday; and pit barbecue from 6-7 p.m.

On Saturday, Aug. 25, there is a car show, parade at 10 a.m. and a special dedication event at noon. There will be plenty of activities for the family, including bags, family games, tug-of-war, inflatables and rolle bolle. There is a quilt show and the University of Iowa Mobile Museum will be on hand. The final Saturday event is every local Baby Boomers' wildly popular band, “The Days End,” from 8 p.m.-midnight. These Ladora and Victor “boys” are reuniting after 50 years.

Sunday, Aug. 26, will begin with an outdoor community church service, with an old-fashioned community potluck to follow. Afterward, there will be water ball fights and cow chip bingo, with events slated to end by 5 p.m.

On Aug. 24-25, there will be food trucks and a beer tent; while the vintage machine show runs all three days.

TOWN HISTORY

The history of Ladora has been published several times using this statement:

“Ladora was surveyed and platted by James A. Paine Sept. 19 and 20, 1867. The plat was officially acknowledged Oct. 25, 1867.

“At November (1879) term of court, an order was obtained to call an election to decide the question of incorporation. January (1880) it was decided to incorporate. On March 1, 1880, the following officers were elected: Mayor, J.H. Gray; recorder, O.F. Williams; assessor, O.F. Williams; marshal, F.E. Dennis; common council, F. Pike, L.W. Wilson, F.P. Starrett, M.D. Snavely and I.D. Smith. Soon after election, J.H. Gray resigned and W.S. Foster was elected mayor.”

The town celebrated its centennial in 1968, and had a 125th birthday bash in 1993.

According to information published in its centennial publication, squatters settled in what is now Ladora in the mid-1800s. By 1865, a post office was established on the Wilson farm, about a mile west of the current city limits.

The first census was taken in 1870, showing eight families in town, and 40 adult residents, with 17 women and 23 men).

According to a 1986 article that was published in the Pioneer-Republican (when RAGBRAI was a town along that year’s route), there were several stories about how the town name of Ladora came to be.

One was that a music teacher, Mrs. Glen Scofield, who lived on the old Wilson farm, combined the three notes on the minor musical scale – “La,” “Do” “Ra” – to form the name. Another suggested that the names of a vocal music teacher, L.A. Marble, and his wife, Dora, were combined to form the name, a city name that didn’t conflict with others in use around Iowa.

The town’s first church was a Presbyterian congregation that established in 1869, sitting at the site of the former Ladora school. The church was destroyed by a tornado in 1880. Today, a United Methodist church serves the town’s religious needs.

Ladora had a considerable downtown business district well into the 1960s, particularly before Interstate 80 was completed in 1964. The last of major businesses was Shuall’s Store, which still had a big local clientele until it closed in 1983.

These days, folks visiting from out of town – or perhaps the locals as well – stop at the Ladora Bank Bistro, the former Ladora Savings Bank. The building was completed in 1920 and did well for several years, but fell victim to the Great Depression and closed July 27, 1931. Brad Erickson and Colleen Klainert opened the Bistro in 2008, the last in a long line of uses for the facility since the bank closed.

Ladora had its own school, atop the bluff and overlooking the town, for many years. A gymnasium was completed in 1951 and was the home of many community activities, plays, celebrations and sporting events. This continued into the 1980s, long after Ladora became part of the HLV (for Hartwick-Ladora-Victor) school district. The elementary building and gymnasium closed in December 1985 when a classroom and gymnasium addition to the Victor school was completed.

This Iowa Caucus-themed restaurant is opening in the former space of Ladora Bank Bistro

Iowa's caucus is first in the nation among the quadrennial presidential nomination contests and during that time, politics becomes pervasive in our state. But you wouldn't expect politics to become intertwined with your order of flatbread.Until now.A historic bank building formerly known as Ladora Bank Bistro is currently being transformed into an Iowa caucus-themed restaurant called (what else?) Caucus Bistro.Interested in Iowa food news? Follow ...

Iowa's caucus is first in the nation among the quadrennial presidential nomination contests and during that time, politics becomes pervasive in our state. But you wouldn't expect politics to become intertwined with your order of flatbread.

Until now.

A historic bank building formerly known as Ladora Bank Bistro is currently being transformed into an Iowa caucus-themed restaurant called (what else?) Caucus Bistro.

Interested in Iowa food news? Follow @briantaylorcarlson on Facebook, @BriinDSM on Twitter and @briindsm on Instagram.

Located at 811 Pacific Street in Ladora, Caucus Bistro is currently under construction to become an upscale bistro and wine bar — a candidate for future dining experiences. The bistro is located about 90 miles east of Des Moines on Highway 6. The expected opening date is May 1.

“It just makes sense,” said Dimitri Makedonsky, the building’s owner and the former owner of Ladora Bank Bistro. “This beautiful building and setting in Iowa farm country is the perfect venue for folks wanting to engage, have a nice glass of wine, enjoy good food and appreciate what it means to be ‘first in the nation’. I can’t think of a more perfect way to pay tribute to a truly Iowa event that places us on the world stage.”

The new eatery will offer a variety of wine and beer from around the world, as well as an eclectic share plate menu.

Menu highlights include:

Southeast Michigan native Scott Sukovich, a recent graduate of Kirkwood Community College with 20 years of experience in the corporate world, will join the restaurant team as the chef and general manager.

Be sure to bookmark these frequently-updated special dining features:

For the past 11 years, the building had been operating as the Ladora Bank Bistro.

Always dreaming of opening a venue that pays homage to the Iowa Caucuses, Makedonsky decided to re-imagine the space emphasizing an Iowa Caucus theme. He believes the old bank building in this small Iowa farming community with a population of 231 people is the perfect setting to make it happen.

The Ladora Saving Bank opened in 1920 and closed in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression, never to reopen as a bank again. The building features original marble walls, brass teller cages, mosaic tile flooring, original chandeliers and three vaults.

In 2004, Dimitri Makedonsky purchased the crumbling structure and spent the next four years renovating it and converting it into a wine bar and bistro, which has continuously operated in the building since 2008.

The building is listed on the National Historic Register and is one of only a handful of “jewel box style” banks left in existence.

A good scare for a good cause

LADORA — Creepy dolls, flying demons and scary clowns lurk beyond the dark hallways of the Haunted Barn west of Marengo.The admission fee that 2,000 people a year pay for the privilege of being frightened by them is donated to veterans’ organizations, school programs, food pantries and other nonprofit organizations and to individuals in need.Created more than 40 years ago by townspeople who enjoyed Halloween, the haunted house was previously located above Leanne’s School of Dance in Marengo, said Adam Olson....

LADORA — Creepy dolls, flying demons and scary clowns lurk beyond the dark hallways of the Haunted Barn west of Marengo.

The admission fee that 2,000 people a year pay for the privilege of being frightened by them is donated to veterans’ organizations, school programs, food pantries and other nonprofit organizations and to individuals in need.

Created more than 40 years ago by townspeople who enjoyed Halloween, the haunted house was previously located above Leanne’s School of Dance in Marengo, said Adam Olson.

Martha Kimm, who had a costume shop in Marengo, was a huge supporter of the project, said Olson. “She was huge into joke telling and Halloween.”

A few years ago, Adam’s wife, Jenny, created a nonprofit organization, Friends of Marengo, to oversee the haunted house. “And we’ve been breaking records since that day,” said Adam Olson.

The haunted house was moved to a building on the Olson farm about three years ago, said Olson, a member of the Friends board.

Eight board members and about 20 volunteers work weekends to create a new haunted barn each season. “We start building as early as July,” said Ben Wagner, a member of the board.

Volunteers update rooms, scenery and routes. They give up every weekend in October to operate the attraction.

The Haunted Barn takes “a lot of labor of love and people hours,” Olson said.

Visitors return year after year to be frightened in new ways. They’ve come from as far away as Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota.

The barn will be seen by Europeans too. “The last weekend we have German exchange students from Tiffin [coming],” said Olson.

“They don’t have this in Germany,” said Wagner, so the host families have arranged to take the students through the barn to experience an American Halloween tradition.

The Haunted Barn, located at 1694 Highway 6 Trail, Ladora, is open from 7-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October. The first hour is toned down a bit. The scares get bigger at 8 p.m.

“I think people can look forward to a good scare and interaction with the characters,” said Olson.

The live characters play off the people who come through the maze. One year a grandmother brought her young grandson, and Olson scared them with a chain saw.

He immediately let the child know it was all in fun and let him chase his grandmother with the chain saw.

Wagner remembered a 7- or 8-year-old child coming through the haunted barn. First Wagner scared him. Then he gave him a high five.

“All of us here, we’re moms and dads,” said Wagner. They take it easy on young children.

“Kind of, the rule is, if you’re above our waist, you’re gonna get scared,” Olson said.

Some Ladora firefighters arrived for opening night. “They are volunteers, and they have a good time, and they continue to come back,” said Olson.

“And at the end of the year, we’ll give them a donation for gear.”

“Salute to the Fallen Foundation was out last year,” said Wagner.

Friends of Marengo receives requests every year from organizations who need funds, and the Haunted Barn is generous to the extent that it can be with whatever revenue comes in from people who enjoy being frightened.

Admission to the Haunted Barn is $12, but it’s only $10 with a food donation for the local food pantries, said Olson.

Before volunteers put on masks, costumes and makeup and frighten young and old as they wind their way through the dark, plastic-draped maze, they enjoy a potluck meal and tease one another.

The tortured skeleton may be gruesome. The fiendish dolls may be terrifying. But, says Olson, it’s all in fun, and it’s for a good cause.

Ladora Bank To Reopen As Caucus Bistro

A new restaurant will help keep a historic building open in one Iowa small town, after a well-loved bistro closed down earlier this year.Diners would travel from miles and even states away to eat at the Ladora Bank Bistro, a white-table cloth joint tucked into a nearly one hundred year old building. With the original marble, chandeliers and teller cage still in place, t...

A new restaurant will help keep a historic building open in one Iowa small town, after a well-loved bistro closed down earlier this year.

Diners would travel from miles and even states away to eat at the Ladora Bank Bistro, a white-table cloth joint tucked into a nearly one hundred year old building. With the original marble, chandeliers and teller cage still in place, the bistro developed a reputation as a romantic destination known for its spread of cheese boards, local sausuges and bacon-wrapped scallops.

When the chef and business owner closed down the restuarant this February, it wasn't clear what was next for the building.

But now a new restaurant is opening up, called Caucus Bistro, led by the building's owner Dimitri Makedonsky. He first came upon the building while riding through town on a motorcycle in 2004 and spent years renovating it.

He says he's thought on and off for years about opening a restaurant that revolves around the state's signature political event. Now he's decided the historic bank in the small community of about 270 people is the place to do it.

“Iowa plays that big, that major role and why not celebrate it? And long after the caucuses are over this year and 2020, in January when they all go away and head off to New Hampshire, Caucus Bistro still has a story to tell about Iowa and our political heritage,” he said.

Makedonsky is redecorating the place with caucus memorabilia and campaign photos, like one of then-candidate Jimmy Carter at the Iowa State Fair.

“And if you look at the crowd, I’m sure there’s going to be people coming into the Bistro saying ‘oh my gosh, there I am, or there’s my uncle, or there’s my mom holding me as a baby 45 or 50 years ago'," he said. "So I’m looking forward to getting people’s reactions when they come in.”

Makedonsky and chef Scott Sukovich are fine-tuning a menu that will celebrate Iowa's first in the nation status, featuring plates like the Incumbent, the Dark Horse and Lame Duck.

While some may see a night out as a break from the political news cycle, Makedonsky says the Caucuses, and people who obsess over them, deserve to have a place of their own.

"As far as I'm concerned Iowa is famous for two things: Dan Gable and the Iowa Caucuses. And I just feel that...Dan Gable has his museum, we don't really have anything to celebrate the Caucuses," Makedonsky said. "The bistro would be a perfect setting."

And between his politics and those of Chef Sukovich, Makedonsky says they're already building some bipartisan concensus. They plan to open Caucus Bistro in May.

Just weeks remain to dine at this one-of-a-kind Iowa eatery before it closes

Iowa food and wine aficionados have only a few short months remaining to dine at one of Iowa's historic culinary gems.Ladora Bank Bistro at 811 Pacific St. in Ladora is closing its doors after 15 years of bringing upscale food and wine to this small farming community.The restaurant has been a culinary destination for many foodies in the area who enjoy hopping into their cars to seek out small-town Iowa dining experiences.Interested in Iowa food news? Follow ...

Iowa food and wine aficionados have only a few short months remaining to dine at one of Iowa's historic culinary gems.

Ladora Bank Bistro at 811 Pacific St. in Ladora is closing its doors after 15 years of bringing upscale food and wine to this small farming community.

The restaurant has been a culinary destination for many foodies in the area who enjoy hopping into their cars to seek out small-town Iowa dining experiences.

Interested in Iowa food news? Follow @briantaylorcarlson on Facebook, @BriinDSM on Twitter and @briindsm on Instagram.

"?It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing that we will be closing our doors as of February 18, 2019," said a post on the restaurant's Facebook page. "My wife, Holly, and I are very grateful to everyone whom we have met and has supported us. In the past four-plus years, we have had the privilege to host our guests in the? beautiful Ladora Savings Bank. For that, we are grateful and hope to see you in the next few months. Thank you again for your support. - Jim & Holly Vido and the Ladora Bank Bistro staff"

"P.S. 'When one door closes, another door opens,'" wrote chef and owner, Jim Vido in the same post. "Although the Bistro is closing, I will remain in the business. Please stay tuned for details of where I will be in the near future."

In February, Thrillist magazine named Ladora Bank Bistro the 'best small town restaurant in Iowa.' Ladora has a population of 274 people and is located about 90 minutes east of Des Moines.

Dishes at Ladora Bank Bistro are locally sourced and meant to be shared. Those include:

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Beer and wine are the focus of the beverage program. Wines from across the globe grace the menu, ranging from sweet to dry reds and whites. Beers are regional, like SingleSpeed Brewing's 16 Days, a German-style marzen from Waterloo.

In 2004, Dimitri Makedonsky discovered the building while traveling through Ladora on a motorcycle ride and embarked on a four-year renovation project. Chef Jim Vido joined the bistro in January of 2014. Jim and wife Holly took over the business in May 2014.

On August 3, 1990, Ladora Savings Bank was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Valentine's Day Food & Wine Pairing

Ladora Bank Bistro is hosting a special Valentine's Day Food & Wine Pairing dining event for its final weekend. Each dinner will consist of a 4-course food and wine pairing for each course.

Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 14-15 and will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16.

The cost is $75 per person and the menu will be posted on Ladora Bank Bistro's Facebook page when completed. Reservations can be made by calling (319) 623-7766 or email [email protected].

Gift certificates are not redeemable for either night of this event, so be sure to use those beforehand.

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The Ladora Bank Bistro

Location: 811 Pacific St., Ladora

Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.

Contact: (319) 623-7766; ladorabank.com; Facebook

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