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Home Care In West Branch, IA

Home Care West Branch, 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 Herbert Hoover National Historic Site 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 West Branch, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care West Branch, 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
×
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 West Branch, IA?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care West Branch, IA

Types of Elderly Care in West Branch, IA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care West Branch, IA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers West Branch, 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 Irons 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 West Branch, 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 Tipsy Bear Bistro or visit Main Street West Branch, 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 West Branch, IA

Benefits of Home Care in West Branch, IA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in West Branch, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care West Branch, IA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your IA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care West Branch, IA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in West Branch, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care West Branch, IA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers West Branch, 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 Brook of West Branch
  • The Horizon Senior Living III
  • Villa at West Branch
  • WEST BRANCH MANOR
  • Peaceful Acres Assisted Living
Home Care West Branch, IA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care West Branch, IA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in West Branch, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Elderly Care West Branch, IA

Latest News in West Branch, IA

West Branch does it again in 5, outlasting Lisbon in a 2A regional volleyball semifinal

LISBON — They would have preferred to have avoided the drama.But the West Branch Bears felt fully comfortable in Game 5.They had been there before, just five days earlier.“When you get to a fifth game, you’ve just got to play for each other,” senior JaLynn Falco said. “Every point is everything.”West Branch snagged its second straight five-set postseason triumph Monday night, outlasting Lisbon (26-24, 25-20, 24-26, 23-25, 15-9) in a Class 2A volleyball regional semifinal Monday ...

LISBON — They would have preferred to have avoided the drama.

But the West Branch Bears felt fully comfortable in Game 5.

They had been there before, just five days earlier.

“When you get to a fifth game, you’ve just got to play for each other,” senior JaLynn Falco said. “Every point is everything.”

West Branch snagged its second straight five-set postseason triumph Monday night, outlasting Lisbon (26-24, 25-20, 24-26, 23-25, 15-9) in a Class 2A volleyball regional semifinal Monday night at Lisbon High School.

“We’re all seniors, so this is our year,” Kylie Pickett said. “We want it more. We’ve just got to go out and keep playing our game.”

The Bears (18-16) will play for a state-tournament berth Wednesday, when they face No. 4 Denver (33-10) in a regional final.

First serve is 7 p.m. at La Porte City.

“We’ll get some film, we’ll watch it and we’ll find a way to do what we do,” West Branch Coach Rebeckah Hesler said.

“One thing about us, we’re very versatile. We are able to change lineups. We can move our middle to our outside. We can move our outside to the right side.”

The Bears were on the cusp on a sweep, leading 24-22 in Game 3. But Lisbon (28-7) scored four straight points, three from kills by Mykala Luzum-Selmon, to extend the match.

“These kids are a prime example of a group that is never going to quit,” Lisbon Coach Lance Kamaus. “Ever.”

Back-to-back kills by Ava Czarnecki at 23-23 sent it to Game 5.

“We spent so much energy coming back,” Kamaus said.

West Branch scored three straight points to break a 3-3 tie in the finale, and led the rest of the way, preventing the Lions from scoring back-to-back points all set.

Lisbon got 24 kills from Czarnecki and 17 from Luzum-Selmon. But the Bears had more balance and finished with a 60-54 advantage in kills.

Falco finished with 16 kills for the winners. Emily Coleman had 14 kills and five blocks. Pickett added 12 kills to go with 32 assists.

West Branch overcame a 20-17 deficit in the opener, then pulled away steadily in the second half of Game 2.

The Bears defeated archrival Iowa City Regina in a five-set regional quarterfinal last Wednesday.

West Branch 3, Lisbon 2

(26-24, 25-20, 24-26, 23-25, 15-9)

Class 2A Regional Semifinal, at Lisbon

Serving: West Branch 104-113 (.920), Lisbon 93-101 (.921)

Aces: West Branch 6 (JaLynn Falco 4), Lisbon 7 (Mykala Luzum-Selmon 4)

Kills: West Branch 60 (Falco 16), Lisbon 54 (Ava Czarnecki 24)

Assists: West Branch 51 (Kylie Pickett 32), Lisbon 53 (Kaitlynn Hasselbusch 50)

Blocks: West Branch 10 (Emily Coleman 5), Lisbon 9 (Addi Petersen 4)

Comments: [email protected]

Denver denies West Branch in a 2A volleyball regional final

Cyclones serve 17 aces, come on strong after dropping Game 1Jeff Linder LA PORTE CITY — There was no secret service strategy.“Honestly, I just wanted to get it in,” Denver’s Grace Mullihan said.Get it in, get it down. It happened frequently.Fourth-ranked Denver served 17 aces and shrugged off a sluggish start, defeating West Branch in a four-set Class 2A volleyball regional final Wednesday night at ...

Cyclones serve 17 aces, come on strong after dropping Game 1

Jeff Linder

LA PORTE CITY — There was no secret service strategy.

“Honestly, I just wanted to get it in,” Denver’s Grace Mullihan said.

Get it in, get it down. It happened frequently.

Fourth-ranked Denver served 17 aces and shrugged off a sluggish start, defeating West Branch in a four-set Class 2A volleyball regional final Wednesday night at Union Community High School.

Scores were 23-25, 25-9, 25-16 and 25-18.

“It feels surreal,” Mullihan said. “The regional finals ... it took a while to get used to the feel and settle in.”

Denver (34-10) will face No. 5 Sumner-Fredericksburg (28-13) in a first-round match at the state tournament at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

The Cyclones and the Cougars are two of five North Iowa Cedar League teams in the 2A state field.

West Branch retired at 18-17. The Bears won a pair of five-set thrillers to get to this point, against Iowa City Regina and Lisbon.

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But the Cyclones, simply, were better.

“We did everything we could, every single point,” said West Branch’s Alyse Klinkkammer, one of eight seniors on the Bears’ roster.

“We knew their middles would be big and strong. To get a set off the No. 4 team in the state, that’s a good way to go out.”

West Branch stormed to leads of 12-3 and 15-4 before the Cyclones settled in. They got even at 18-all, then four more times — the last at 23-23 — before a kills by Kylie Pickett and Alyssa Vargason gave the set to the Bears.

From that point on, though, it was almost all Denver. The Cyclones out-killed the Bears 38-18 in the final three sets.

Game 3 was tied 10-10 before Denver scored seven in a row. And the Cyclones pulled away from a 12-10 lead in the final with a run of five.

“They’ve got strong hitters,” Bears Co-Coach Rebeckah Hosier said. “And their servers ... they have a good deep serve and good floaters.”

Mullihan had five of the Cyclones’ 17 aces, including three in a row in Game 3.

Elaina Hildebrandt paced the winners with 13 kills. Channing Johnson dished out 42 assists.

Pickett posted seven kills and 11 assists for the Bears. Emily Coleman also had seven kills.

Denver 3, West Branch 1

(23-25, 25-9, 25-16, 25-18)

Class 2A Regional Final, at Denver

Serving: West Branch 65-67 (.970), Denver 88-96 (.917)

Aces: West Branch 4 (Claire Jarrett 2), Denver 17 (Grace Mullihan 5)

Kills: West Branch 31 (Kylie Pickett, Emily Coleman 7), Denver 51 (Elaina Hildebrandt 13)

Assists: West Branch 27 (Pickett 11), Denver 48 (Channing Johnson 42)

Blocks: West Branch 3 (Coleman 2), Denver 2 (Johnson, Jessica Gergen)

Comments: [email protected]

West Branch small businesses not fearing potential government shutdown

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (KCRG) - House Speaker Mike Johnson has offered a two-step plan to keep the federal government open. If his plan doesn’t pass, the government will shut down this Saturday.That would include National Parks and federal museums.The city of West Branch is home to the Herbert Hoover National Historical site. It brings thousands of tourists to the area every year and those tourists shop in the city’s small businesses.”If we didn’t have the tourists coming in it would definitely be a do...

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (KCRG) - House Speaker Mike Johnson has offered a two-step plan to keep the federal government open. If his plan doesn’t pass, the government will shut down this Saturday.

That would include National Parks and federal museums.

The city of West Branch is home to the Herbert Hoover National Historical site. It brings thousands of tourists to the area every year and those tourists shop in the city’s small businesses.

”If we didn’t have the tourists coming in it would definitely be a downer but at the same time we have a very supportive community here,” said Amanda Frauenholz, owner of Izzy’s Treasures in West Branch.

Frauenholz has had her business in West Branch for five years. Her front door is right across the street from the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

”We are one of the first shops that tourists see when they come out of the park so that’s pretty awesome, but we don’t live and breathe for the tourists,” Frauenholz said.

The site brings thousands of tourists to the city each year, and officials say they hope it can stay open as the shopping season begins.

“We kind of jokingly say that a government shutdown is a word that we don’t say in West branch because we are hoping that they can fix what they need to fix before that time comes,” said Jessi Simon, executive director of Main Street West Branch. :The Herbert Hoover Library, museum and the national historic site are absolutely a tourist destination in Iowa and the Midwest. They bring thousands of people to our community every year and we prefer for them to stay open.”

West Branch has prepared for the possibility of the historic site being closed. Past government shutdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic gave them a plan for what to do.

”It’s become a pretty normal thing that we plan for potential government shutdowns especially coming off of the pandemic when they were closed for 18 months. We learned to sustain our small businesses without that tourist traffic,” Simon said.

Even the new businesses in town say they’re not worried about their businesses if the influx of tourists slowed down and it’s all because of the community around them.

”I think we will be ok. The community has been incredibly supportive. We’ve only been open for about 5 weeks and I can feel the love from the community every single day that we’re open ,” said Tiffany Frederick, owner of The Honey Den in West Branch.

The city of West Branch does partner with the National Park Service for the annual Christmas Past weekend. If the government were to shut down, some of those events will need to be re-routed out of the park.

Copyright 2023 KCRG. All rights reserved.

Lots of obstacles, but West Branch football team back in familiar territory: the playoffs

Bears host Pleasantville in a Class 1A first-round game Friday nightJeff Johnson CEDAR RAPIDS — It was going to be a challenging season all along.The West Branch football program lost its longtime leader in the spring when legendary head football coach Butch Pedersen succumbed to cancer. Dealing with that was going to be tough...

Bears host Pleasantville in a Class 1A first-round game Friday night

Jeff Johnson

CEDAR RAPIDS — It was going to be a challenging season all along.

The West Branch football program lost its longtime leader in the spring when legendary head football coach Butch Pedersen succumbed to cancer. Dealing with that was going to be tough enough in so many ways.

Then there was the schedule these Bears had to play, especially in the beginning. Nothing like opening with Williamsburg and Dike-New Hartford back to back.

Throw, pun sort of intended there, in trying to determine a starting quarterback.

“Then recently we’ve had some injuries which have kind of hurt,” said Coach John Hierseman. “It’s kind of been a season of adversity. You hope the kids just keep bouncing back.”

They’ve done a heck of a job thus far. West Branch regrouped after consecutive season-opening losses, upset a top-five ranked Iowa City Regina team a couple of weeks ago and heads back to the state playoffs.

The ninth-ranked Bears host Pleasantville in a matchup of 5-3 teams Friday night in the first round.

“Going through it, we find more and more things all the time that Butch used to do that now we have to do,” Hierseman said. “There is a lot of holdover from what Butch did before, how the kids play and how hard they play. That kind of stuff.”

And a lot of holdover on the staff that took over for him. Hierseman was Pedersen’s offensive coordinator, Tyler Bailey its defensive coordinator, Kevin Braddock its special teams coordinator.

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They’d been part of this program as coaches for years, before that as players. Continuity was never going to be an issue.

“It’s all the same staff we’ve had,” Hierseman said. “We’re all really close, and that’s what has made it possible doing this without having Butch. All of us getting along well, nobody has egos or anything about what somebody is doing or somebody is not doing. We pick up the slack wherever and whatever it is.”

As a team, Hierseman said stout defense has been a staple for these Bears. Offensively, things have been balanced: just about 1,000 yards passing and 1,200 yards rushing.

Interestingly the leading West Branch rusher has just 294 yards. There are two of them, actually, in Auron Marsh and Zach Capper.

Sophomore Brennen Dale took over the QB duties in Week 3 and has played well, completing 61 percent of his passes for 820 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has rushed for 235 yards and nine TDs.

“The leadership was always there. Coming here, moving here from North Liberty, he didn’t know the offense well, so that took a little bit of time,” Hierseman said. “The beginning of the year, he competed for that varsity spot and didn’t get it right away. He went down to fresh-soph and had a great attitude down there.

“The fresh-soph coaches were really impressed when he came down, and there was no pouting or anything. That showed a lot. He played really well down there and eventually got his chance with us, took it and ran with it.”

West Branch beat a good Waterloo Columbus club the third week (30-23), which got things untracked. The 21-17 win over Regina came Sept. 29, though WB lost the following week to Wilton.

The three teams ended up tying for the District 5 championship, with Regina getting the top seed playoff wise because of point differential, with West Branch second and Wilton third.

“I think it shows that we can play with anybody in 1A,” Hierseman said. “1A has a lot of really good teams this year, but there’s not, like, a Van Meter from last year that was way out far and above everybody else. So I think it’s kind of an open field this year.”

His boys have been hearing that repeatedly from the coaching staff.

“That’s been the message for the last several weeks,”Hierseman said. “Really from the Regina week on, that is the message that we’ve been driving home to them. Even losing that Wilton game, that’s a game that we feel we should have won.

“But there’s another really good team in there, too. On any given night, anybody can knock anybody else off in 1A.”

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West Branch football's Butch Pedersen wants focus on the Bears after cancer diagnosis

West Branch football coach Butch Pedersen answered the phone with a sigh when asked if he would answer a few questions.“I can give you a limited amount because I’m trying to make sure that this stays for the team,” Pedersen told the Des Moines Register on Wednesday. “I don’t want this to be a distraction for the team at all, even though I know it is a little bit.”The distraction that Pedersen refers to is his recent diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, a blood cancer....

West Branch football coach Butch Pedersen answered the phone with a sigh when asked if he would answer a few questions.

“I can give you a limited amount because I’m trying to make sure that this stays for the team,” Pedersen told the Des Moines Register on Wednesday. “I don’t want this to be a distraction for the team at all, even though I know it is a little bit.”

The distraction that Pedersen refers to is his recent diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, a blood cancer.

Any cancer diagnosis itself is a difficult challenge to overcome. But Pedersen, who didn’t even know he was dealing with blood cancer, now must face his toughest opponent at the height of football season.

Pedersen says it started with a routine checkup. His doctor saw that he was anemic and suggested the 71-year-old coach take iron supplements. When a month passed without a change in his levels, the same doctor instructed Pedersen to get a biopsy to see if there was a problem.

There was.

A few weeks ago, Pedersen was diagnosed with cancer. In the weeks since, he’s started chemotherapy treatments and will eventually have to undergo a bone marrow transplant.

For one of the winningest coaches in Iowa high school football, this might be Pedersen’s biggest challenge yet.

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Football first, even with chemotherapy treatments

“Dad has never put himself first,” said Lance Pedersen, Butch’s son and Mount Vernon head coach. “Now that has to change because for him to take on this beast, he’s going to have to put himself first. But he doesn’t want to take away from what these kids have done and the success they’ve had this year.”

It makes sense that Pedersen still turns to football, though, even with his diagnosis.

Pedersen has spent his entire 39-year career at West Branch and has compiled a 337-83 overall record through the Bears game against Columbus Catholic last Friday. He's recorded the tenth-most wins all-time among Iowa high school football coaches and has the fourth-most among active coaches.

He's the only active coach to have picked up 300 wins with a single program.

The field at the Little Rose Bowl – West Branch’s football stadium – is named after Pedersen.

So, in short, football was and is Pedersen’s life. And if he can still safely make it out to practices and games, he isn’t going to give up coaching quite yet.

“This week, I’m going to practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and then I’ll be in the press box on Friday,” Pedersen said. “I’m trying to stay as involved as I can be. And I will delegate some things to my assistants, so I do have some time to take care of myself too.”

Pedersen praises his assistants for their ability to handle this transition, but it probably helps that most of them played for Pedersen when they were in high school. They know his program and they know what he wants.

Taking a step back hasn’t been easy on Pedersen. But he understands that he needs to put his health and his family first, even if he would count his coaches and players as extended relatives.

“My coaches do a tremendous job,” Pedersen said. “We do it together and we’re a family. We have fun together, and then we go out and we work hard together because we want the kids to be as good as they can possibly be.”

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A community rallies around their coach

Pedersen didn’t want to share his diagnosis at first. Like mentioned above, he didn’t want his cancer to be a distraction.

But, within the small community of West Branch – just over 2,500 citizens as of the 2020 census – news started to travel. That’s when Pedersen decided to come forward with his diagnosis, at least to his assistant coaches and players.

“To tell the kids was very hard,” Pedersen said. “But I felt like they needed to hear it from me, rather than hear it someplace else. We discussed it as a family because that’s kind of what we do in this program.

“I’ve really stressed a family atmosphere from day one. We need to do things together, and we need to be open and honest with each other. So, I needed to do that.”

West Branch activities director Jake Stenberg says there was a bit of shock from the players and the community when they found out Pedersen had cancer.

See, in this small town, football is a way of life. Grandparents, parents and children all played for Pedersen. On Friday nights, families come together at the Little Rose Bowl and watch the high school football team.

And with what he has done in nearly four decades at West Branch, it was hard for people to understand how a figure like Pedersen could have cancer.

“There’s kind of this, you know, he’s untouchable,” Stenberg said. “Or that nothing bad could ever happen to coach Pedersen, so to find out he has cancer was scary for a lot of them. It was something that took a bit to digest.”

That shock, that fear, that worry…it quickly turned to inspiration.

“As if they needed any more motivation, now they have somebody that they’re playing for and somebody that they’re fighting along with,” Stenberg said.

But that support, it doesn’t just end with the football team.

Stenberg says that each game, West Branch auctions off a suite in the press box for fans to sit in. He says the booster club makes the most money in the playoffs, because more people want that coveted box for the bigger games.

Instead, it was a unanimous decision to offer Pedersen and his family the box for games. Since chemotherapy leaves patients immunocompromised, it’s the perfect spot for Pedersen to still be involved during games without risking his health, and his family can still come and support him without worrying about picking up a sickness from sitting in the bleachers.

It didn’t end there though.

After the school announced the decision to not auction off the suite, the booster club received multiple donations from the community.

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Focus on Friday

Continuing to go out to practices and games could pose a risk to Pedersen.

But football also gives him something to look forward to as he goes through treatment.

“When he got the diagnosis, it’s something that’s scary,” Stenberg said. “But he went from talking with me about it kind of doom and gloom to ‘You know what, I’m gonna beat this thing.

“’And I’m gonna do exactly what I preached to my team, which is (that) it doesn’t matter the opponent, you can always win.’”

That’s Pedersen’s focus right now.

Beating cancer is a priority, but he doesn’t want all the attention that has come his way since his diagnosis became public. He wants people to talk about West Branch football.

The Bears head to the Class 1A quarterfinals on Friday with a perfect 10-0 record. West Branch has outscored opponents 470-80 and has posted four shutouts while making a deep run in the playoffs.

Pedersen’s team will face an MFL MarMac program with a 9-1 record – one win was a forfeit – but hasn’t lost since dropping its season opener by just 3 points.

West Branch also boasts a veteran group of players featuring quarterback Tye Hughes, who has passed for 1,303 yards and 12 touchdowns, and running back Andy Henson, who has 1,354 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground, in addition to leading the Bears in tackles.

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Those are the things that Pedersen wants people in West Branch – and beyond – to focus on. He might have cancer, but he cares about his players. He knows the work they’ve put in to get to this point of the season, and that’s where he wants the spotlight to stay.

“Football is his life,” Lance Pedersen said. “This is what he loves to do, and his team loves him back. He’s been able to touch a lot of lives in so many positive ways throughout his coaching career.

“He wants to be there for the kids and the kids want him to be there for them. It’s something that will definitely help keep him going.”

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

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