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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
At United Presbyterian Home, everyone is family
For more than 75 years, United Presbyterian Home has provided quality residential services, resources and information for senior adults and their families, guided by Christian compassion, concern and stewardship.
Located in Washington, Iowa, their 35-acre campus offers diverse living arrangements and levels of service to meet the needs and preferences of those who call it home. Whether seniors are looking for condominium-style living, a quaint cottage, skilled nursing care, physical therapy, spiritual wellness, memory care or all of the above, there’s something for everyone at UP Home.
The UP Home campus includes 73 cottages, 30 condominium-style apartments, 37 studio and one-bedroom apartments, a 52-bed intermediate/skilled nursing facility and five guest rooms for family and friends. Residents have access to UP Home’s award-winning wellness and fitness program, daily meals, housekeeping services, an on-campus health department, a chapel with programs that serve many faiths, a library and a plethora of social activities.
“We have some fun services as well, like a massage therapist who comes to our campus and offers services in our spa room twice a week, [and] a nail tech who comes in and does manicures and pedicures,” says Amy Kleese, director of relations at UP Home.
“We also have some resident-led activities, which is really fun to see when they embrace that leadership role with their peers,” she adds. “We have one woman who leads bingo. When we did it, we offered candy. But she goes out with a budget that we’ve given her and buys the funnest little gifts for bingo. We went from six to eight people attending, and now she has 24 or more people attending. It’s a great time.”
The staff at UP Home know there’s no “one size fits all,” as everyone has their own unique set of needs in different stages of their lives — which is why they pride themselves in offering continuum of care to enhance quality of life.
“We have residents who are living independently with our home health care services. They move to our health center and just start thriving again, even just by having their meals prepared for them, their medicine given to them, and more social contact,” Kleese says. “They’ve come to a point in their lives where that helps them live a better quality of life.”
Kleese has been with UP Home since 1999 in a variety of different roles, and a lot has changed in the last 15 years. Services have grown and evolved. Buildings have been torn down, added and upgraded. But one thing remains the same: the social connections residents make within the UP Home community are essential for overall wellness, especially during a time in their lives when its easy to become isolated.
“I’ve worked here longer than I’ve not worked, and it’s just been a very warm, family-focused atmosphere where people check in on each other and are very neighborly. They want to celebrate the good things going on in their lives, so they get together for birthdays and anniversaries. If somebody’s not feeling well, they let us know so we can check in on them. It’s just a really great place for people to retire and take advantage of services, but also just to have those social connections.”
Jen Altenhofen, a resident at UP Home, is thankful for the new friends she’s made in retirement at UP Home.
“For a person who has lived alone most of my adult life, this move to the UPH (United Presbyterian Home) was a blessing in many ways,” she writes as she reflects on her time living at UP Home. “I’ve greatly expanded the number of friends I’ve gotten to know.”
“I can’t speak highly enough about the UPH administration, maintenance department, dining facility and the cleaning staff,” she adds. “All is done by the UPH to make this a very nice, safe, welcoming place to retire.”
Whether you’re a resident, staff member or visitor, everyone at UP Home is treated like family.
“I have worked a little over 23 years at the UP Home and can truly say it feels like family,” writes Paula Brinning, LBSW, social services director at UP Home. “And like any family there has been true moments of joy and celebration and times of trial and tears. But the friendships and good times have far outweighed the struggles.”
