English Valley Care Center celebrates 50 years of serving the community

The year was 1973. Richard Nixon was in the White House, a loaf of bread cost $.35 and Tony Orlando and Dawn released “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.”

And the English Valley Nursing Care Center opened its doors at 150 West Washington St., North English, to serve not only that town but surrounding communities as well.

This year the EV Care Center is celebrating the 50th year of fulfilling its motto, “A great place to call home!” Earlier this summer, the center recognized this milestone with a special gathering for residents and their families.

History

Mike Elwood, North English, president of the care center board of directors, took a few minutes recently to review the facility’s history.

Mike’s brother, Richard, began practicing law in North English in 1964. Mike joined him three years later, in 1967. Richard felt strongly the town needed a nursing home and set the wheels in motion to make it happen. When he presented the topic to local business owners, they agreed. Not only did North English not have a care facility, neither did any of the neighboring towns. The need was there. A consultant was hired to help direct the project, a corporation was formed and a board of directors was named.

Members of the first English Valley Care Center board of directors were Richard Elwood, Dr. LA Miller II, Carl Noel, Dean Best, Robert Casteel, Kenneth Campbell, Eldon Beorkrem, John Klopstad and Bruce Tarbox. Current members are Mike Elwood, Alan Grimm, Scott Grimm and Bonnie Romine. Others who have served on the board through the years include A.J. Bair, Lynn Kolosik, Gary Kolosik, James Sauter, Robert Casteel, Dean Morse and Colleen Eckhart.

When those parts were in place, the fundraising began in earnest. A total of $130,000 needed to be raised before the project could be launched “in public.” Members of the board went door to door through the town and sold stock for $100 a share.

A ladies group, formed by Ethel Casteel, supported the project as well and encouraged North English residents to purchase stock and make the care center a reality.

That was the beauty of the plan, Mike Elwood explains.

“There were no huge buyers, just people buying one, two or three shares. Nobody owned huge portions,” he says. “That gives us the ability to give good care without being driven by the bottom line.”

Any money the center makes is put back into its operation and maintenance.

“No one, no single owner is making a living from it,” Mike adds.

In November of 1971, the board awarded the construction contract to A.C. Doehrmann Construction, who built the care center for $301,000. It was sited on five acres on the north edge of town which was purchased by the board for $9,500.

The center opened Jan. 15, 1973, with 40 beds, divided into an east wing and a west wing. A north wing was added in 1975, bringing the total number of beds to 67. At the time of its opening, a double occupancy room was $13 a day. A private room with a shared bath was $14.50 and a private room with a private bath was $15.50.

Currently, the center is considered to be at capacity at 44 beds, due to staffing shortages. If and when more staff can be added, more beds will be made available.

Services at the English Valley Care Center include skilled, intermediate and respite care with private, semiprivate and suites available. Therapy services include physical, occupational and speech. The center offers daily activities for residents, along with a 24-hour nursing staff.

The center became dually certified for Medicare and Medicaid in 2002, under the direction of administrator Jody Morrison.

Assisted living

In 2004, Valley View Assisted Living opened eight apartments located on the care center’s campus. Five years later, in 2009, four more apartments were built to meet demand.

Employees

The center currently employees 68 people, many with double-digit years of service. Connie Peiffer in the social services department joined the team in 1978 and 45 years later, she’s still there. Robin Custer in dietary has worked at the center for 41 years. Debra Grimm, assisted living, has logged 40 years and Kathy Koehn has worked in the dietary department for 39. Jill Hanchett, nursing, has called the care center her work home for 36 years. Roberta Short, housekeeping, and Patricia Kluge, business office, have logged careers of 24 and 23 years, respectively.

These long-term employees, as well as others with service years numbering in the teens, reflect the low staff turnover, another way the center excels in providing quality care for residents, Mike points out. The center has consistently received five-star rankings from the state, the highest available.

Current director of nursing Megan Morrison has been an employee for 15 years.

“She’s doing an excellent job,” Mike says. “She worked so hard during COVID to keep both residents and employees safe. And it’s not just her, all our employees are dedicated and work hard.”

“Our department heads are first class,” he continues.

Departments and their leaders are: nursing, Megan Morrison; activity, Erin Custer; dietary, Jenny Tapken; housekeeping and laundry, Robin Short; maintenance, Bruce Redlinger; business office, Patty Kluge, and social services, Connie Peiffer. Valley View Assisted Living manager is Joani Westhoff.

Over the years, administrators, too, have dedicated years of service to the center. June Barnes was the center’s first admin, serving from 1973 until 1980. She was followed by Audrey Weldon, from 1980 to 2000. Rachel Cass was administrator from 2000 to 2001, then Jody Morrison took the reins from 2001 to 2020. Kourtney Williams held the post in 2020, followed by Tyran Adams from 2021 to 2022. Current administrator is Scott Christianson.

Community impact

The EV Care Center shares a relationship with North English that goes beyond being the town’s second largest employer (English Valleys Community School District is the largest). Community involvement includes hosting an Easter egg hunt in the spring and trunk-or-treat in the fall, welcoming school children for visits, participating in activities with 4-H Clubs and being a part of the North English Fun Days celebration.

The center also collects back to school supplies as well as participates in the L.O.V.E. Network Christmas charity and supports the volunteer fire department and the Knoll Ridge Pool.

Comments: Melinda.Wichmann@southeastiowaunion.com