Meet Our Administrator, Jenna Gardner!
"I grew up in Cedar Rapids on the Westside with close ties to my extended family and all my aunts, uncles and cousins nearby. My personal and professional journey started with a strong relationship with my grandparents as a child. The relationship I had with them influenced decisions I made as a young college student. The ease I felt working with and learning about older adults became quickly evident as I studied Gerontology at both Iowa State University and Wichita State University. I later attended The Ohio State University to get my certification in Nursing Home Administration and recently the University of Dubuque for my MBA. I truly enjoy my work and education in this field and hope to continue to grow and apply my skills for years to come.
As I started my work in geriatric psychology just out of college I also supported myself through being a medical assistant and a medication aide both at Abbe Center and Four Oaks Treatment Center with the support and training of my mother. I had the great opportunity to work as a consultant for an IT company working on Health Care software implementations starting in DC, then Maryland and Virginia. These projects also took me to Oklahoma City and McAllen, TX. After that I was able to move into working as a nursing home administrator, a dementia care provider, a home health coordinator, and an assisted living manager with Life Care Services. In working for a national corporation I had the opportunity to be and Administrator and Health Services manager in many cities throughout the US including a few cities in New England, Cincinnati, Omaha, and St. Louis. Through my experiences with this company I knew my true calling, being a nursing home administrator became my true passion. Not only because of the great residents and families I was able to work with but also the staff and the relationships I got to build and the careers I was able to enhance.
Although my family was always important to me, when my father suffered a brain injury in 2009 I learned that the distance was very hard. Getting back to my roots in Cedar Rapids became very important to me. As the opportunities arose within my company I moved closer to my family to become the primary care giver for my father, soccer coach for my nephew and build closer relationships with my two sisters. I now have three nephews, a niece, and 2 children of my own. Being able to have my family and career in the same city has been such a blessing. Starting in 2011 I was able to work in Dubuque for a short time and then take a position back in my home town of Cedar Rapids. I left Life Care Services (Cottage Grove Place) in 2015 to take a job at Unity Point Living Center East with Health Care of Iowa to assure I could stay close to home. I am genuinely excited to continue my work with Health Care of Iowa here at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids. "
-Jenna Gardner
Welcome Jenna!
________________________________________________________________________________
October Event Highlights
Coffee Club
Join us every Monday morning from 9-10am in our Piano Lounge for coffee and conversation at our coffee club! Anyone is invited to join! Come to see our beautiful facility, to learn more about our services, or just to chat! Receive a complementary mug on your first visit! For questions call our main phone line (319)632-1350.
Music with "Loco" Lee!
Our monthly sing-along with Richard "Loco" Lee is on Sunday, October 7th from 1:30-3:30 pm in our Skilled Dining Room! Stop by for some classic and blues tunes from our favorite guy off the tracks!
Trick-or-Treating at The Gardens!
Bring the kiddos and grand-kiddos in their best costumes over to The Gardens on Saturday, October 27th at 3:00 pm for trick-or-treating! Residents will be lined up in the hallways ready to give out goodies!
**Please note that some calendars state this event will be held on the 20th. The date has been changed and will be held on the 27th.
Assisted Living Brunch
Our monthly brunch for invited guests of our assisted living tenants is scheduled for Friday, October 26th at 10am! This brunch is complementary to guests invited by our assisted living tenants! Please R.S.V.P. to Eva at ecoblentz@thegardenscr.com or (319)930-8768
Bingo with Prairie High School
Like Bingo? Come play with some students from Prairie High School on Saturday, October 27th at 10:00 am in our Skilled Dining Room! Win a variety of prizes and enjoy socializing with some awesome teenagers!
Musical Fellowship w/ Stonebridge Church
Enjoy and afternoon of gospel music and fellowship with Stonebridge Church on Sunday, October 28th at 1:30.
Trip to Israel Presentation
Come meet Carolyn Moe, the sister-in-law of one of our tenants, and hear about her recent trip to Israel! Tuesday, October 30th at 10:00 am. in our Skilled Dining Room. Refreshments will be provided.
________________________________________________________________________________
October Tenant Spotlight: Mae Kaestner
Mae Kaestner was born on July 15th, 1930 in rural Atkins, Iowa on a farm. She went to eight years of parochial school and graduated from Newhall High School in 1948. Went to two years of nurses training at St. Luke's. She married Richard Kaestner on August 20th, 1950. The couple farmed and raised six kids, three boys and three girls. Mae was a successful seamstress, completing many alterations and projects for various bridal shops and customers. One of her hobbies is crocheting plastic grocery bags to make sleeping mats for the homeless. Mae is very involved in her church, St. John's Lutheran in Newhall, Iowa. She was also an active volunteer for Mission of Hope in Cedar Rapids. Join us Thursday, October 25th for an "Afternoon with Mae" at 2:00 pm. Location of event is to be determined.
________________________________________________________________________________
Other News
Transportation to Appointments
Did you know that transportation to appointments is available for assisted living tenants on Thursdays? We ask for a week's notice of any appointments to accommodate staff and tenant's schedules.
Meal Punch Cards and R.S.V.P.'s
Planning to join us for a meal? We LOVE having guests at our table! Please let us know you are coming 24 hours before your visit so we can get your meal ready! Regular visitor? Be sure to purchase a meal punch card! These are located at our front desk. Purchase 5 or 10 meals at a time. Your server will ask to see your punch card at the time of your meal.
Labeling Laundry
If you or your loved one resides in the long-term care end of our facility please remember to clearly label all laundry with a name. This ensures all clothing gets back to its proper owner. For any questions please see our Housekeeping Manager, Brenda.
________________________________________________________________________________
In Loving Memory
Jerry Scheel
11/12/53 - 9/11/18
________________________________________________________________________________
Happy Birthday!
Jo C. - 10/2
Jasper R. - 10/16
Barbara S. - 10/16
Pat M. - 10/16
Darlene Tiedemann 10/17
Abe W. - 10/23
Ailene E. - 10/28
__________________________________________________________________________
Phone List
Main Line 632-1350
Fax Line 632-1469
Nurses Station Suites 200 Ext. 111 , 632-1484
Nurses Station Suites 100 Ext. 112 , 632-1485
Memory Care Wing 632-1481
Assisted Living Wing 632-1448 , 632-1489
Millennium Therapy Ext.110 , 632-1483
Amanda Loesche- Office Manager Ext.101 , 632-1482
Jean Westerbeck Administrator Ext.103 , 632-1476
Amy Kubik-Hasley - Community Relations Director Ext. 109 , 632-1477
Mary McDaniel -DON LTC/Skilled Ext. 107 , 632-1478
Dallas Urbain- Assisted Living DON Ext. 106 , 632-1480
Eva Coblentz- Activity Director (319)930-8768
Bridget Martin- Social Worker Ext. 104 , 632-1479
Matt Munyakazi- Restorative Nurse Ext. 152 , 632-1487
Kitchen Ext. 105 , 632-1486
______________________________________________________________________________________
Hope You Have a Wonderful Month!
