Perry Lutheran Homes Honored with LeadingEdge Care and Services Award

Perry Lutheran Homes has been awarded the 2018 LeadingEdge Care and Services award for an innovative program that provides meaning, purpose, and value to the lives of residents, volunteers, and staff.

Perry Lutheran Homes’ Meaningful Mission Projects Program was selected for the award by industry professionals at LeadingAge Iowa that recognizes one organization annually for programs and services that have dramatically benefited the residents and serve as models of innovation and excellence. This includes those that address some of the most complex challenges throughout the continuum of aging services.

"The Meaningful Mission Project Program at Perry Lutheran Homes improves the lives of older adults by engaging residents in projects that provide purpose and meaning in all stages of life. The residents at Perry Lutheran Homes have impacted the world by making more than 35,000 bandages for healthcare in Africa, creating comfort crosses for victims of natural disasters, and joining together with the greater community to pack Meals from the Heartland. There is no greater gift than living a life with purpose,” said Shannon Strickler, President and CEO of LeadingAge Iowa. “Congratulations to Perry Lutheran Homes, and their residents, on the 2018 LeadingEdge Care and Services Award. Together with their residents, they are truly making the world a better place.”

“This award and these projects are amazing examples of how volunteers, staff, and residents are living out the StepUp! movement by serving together. The Meaningful Mission Projects Program is not about keeping people busy; it is about our residents’ ability to continue living life, serve others, stay integrated with the community, and to provide purpose and meaning regardless of ability or stage in life which is crucial to the overall health and wellbeing of residents,” says Melissa Gannon, Administrator of Perry Lutheran Homes.

Virginia White, one of the many active residents at Perry Lutheran Homes, expresses, “I really enjoy the amount of activities available and participating in purposeful projects that are meaningful; that allow me to help and serve others.” White often jokes that she is busier now than when she was living at home. To learn more or watch a video about Virginia and her involvement in Perry Lutheran Homes’ Meaningful Mission Projects, visit: https://perrylutheranhome.org/features/purposeful-projects/

Perry Lutheran Homes resident, Carol Mower, rolls strips of white bed sheets turning them into bandage rolls.

Partner organization, Global Health Ministries, which distributes the finished rolls of bandages, in addition to providing no or low-cost health care across the globe to those in need, sent photos and the story of Djoureatou, age 11, back to residents at Perry Lutheran Home to demonstrate the need and impact as well as express gratitude.

Perry Lutheran Homes resident, Virginia White, enjoys working on comfort crosses because it provides her great meaning and purpose to serve and help others.

Comfort crosses were recently delivered to elderly in Haiti to provide hope, comfort, and to let them know that elders in Iowa were praying for their health and recovery. Deb Koelln, Chief Care Officer of Perry Lutheran Homes, is pictured with Lucia Coley, age 78, in Jacmel, Haiti.

Pictured with the award poster from left to right are Perry Lutheran Homes team members: Wanda Pritzel - Director of Philanthropy, Kelly Moore - Assisted Living Administrator, Deb Koelln - Chief Care Officer, Wanitta Ramsey - Activity Director, Melissa Gannon - Long Term Care Administrator, Mollie Clark - Director of Marketing, and Rev. Max Phillips - Chief Executive Officer.

Perry Lutheran Homes, is Your Christian Caring Community serving Perry and surrounding communities for over 60 years. Perry Lutheran Homes offers innovative, personalized, Christ-centered care at two campuses in Perry, IA – Willis Campus and Spring Valley Campus. Services include independent and assisted living, three levels of progressive memory care, in-home care, respite care, skilled care, rehabilitative therapy, intermediate and long-term care, and end-of-life care.

LeadingAge Iowa’s mission is the voice, support, connector for non-profit members and the people they serve; its vision is to be the champion for advancement and innovation in aging services. LeadingAge Iowa represents a spectrum of non-profit providers including skilled nursing, assisted and independent living, home health, adult day care, respite, hospice and home-delivered meals.