News & Events

Perry Lutheran Home (PLH) announces the launch of a new “Music & Memory” program which brings iPods filled with personalized music selections to residents with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to enhance their memories and enrich their lives. Grounded in research about how brains respond to music, the pilot program will engage fourteen Perry Lutheran Home residents who will have the opportunity to benefit from the therapeutic potential of music to tap deep memories and reconnect with the world. Perry Lutheran Home is one of only nineteen “Music & Memory” certified

24,192 meals packed in 6.5 hours with over 250 volunteers!

Perry Lutheran Home served as the host organization for a “Meals from the Heartland” event. This event took place on Wednesday, April 5 at Main Campus. Residents, tenants, staff, organizations, service clubs, students, and community members worked alongside one another to package meals. These meals feed undernourished people across the United States, including Iowa, and also in third world countries.

In addition to the meal-packing event, dementia simulations, “Music & Memory” demonstrations, and tours of the upcoming Inter-Generational Childcare project took place.

To package

Awarded by: LeadingAge Iowa

Presented to: Perry Lutheran Home – Tonya Wadle, CMA/Restorative Aide

This award is presented to a caregiver employed by a LeadingAge Iowa member organization who has demonstrated an exceptional proficiency in the delivery of quality resident care services to the residents of the organization. This category includes, but is not limited to, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, CMAs, and assisted living caregivers.

The recipient of this award will have demonstrated skills, both professional and interpersonal, that exceeded expectations. They will also work to lift up the value of aging services and

Awarded by: LeadingAge Iowa

Presented to: Perry Lutheran Home – Remembering Hope Education & Outreach

The LeadingAge Iowa “Leading Edge Care and Services” award is presented to a member organization or those affiliated with a member organization in recognition of creative new programs or services that have dramatically benefited the residents and/or clients of the member organization and serve as models of innovation and excellence. This includes those members that demonstrate superior achievement and are setting standards of excellence through programs that address some of the most complex challenges throughout the continuum

Awarded by: LeadingAge Iowa

Presented to: Perry Lutheran Home – St. John’s Sensory-Connected Environment

When planning the redesign of the advanced stage dementia unit, St. John’s, the team at Perry Lutheran Home focused on how a lack of simulation and engagement for residents drives depression, boredom, and increased behaviors. The sensory connected environment makes this redesign unique with the goal to tap into the resident’s meaningful memories and create an individualized homelike, peaceful environment. The strongest early memories are church, school, and home so the Perry Lutheran Home team set out to

Awarded by: LeadingAge Iowa

Presented to: Perry Lutheran Home – CEO, Rev. Max Phillips

The Phoenix award is presented to an individual or organization that through innovative techniques, creative solutions, and unwavering perseverance has risen from adversity to not only impact their organization but their surrounding community. Potential candidates include LeadingAge Iowa member administrators, CEOs, executive directors, housing managers and service program directors.

Rev. Max Phillips, Chief Executive Officer at Perry Lutheran Home, was the Phoenix Award recipient due to his innovative ideas, creative solutions, and support of staff initiatives and development. Because

Awarded by: LeadingAge Iowa

Presented to: Perry Lutheran Home – St. James – Life-Skills Environmental Stimulation

The Perry Lutheran Home recognized that lack of stimulation and engagement is a prime factor contributing to depression, boredom, and aggressive behavior, especially for seniors with dementia. When renovating its memory care wing, Perry Lutheran Home built life-skill stimulation areas to appeal to different resident needs.

St. James memory care wing boast many home-like and daily routine areas. Dad’s Garage features a partial vehicle interior, changeable community scene for driving simulation, and a mechanic’s work area. Main