During the summer of 2018, a group of Grinnellians headed by Dr. J.R. Paulson started a music therapy program for Grinnell School students, UnityPoint Health—Grinnell and UnityPoint Hospice patients, and local seniors, including residents of The Mayflower Community. The Grinnell Area Arts Council became the fiscal and management agent for the program. Last February, Rachael…
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On Thursday, July 2nd, Grinnell’s Mayflower Community provided a home-delivered shrimp dinner. Taking the place of the annual gathering of dozens of residents on the Buckley Courtyard patio to enjoy freshly boiled shrimp, corn on the cob, and potatoes, complimented with sausage, and homemade coleslaw and bread. The meal was topped off with a desert…
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In the midst of social distancing, how do you get outside safely and enjoyably? The Mayflower Community (Grinnell IA) has one answer: “Fun2Go” three-wheeled cycles. Mayflower has now purchased its second Van Raam adaptive cycle, named “The Chat.” Training was recently completed, and the new cycle along with a Van Raam “Side-by-Side” cycle purchased last…
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Recently, The Mayflower Community (Grinnell IA) announced that our Health Center and Beebe Assisted Living had completed “Phase I” of requirements for long-term care facilities set by the Iowa Department of Health (IDPH) and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA). Shortly thereafter, an active case of COVID-19—the first ever at Mayflower—was diagnosed with…
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The 40,000 piece puzzle begun by The Mayflower Community resident, John Noer, in February 2019 is now 8/10th complete. The 10-frame Disney characters puzzle produced by has been in process in the Mayflower Basement Craft Room in sections. John just finished “Fantasia.” John has completed eight of the frames and stored them in preparation for…
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With social distancing in place, the Tuesday/Thursday morning coffee group at Mayflower continues to meet. They no longer can gather in person and honor their motto: “Where two or more are gathered, Scott provides coffee!” (“Scott” is Scott Gruhn, Mayflower’s Director of Food Services.) Nevertheless, the group can meet via Zoom®, a video conferencing application…
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The Mayflower Community is lucky. We seem to be on Neil Hewitt’s concert tour. Besides a gig last December and one last January, both in the Carman Center, Neil honored Mayflower residents by playing today (June 16th). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Neil accommodated folks by setting up on the sidewalk in front of the Health…
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John and Pasha Buck have lived in The Mayflower Community since July of 2018. Pasha is currently serving as Mayflower’s interim chaplain, a challenge in these times of social distancing. Both John and Pasha have rich instrumental music backgrounds. John played trumpet and baritone in junior high and high school. In the 1950’s, he played…
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An unsolicited letter from a Grinnell High School junior has brightened the day for many healthcare workers in The Mayflower Community. Sadi Flanagan was moved to write about what she has been observing about life in Mayflower’s Health Center by witnessing her mother Kristi, an LPN (licensed practical nurse) and Mayflower employee. In Sadi’s letter,…
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The Mayflower Community, Grinnell IA, is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic “reopening” process in Iowa. (“Reopening” in quotes because some of us never closed. Actually, it is really a relaxation of restrictions.) As a populace, we know a lot more about COVID-19 then we did last January. However, assumptions and discoveries are still being made.…
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