WesleyLife

04/05/2026

Rejoice - He is risen! On behalf of everyone at WesleyLife, we wish you a blessed, hope-filled Easter Sunday. Please enjoy this greeting that our president and CEO, Rob Kretzinger, sent to team members last week.

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Easter offers us something we all need: a quiet invitation to slow down and notice what matters. I don’t know about you, but as spring approaches, I want to be outdoors. On my walks, I notice signs of renewal all around me, and I’m reminded that each day is a new chance to make a difference.

A Scripture verse that comes to mind when I think about this season is from Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” It’s a reminder that growth and possibility are always unfolding, even in moments when they can be easy to miss.

Across WesleyLife, we see growth and possibility lived out every day. They can be present in small acts of kindness, in moments of reassurance, and in the trust placed in us by those we serve. Each interaction carries an invitation to live life with a greater sense of meaning, to lean into hope, and to pursue joy. That is both the privilege of this work and the responsibility we share.

As I prepare to retire in a little less than two months’ time, I’m thinking of my own renewal as I seek God’s plan for my next chapter. The fact that I’m able to prepare a “second act” is a testimony to what we do as a health and well-being organization; in previous generations, retirement was a time of rest. I’m looking forward to a little of that, sure … but mostly, I feel overwhelming gratitude for the health that will allow me to continue to make some kind of impact, and to be present and active with my wife, our children, and our six grandchildren.

I’ll leave you with this: The earlier we work on our health and well-being, the better. Please fill your body with good food, move naturally, connect regularly with those you care about, and partner with your health care provider on ways you can maximize your one precious life.

Whether or not an Easter celebration is a tradition for you, I wish you in the days ahead some time to rest, to spend time with the people who mean something to you, and to reflect on the difference you make. Your presence matters. Your work matters. And the impact you have reaches farther than you may ever know.

On behalf of our leadership team, thank you for all you bring to WesleyLife and to one another.

04/04/2026

The Easter Bunny stopped The Summit of Bettendorf earlier this week to spread some cheer ... and hide a few eggs along the way. His visit brought smiles, laughter, and a few competitive egg hunters, too. But what mattered most were the moments of connection: shared experiences that bring people together and support emotional health and well-being.

Thanks for the visit, Easter Bunny!

04/04/2026

This week’s Bunny Cake Competition at Hearthstone-A Ministry of WesleyLife in Pella was a fun way to kick off Easter weekend! The two creative entries promoted friendly competition, and residents and team members had fun casting their votes, leading to a close final score of 21–17.

Congratulations to team member Jenna Steffen, who created the white cake shown here, on the win ... and congratulations to the Hearthstone team for creating yet another way for residents and team members to connect!

04/04/2026

Ready for sunshine and a cleaner, more organized home? ✋ Us too!

📋 Check out our eight tips to make spring cleaning safer and easier this year. (And consider how you can leave home maintenance tasks behind with a move to community living.)

Safely and efficiently refresh your home with these spring cleaning tips for seniors, and consider a move to leave home maintenance behind for good.

04/03/2026

The visit was quick, but the guest was an important one! Troy Porter, our director of facilities, construction, and development, brought his son Jax to Indianola yesterday to check out the progress of the $49.5 million redevelopment of The Village, A WesleyLife Community.

Jax turns 3 soon, and for him, it was mostly about the hard hat and the mud. (And telling all the workers, "Good job!") For Troy, it was a chance to share a small piece of his day and the work he is helping lead with one of the most important people in his life.

The visit was a good reminder that work and life are not separate, and that the people we care about are part of why we do what we do. And when we talk about health and well-being, this is part of our "why" at WesleyLife: prioritizing what matters most.

(And if, like Jax, you want to check out progress at The Village for yourself, visit https://hubs.li/Q049CD770!)

04/03/2026

Last night, WesleyLife leaders, team members, friends, and members of the greater community gathered to open Side by Side, a portrait series that celebrates the connection between pets and the people served through WesleyLife Meals on Wheels. The exhibit features the work of local artist Joe Crimmings and shares the stories of 11 clients and their companions.

The photos were a beautiful center of attention. Joe shared that the scale was intentional, as pets aren’t a small part of life. For many, they’re everything. The portraits reflect that.

Meals on Wheels leaders were pleased to welcome Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen, along with several clients featured in the series. They also were delighted to host volunteers, partners, and others who helped bring this project to life.

Thank you to Chef Aaron Holt and Catering by Doolittle Farm for providing delicious food for the event, and to the Meals on Wheels team for making the evening happen. The project was supported by a grant from Meals on Wheels America, and WesleyLife is deeply grateful to them.

Events like this one help WesleyLife show, in a very real way, who we serve and what matters in their daily lives. Thank you to all who made the evening a success!

04/01/2026

This afternoon, we’re hosting something special, and you're invited.

"Side by Side: Portraits of Pets & Their People in the Meals on Wheels Community" is more than an art exhibit. It’s part of our “20 stories for 20 years” series, created in honor of Meals on Wheels’ 20th anniversary — a milestone that celebrates the people, connections, and moments that have shaped Meals on Wheels over the years.

Through a series of portraits and stories, you’ll meet individuals who receive Meals on Wheels and the pets who bring them comfort, purpose, and companionship each day. You’ll also experience how something as simple as a knock on the door can make a meaningful difference.

Join us today:
📍 Meals on Wheels Generations Room, 3206 University Ave., Des Moines (near Drake University)
🕓 4 - 6 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to the community

Stop in, walk through the exhibit, enjoy light refreshments, and hear a brief program sharing the stories behind the work.

If you’ve been curious about Meals on Wheels or are looking for something meaningful and fun to do this evening, this event is worth your time. And if you can’t make it, check back tomorrow; we'll be sharing photos from the event!

03/31/2026

WesleyLife's health and well-being focus manifests in relevant ways throughout all our locations. At Edgewater-A WesleyLife Active Life Community in West Des Moines, team members visit the culinary team every Monday morning to go through a series of stretches to help the teams prepare for their shifts. Edden G., events coordinator at Edgewater, offers her take: "(Stretching) makes the brain relax. It relieves stress and helps us get ready for the day!" Server Heidy F. echoes, "It's mentally helpful. I look forward to it every week!"

The two are pictured with, in foreground, Krista Adams, director of culinary excellence for WesleyLife. Thanks to all for keeping well-being front and center!

03/30/2026

It’s always worth celebrating when one of our communities for healthy living earns a 5-star rating, the highest possible, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It’s even more notable when that recognition comes during a major redevelopment.

Congratulations to The Village, A WesleyLife Community in Indianola, which received its 5-star rating earlier this month, and to everyone who contributed to this achievement. Earning top marks while a $49.5 million redevelopment is underway speaks volumes about the strength of the team and the consistency of care.

The CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System helps individuals and families compare communities using measures such as health outcomes and staffing. A 5-star designation reflects the highest level of performance.

If this level of excellence is being delivered today, it sets a strong expectation for what’s ahead. It reinforces what families can count on from WesleyLife: thoughtful, quality care delivered by people who take pride in what they do.

Congratulations once again to The Village!

03/28/2026

The Village, A WesleyLife Community in Indianola looks forward to its soup supper every year! Not only is the event an opportunity to enjoy fellowship and connection with neighbors; it’s also a major fundraiser, supporting the community’s Good Shepherd Fund — which in turn supports the WesleyLife Promise, ensuring that residents who deplete their resources through no fault of their own will not be asked to leave their homes on campus.

Heartfelt thanks to all who participated and contributed!

03/28/2026

Wondering about the cost of independent living? 😬

Many people assume staying in their current home is the most cost-effective option. But when you factor in all your costs (including property taxes, utilities, home repairs, and more), the gap between staying put and moving to a premium independent living community is often smaller than expected. 😯

Selling your home is one great way to fund a move to community living. Learn about other strategies in our latest article on the WesleyLife blog.

Learn about what’s included in the cost of independent living and how to pay for it through popular financial strategies.

03/27/2026

More evidence that everything in life is about the connections and relationships we form:

Last night, members of the WesleyLife team attended a Turkish dinner hosted by the Des Moines Area Community College Culinary Arts program at the Iowa Culinary Institute. We are proud of our strategic partnership with the DMACC program, and our team members enjoyed a wonderful evening.

The experience was especially meaningful for Maureen Onyeziri, our director of organizational learning. Maureen writes:

"Meeting this woman was the highlight of my evening. Her name is Gloria Mariette Okpara, from Nigeria. She’s Igbo (my tribe). During chef introductions, I heard her name and immediately knew her country and tribe.

"While they were walking away after introductions, I said 'Thank you for the amazing dinner' and 'Well done' in my native Igbo language, and she immediately came over to hug me! She also met me on my way out at the end of the night and said how pleased she was to hear someone else speak Igbo to her in Iowa. She called it a rare experience since she moved here, and it made her heart swell."

We are happy Maureen and Gloria were able to connect in such a real and organic way. A big "thank you" to Krista Adams and her culinary team for facilitating unique opportunities not only for the residents we serve, but for the team members who execute and support the serving!