WesleyLife

09/11/2026

Five years. Countless stories. And so many people who have helped make The Summit of Bettendorf what it is today.

As The Summit prepares to celebrate its fifth anniversary Tuesday, we’re spending a few days introducing you to some of the team members who bring the community to life every day. Today, meet Welete. She’s lead concierge for the community, and she’s encouraged five friends to work for The Summit as well!

Welete and her fellow team members have built relationships. They’ve shared laughter and hard days. They’ve learned from residents, supported one another, and helped create a place where people are encouraged to live with purpose, choice, and joy.

Over the next few days, we’ll happily share these stories because buildings don’t create communities; people do.

Happy fifth anniversary to The Summit of Bettendorf, and to Welete and everyone else who has been part of the community’s story! MercyOne Genesis

09/10/2026

Who says growing older means growing less curious?

Certainly not these residents of Heritage House, a WesleyLife community for healthy living in Atlantic, Iowa! Their latest adventure took them to Elk Horn, Iowa, to meet Fjord Ferryman, a 22-foot wooden troll created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo from reclaimed materials. The larger-than-life sculpture celebrates the story of Danish immigrants who crossed an ocean and made new homes on the Iowa prairie.

As these residents would attest, one of the great things about life at any age is discovering the weird, wonderful, unexpected things hiding practically in your own backyard!

09/09/2026

What does a $275,000 investment in older Iowans look like?

- More choices, connection, and opportunities for well-being at The Village in Indianola
- Nutritious meals — and a friendly face at the door — for older adults and military veterans through WesleyLife Meals on Wheels
- Comfort, dignity, and compassionate support for individuals and families through WesleyLife Hospice

Thanks to a generous investment from Prairie Meadows, all three are getting a boost. We are grateful for partners who understand that strengthening communities means investing in the people who call them home!

Read more about the impact of Prairie Meadows’ $275,000 investment in WesleyLife:

Prairie Meadows has awarded $275,000 to WesleyLife Foundation to support three areas of WesleyLife’s mission.

09/08/2026

Food brings people to the table. Connection gives them a reason to return.

Across Polk County, meals prepared by WesleyLife Meals on Wheels are bringing older adults together at congregate meal sites for good food, conversation, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

Nourishment is about more than what’s on the plate. Sharing a meal can build friendships, strengthen connections, and help people remain engaged with the communities they call home. As one Ankeny attendee puts it: "The pie may bring people in, but the people keep them coming.”

See what’s happening around the table! Read the story in the link below.

Meals on Wheels prepares and delivers meals for Polk County's congregate meal sites. It's a partnership built around nourishment, in more ways than one.

09/07/2026

This Labor Day weekend and always, we thank those who are serving residents and clients wherever they call home — on our campuses, in the greater community, or through our outreach efforts.

Today and every day, we are grateful to our 2,000 team members, each of whom helps us achieve our mission. Thank you all!

09/06/2026

Pickleball may have brought everyone to the court, but connection was the real win.

At Halcyon House-A WesleyLife Community in Washington, Iowa, a morning of pickleball play and beginner lessons gave residents plenty of reasons to move, laugh, learn something new, and enjoy one another’s company. To top it off, the group enjoyed brunch, sparkling prosecco, and pickleball-themed raffle prizes.

As we age, opportunities to build friendships, try new things, and simply have fun together matter. Staying socially connected is an important part of well-being … and sometimes, connection starts with a paddle in your hand and a new friend across the net.

09/05/2026

Did you know up to 28% of older adults are chronically dehydrated? Because our sense of thirst naturally declines as we age, dehydration can easily sneak up on a loved one — especially in hot weather.

Keep an eye out for warning signs like sudden brain fog, dizziness, dry skin, or dark urine.

💧 Want a quick reference guide on spotting dehydration red flags and simple ways to boost daily fluid intake? Read the full article:

Learn about signs of dehydration in seniors, why dehydration is common with age, and how to prevent and address this problem.

09/05/2026

What if the goal isn’t simply to live longer, but to live healthier, stronger, and more independently for more of the years we’re given?

That’s the idea behind the term "healthspan," and it’s one WesleyLife is exploring through a new relationship with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, a leader in the science of healthy aging. It's also one more way WesleyLife is bringing its vision to revolutionize the experience of aging to life.

Read in the link below about the relationship and why the science of healthspan has us asking a different question about longevity: How well can we live for as long as possible?

Watch for much more to come in the months ahead!

WesleyLife has formed a relationship with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, a research organization devoted to extending healthy years of life.

09/03/2026

At WesleyLife, a commitment to community doesn’t stop at the doors of the places where we live and work.

Amy Bassett, sales director at Wesley on Grand, embodies that commitment. A tireless mental health advocate through the National Alliance On Mental Illness Iowa (NAMI), Amy dedicates her time and voice to supporting people affected by mental illness, raising awareness, and reducing stigma. She also serves as Iowa co-director for the National Shattering Silence Coalition- Iowa. WesleyLife values and appreciates the difference Amy makes both within our organization and beyond it!

Recently, Amy had the opportunity to connect at Wesley on Grand with Will Keeps, founder and CEO of Starts Right Here. Will’s work supporting at-risk youth through mentoring, education, music, the arts, and safe spaces has made a meaningful impact on young people throughout Central Iowa.

We’re proud when WesleyLife team members bring their passion for service into the broader community, and grateful for people like Amy and Will, who remind us how much can happen when people committed to making a difference connect.

Learn more about Starts Right Here: https://hubs.li/Q04wF6C80

09/02/2026

This is what revolutionizing the experience of aging looks (and tastes!) like.

Earlier this week, leaders from dsm Dish, a dsm Magazine publication, visited The Village, A WesleyLife Community in Indianola, to see how Krista Adams, director of culinary excellence, and the culinary team there are reimagining dining.

They photographed the team creating and plating new menu offerings, and learned about an innovation we’ll share more about soon: making puréed foods more visually appealing for people with restricted nutrition plans.

Regardless of age or dietary needs, food should be something to look forward to — and our teams make that a reality, day in and day out.

Watch for the dsm Dish story later this year!