WesleyLife At Home

07/06/2026

Walking into WesleyLife Week in style! 👟💙 Our team started the celebration with a Wellbeing Walk and matching WL shirts. Here's to a week of connection, wellness, and fun!

06/30/2026

Today we had the privilege of celebrating our incredible Public Health Team Members and recognizing the lasting impact they’ve made through their years of service. As this program begins to sunset, we wanted to take time to honor the dedication, compassion, and commitment they’ve shown to those who needed it most.

Together, this team represents more than 80 years of service to WesleyLife and has touched countless lives along the way. While this chapter may be coming to a close, the difference they’ve made and the care they’ve provided will leave a lasting legacy.

Please join us in celebrating and thanking these amazing team members for all they have done! 💙

⭐️Linda- 20 years
⭐️Yvette- 19 years
⭐️Betty- 18 years
⭐️Leslee-7 years
⭐️Maria- 3 years
⭐️Carrie- 3 years

06/29/2026

Our leaders bring more than professional experience to their work: They bring full lives, creative passions, and personal stories that shape how they lead.

Sophia Ahmad, vice president of philanthropy for WesleyLife, was featured last week in the Des Moines Business Record’s 2026 Photo Issue for her lifelong connection to music. A classically trained pianist with degrees in piano performance and literature, Sophia shared how music has shaped her creativity, discipline, collaboration and ability to connect with others, qualities that also inform her work in meaningful, relationship-based philanthropy.

We are grateful for leaders like Sophia, whose passions outside work continue to enrich the way they serve our mission and help foster connection across generations. Read the feature on Sophia in the link below.

06/25/2026

We were honored today to welcome WesleyLife Board of Directors member and Des Moines-area business leader Rich Willis to our leaders’ meeting on the WesleyLife Meals on Wheels campus. Joined in this photo by Allison Pendroy, WesleyLife's president and CEO, Rich shared insights on building strong organizational culture, sustaining a trusted reputation, and adapting to the needs of a changing customer base.

Drawing on decades of success with Willis Automotive, Rich fielded thoughtful questions from leaders and offered practical perspective we can carry forward in our work. We are grateful for his time, partnership, and guidance as a leader who invests his time to strengthen our mission and support the well-being of older adults across our communities and services.

Watch for more on Rich's valuable remarks in the coming days!

06/21/2026

We are pleased to share that last week, the Polk County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the continuation of WesleyLife Meals on Wheels' contract for catered congregate meal services. The new agreement extends services for an additional three years, reaffirming a strong partnership dedicated to supporting the health, independence, and well-being of Polk County residents age 60 and older.

How fitting as we prepared to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Meals on Wheels! Thank you, Polk County, for your investment in this important program and your partnership with WesleyLife!

06/19/2026

This weekend, WesleyLife observes Juneteenth, an occasion for remembrance, reflection, and hope.

Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and shared the news that more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans were free.

For generations, Juneteenth has been a celebration of freedom, resilience, faith, family, education, and the ongoing work of building a more just future.

To our residents, clients, families, volunteers, and team members who honor this day: We celebrate with you, pray with you, and stand with you in remembrance and hope.

To learn more about the history of Juneteenth, visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture: https://hubs.li/Q04m1p-d0

06/10/2026

Thank you to the Urbandale Police Department for talking to our Home Health Team today about safety!

06/05/2026

The WesleyLife At Home team was honored to attend the American Parkinson Disease Association conference today, where we had the opportunity to connect with healthcare professionals, caregivers, and advocates dedicated to improving the lives of those living with Parkinson’s disease.

Events like these help us stay informed on the latest resources, research, and support strategies so we can continue providing compassionate, person-centered care to the individuals and families we serve.

Thank you to the American Parkinson Disease Association for bringing together so many passionate voices committed to making a difference. 💙

06/01/2026

Today marks an important milestone for WesleyLife as Allison Pendroy officially begins her tenure as president and CEO.

Allison succeeds Rob Kretzinger, who is retiring after nearly 30 years of leadership with WesleyLife, including more than two decades as president and CEO. This transition reflects years of thoughtful succession planning, as well as WesleyLife’s continued commitment to growth, innovation, and service.

Since joining WesleyLife as chief operating officer in 2023, Allison has helped strengthen operations, support communities and services, and advance priorities that help older adults experience independence, health, well-being, and joy wherever they call home.

As we welcome Allison to this new role, we also honor Rob’s lasting impact and the strong foundation he helped build.

Read more about this leadership transition and Allison’s vision for WesleyLife in the link below.

Allison Pendroy begins her role as president and CEO of WesleyLife today.

05/29/2026

Today marks Rob Kretzinger’s final day as president and CEO of WesleyLife.

After nearly 30 years of leadership, including more than two decades as president and CEO, Rob concludes a tenure defined by vision, service, growth, and a deep belief in what aging can and should be.

Under Rob’s leadership, WesleyLife grew from five retirement communities serving about 1,000 people to Iowa’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit provider of health and well-being services for older adults, supporting more than 13,000 people each year. But his legacy extends far beyond numbers. Rob challenged us to confront ageism, think differently about health and well-being, protect what matters most, and continue evolving in service to those we support.

As we give thanks for Rob’s leadership, we invite you to read this tribute reflecting on his impact and the future he helped make possible.

Thank you, Rob, for your vision, faith, service, and unwavering commitment to WesleyLife.

A tribute to president and CEO Rob Kretzinger on his final day with WesleyLife.