Iowa Veterans Home Update

Celebrating the Power of Nurses: National Nurses Week 2026

As we celebrate National Nurses Week (May 6–12), we pause to honor the incredible professionals who serve as the heartbeat of the Iowa Veterans Home. This year’s national theme, "The Power of Nurses," perfectly captures the impact our nursing team has on the lives of our veterans. From the clinical expertise required to maintain our deficiency-free status to the quiet moments of compassion shared at a resident's bedside, our nurses demonstrate a unique power to heal, comfort, and advocate.

This week of recognition concludes on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Just as she blazed a trail for quality and sanitary care, our nursing staff continues to lead the way in innovative long-term care. Whether they are longtime veterans of our halls or the newly certified and joining the ranks, we are profoundly grateful for their steady hands and dedicated hearts. Please take a moment this week to thank a nurse for the essential role they play in our mission.

IVH Loves Our Nurses!

Happy Nurses Week to everyone who serves those who served!

A Standard of Excellence: Survey Success

The Iowa Veterans Home is proud to announce the results of our recent long-term care state survey. We received a deficiency-free rating, a monumental achievement in the healthcare industry. This perfect score is a testament to the fact that our team is doing things the right way—every day, every time. We had just a few minor areas for improvement, but nearly all were corrected immediately on-site, and a proactive plan of correction has been submitted to ensure continued excellence.

Clinical Milestones and Recognition

Our expertise is being recognized on a state level. Due to the diligent work of our infection control team during local health challenges last spring, our facility has been invited to present at the Health and Human Services Conference in Ames this month. This invitation highlights our rigorous water management policies and our commitment to exceeding regulatory requirements.

On the nursing front, we are thrilled to celebrate several staff members who recently passed their Certified Medication Aide (CMA) course, further strengthening the clinical care available to our residents.

Facilities and Infrastructure Improvements

We are currently "raising the roof" and improving our grounds through several key projects:

• Roof Replacements: New, durable EPDM roofing systems are being installed on the Dack and Malloy buildings. This project is expected to run through late November.
• Water Infiltration Project: Work around the Loftus and Malloy buildings is transitioning into the construction phase, with a targeted completion date of mid-November.
• Medical Equipment: We are moving forward with the total replacement of our X-ray equipment to ensure residents have access to modern diagnostic tools on-site.
• Cemetery Improvements: The Iowa Veterans Cemetery project continues to progress, focusing on irrigation repairs and columbarium wall expansions.

Innovation in Operations and IT

Our operations and IT teams are working behind the scenes to modernize the IVH experience:

• Cyber Security: Our agency recently participated in a national cyber exercise supported by the National Guard and the FBI. Out of 13,000 participating teams, our group placed 6th nationally, demonstrating our high level of preparedness against digital threats.
• Software Upgrades: We are transitioning to a new pharmacy medication review software that integrates directly with our electronic health records, reducing administrative burdens. Additionally, our Food Service department is launching a new software system in June to better manage resident diets and recipes.
• Emergency Preparedness: We are finalizing a formal agreement with Marshalltown Schools to serve as mutual evacuation and reunification sites, a vital step in our community-wide safety planning.

Financial Stewardship

Transparency and accountability remain top priorities. The State of Iowa Auditor’s Office recently completed its annual review for the 2025 fiscal year. We are pleased to share that the audit resulted in no reportable findings. This clean audit reflects the hard work of our finance, admissions, and purchasing departments in managing complex state and federal requirements.

Community Life and Generosity

May is a vibrant month at IVH. In addition to celebrating National Speech-Language Hearing Month, our residents are looking forward to a Cinco de Mayo themed lunch, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Program at the Capitol, and our annual Memorial Day Program on May 25th.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our donors. In April alone, we received over $4,300 in monetary donations, along with countless gifts of clothing, books, and handmade cards. These contributions directly enhance the quality of life for the veterans we serve.

Thank you for your continued support of the Iowa Veterans Home and our mission to provide the highest quality of care to Iowa’s heroes.