Making Dreams Come True

Being a part of the Jaybird Senior Living family of communities means embracing a very special set of values. One of these values is ensuring that our team members get to know each and every one of our residents not only in regards to their care but also as a unique and vibrant person.

Our goal is to make at least one resident dream come true each month in every one of our assisted living and memory care communities. These dreams can range from modest to elaborate based on the unique experiences and backstories of each individual resident. To date, we’ve made over 1,000 Dreams come true.

Resident resting their hands on a cane at a Jaybird Senior Living community
A resident Driving a car at Jaybird Senior Living
Resident and a young family member hugging at a Jaybird Senior Living community

Jaybird Senior Living’s Dare to Dream Program

Everyone in our care is like family. We know their stories, their hopes, and their dreams. This is what draws us together, and we believe each person is unique and vibrant, with a dream or two up their sleeve. Every month, we make a dream come true for one resident in each community.

Ken

Edencrest at Beaverdale

Ken spent 42 years as a professor at Drake University and was the official bell ringer for the Drake Relays, an outdoor track and field event held at Drake Stadium, for more than five decades. Ken and his wife Betty are avid fans of the athletes and the event and were excited at the opportunity to attend. While there, Ken met with many of the officials he worked with in the past and they helped make his dream come true – ringing the bell one last time.

Merlin

Prairie Hills Tipton

Merlin, or Senator Hulse, was honored with the North Cedar High School Alumni Service Award for his countless hours and commitment to supporting non-profit organizations. Merlin even wore his 1941 high school sweater to the ceremony. Plus, thinking of his friends back at Prairie Hills, he made sure to bring home enough cake to share. It was a terrific day and Merlin shared his pride in being recognized at coffee hour.

Jerry

Garnett Place

For a decade, Jerry was a dedicated snowplow driver for Linn County who loved removing snow along the beautiful and picturesque Cedar River on Ellis Boulevard. We partnered with the City of Cedar Rapids to highlight Jerry’s commitment to plowing and took part in their Paint a Plow program. For Jerry’s Plow, we created an image of a train to honor Jerry’s railroad career together with snowflakes and a picture of the Cedar River to remind him of his favorite spot to clear. Jerry was delighted and the City invited Jerry to take a ride on his plow any day.

Connie

Arbor View

Connie is a 65-year-old-resident at Arbor View. Connie loves Harley Davidson motorcycles. And when we say love, we are not exaggerating. Connie can hear a Harley coming down the road every time. She lights up like a Christmas tree each time she hears one and when she sees one, she can barely contain her excitement. Connie used to ride in her younger days with her husband and will talk about her experiences on the back of a Harley.

Mary

Milestone Senior Living Stoughton, WI

Mary has had a passion for ponies all her life. Mary enjoys sharing stories about her childhood especially living in Dodgeville, a small rural community west of Madison, WI. Mary had a birth defect involving her lower extremities, requiring assisted devices for ambulation. Her pony Polly was her means of transportation to school and back, as well as, her recreation. Her daughter commented that Mary always admires and comments on the horses in the fields when they are out in the country. Mary was very elated when she found out that Boaz came to Milestone to viist her.

Alice

Clover Ridge Place

For the Love of Lifelong Learning

Alice M. 99, years young, has had the love of learning from the time she could read. As a young girl growing up, she found herself lost in the stories she would read. That has carried with her all through life. Alice became a kindergarten teacher and retired after 30 plus years, teaching in a Catholic School. She has carried on her love for books and learning all through life, teaching students, reading to family, and most recently leading a “Reading with Alice” time here at Clover Ridge Place.

Georgie

Milestone Senior Living

This afternoon, we surprised our 90-year-old resident Georgie with her Dare to Dream. What was it, you ask? A ride in a police car with it’s lights and sirens on! What a sight to behold as a program that was being held on the 2nd floor saw the car pull up and their faces pressed up to the window, to see Georgie and Police Office Lisa Petricka and Georgie’s grandson, Sergeant Rob Hovland from Dodge County escorting her into the Police car! Rob rode along in the backseat. Officer Petricka turned on the Police lights and as they left the parking lot had turned on the sirens! What a magical moment.

Richard

Meadow Lakes Senior Living

We were excited to help our resident, Richard, go back to a place that is very near and dear to him, the Eagles Club in Rochester, MN. Richard served as President of the Eagles Club for many years. He enjoyed being able to help others and give back to the community. Not only were we able to take him to the Eagles Club for a fun Saturday afternoon of Bingo, he was surprised by his two daughters and grand-daughter, traveling as far as California!

Jean

Parker Place

Jean Beenken is one of the hardest working ladies here at Parker Place. She prides herself on keeping busy. If Jean sees any of the residents or employees working on a project of any type she always offers to help and does it with a smile on her face. When we were asked to nominate a resident for Parkersburg’s Citizen of the Year, we knew right away that Jean was very deserving. When I handed Jean her postcard that told her she had been nominated and had a special dinner out in the community to celebrate all the amazing contributions she had done this past year, she had a smile from ear to ear and she was so proud.