Mayflower Health Center sits at 616 Broad Street in Grinnell and has been part of the community for a long time, building the first certified assisted living suites in Grinnell and Poweshiek County back in 1997 and even setting up the area's first Alzheimer's facility licensed by the state of Iowa; folks who remember can tell you about the first CCDI-Care for Dementia and Cognitive Impairments-unit they started in 1993, licensed for Alzheimer's and related disorders, so there's a real track record here with memory care and senior housing in the region. The place has a variety of living spaces, including independent living apartments, duplex and triplex patio homes, assisted living apartments, and a health center with memory support, and in 1986 Mayflower built the first patio-style retirement homes in Grinnell where people could buy their own homes; folks live together in a mix of apartments, suites, premium modern units in Watertower Square, and traditional buildings, with about 280 residents in total.
Mayflower has a wide mix of services, with independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, residential care, and memory care-rooms come in several sizes, even with kitchenettes and two bedrooms, and each has private bathrooms, cable TV, phone jacks, whirlpool tubs, and a sprinkler system for safety, while you'll find homey touches like oak trim, carpeting, and common areas with TVs. There's a dining room with oak paneling and chandeliers, a bistro dining area, a Mini Gift Shop, a computer area, free high-speed WiFi, and a putting green, plus residents have outdoor patios, gardens, a book club, music groups, and use of a gym. Mayflower offers on-site health services, such as skilled nursing, medication help, incontinence care, rehab and occupational therapy visits, and help with daily needs like dressing and bathing, and you'll see daily scheduled activities-BINGO, live music, Tai Chi, pet therapy, arts and crafts, game nights, and both social and spiritual programs. Volunteers and interns get special training on dementia and Dependent Adult Abuse, they help with one-time or ongoing events, and staff supervise or orient them; there are even work or project options in health care, nonprofit management, business, culinary arts, and marketing.
For day-to-day needs, Mayflower gives residents meal services, transportation, laundry and dry cleaning, religious activities, resident parking, outdoor spaces, and scheduled group outings, while on the money side they accept credit cards and checks and have cost assistance, VA benefits help, and financial advice for those who qualify, though there's an entry fee for moving in. Security is in place with emergency power outlets in rooms, and the health center is connected to the main campus with the only skywalk in Grinnell-if you want to find a meditation room, quiet reflection, or a warm gas fireplace on cold days, those are here too. Life at Mayflower has always emphasized giving people choices about how they live, involving residents and families in their care plans, keeping things focused on compassion, privacy, and community, and the staff are known to be dedicated and experienced, making sure everyone has a safe, welcoming, and engaging place to live. Mayflower operates as a not-for-profit ministry of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ and works to provide a purposeful and supportive community for older adults, with a long-standing reputation for strong service and a deep connection to Grinnell.
