Commandant Todd Jacobus addressed the roughly 100 people in attendance for the Thursday morning award ceremony, which was held in the Malloy Leisure Resource Center (LRC).

“This recognition shows the Iowa Veterans Home is the benchmark against which facilities providing nursing-level of care are measured, and reinforces the quality of care that is provided to our residents all day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” he said.

DIAL Director Larry Johnson was at IVH to present the award and told the crowd it is a big honor. IVH is only the second facility to receive the award in 2024, he said.

It is DIAL’s duty to make sure facilities comply with required regulations, Johnson said. While the state department personnel indicate where improvements should be made, they also recognize excellence.

Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Commandant Todd Jacobus welcomes roughly 100 people to a Thursday morning award ceremony at Malloy Hall. IVH received the 2024 Governor’s Award for Quality Care in Healthcare Facilities.

Since the creation of the award in 2001, only 57 facilities have earned the recognition. More than 700 facilities are eligible for the honor. The award is given to facilities which offer unique activities which amplify care and life for residents. In order to receive the award, either residents or their family members must nominate a facility.

“What does that mean?” Johnson asked. “It means when the regulations stop, that is when the staff at Iowa Veterans Home get started. You go above and beyond in what you do and the people you do it for.”

Throughout the process, he said his team interviewed the residents who nominated IVH for the award.

“(The) first thing they said was ‘This is home,'” Johnson said. “Of course they said they love their Popcorn Wednesdays. The library is great. They love the movies and (the) exchange program. They like the opportunity to have different jobs here. The activities are phenomenal. They do an excellent job for Remembrance Day and remembering the veterans for their service.”

Time and again, he said the residents stressed that IVH has the best staff who care about them, their families, their lives and connecting with them on a personal level.

“To those who work here at IVH, today’s award is for you,” Johnson said. “Your job is hard, which is the biggest understatement I could ever say. Your dedication and passion is noticed and appreciated. These jobs are hard and you come to work each day, making it look easy. You make it look easy because you love what you do, and you love who you do it for.”

Jacobus said there are 398 residents at IVH, including four World War II veterans, 28 Korean War, 209 Vietnam, 16 from Operation Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror, 85 peacetime veterans and 56 spouses. He has spoken with numerous families who expressed their appreciation for the work of the staff and the care given.

The commandant said the staff display professionalism, dedication, enthusiasm, candor and empathy as they care for the veterans. He highlighted an example of those attributes by talking about a March 26 fire on the fourth floor of the Dack building.

“Nikole Bailey and Nicole Kendall were among our staff members on the floor when smoke and flames erupted from Room 426,” Jacobus said. “These two staff members quickly entered the room without hesitation, even though the doorway was blackened with smoke and flames engulfed a table next to the bed. Water from the suppression system was pouring out of the ceiling, and these two staff members secured a resident’s bed and pulled him out of the room within minutes. That resident who is blind, shared with me an hour and a half later that he was scared to death and had never been so happy to hear Nikole Bailey’s voice and is forever grateful they were able to get him out of there so fast.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.