Newton Village 20 years, residents say positive culture make facility what it is

Merita Dammeier remembers the exact date she moved into independent living at Newton Village. It was Oct. 15, 2003, and it was the same day the senior living community made its debut in Newton. As one of the first residents of Newton Village, Dammeier says the transition to her new home was an easy one.

Prior to moving in to Newton Village, she got a sneak peek of what the facility would look like by touring Vriendship Village in Pella, which was built by the same contractors who built its Jasper County counterpart. From then on out, she knew what to expect the building and its individual residences to look like.

“The rooms were exactly alike, although that facility was not near as big as this one,” Dammeier said in an interview with Newton News. “But I could choose the apartment I wanted. It was smaller than my condo in California, but my whole family is back here so that was great. Obviously, I like where I am at.”

Perhaps what she did not expect was the high level of care and the sense of community that would flourish at Newton Village for the next 20 years. It is where she developed close relationships with staff and has made numerous friends, like Judy Snook, who is also a 20-year Newton Village resident.

“I drove past and saw it being built from the time they starting grading the dirt,” Snook said. “But my reason for moving here was my knees just hurt so bad I couldn’t get on them. And I loved to work out in the yard with my flowers, and I thought, ‘I’m getting out of here! I’m not gonna see the weeds in my garden.’”

Six months after Newton Village opened, Snook was moved in to one of the two vacant apartments in the independent living wing. There she has stayed in her quiet abode, which overlooks the sledding hills of Sunset Park, allowing her a view of the neighborhood kids diving down the snow-covered slopes in winter.

Unlike Dammeier, Snook already knew a number of people who lived in Newton Village, which made moving in a lot easier. The nice accommodations and new additions to the facility certainly helped, too, but Snook is convinced it is the people who make Newton Village what it is.

“We have a wonderful group of people,” Snook said. “Such a friendly bunch.”

Many of which will be celebrating Newton Village’s 20-year anniversary next week. From 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, the facility is offering tours of independent and assisted living apartments, providing piano entertainment by Judy Brody and giving six guests a chance to win door prizes.

Buffet-style dinner will be served as well. The menu features Chef Norberto’s famous oyster soup with crackers, chili with cornbread, gourmet sandwiches, hot apple cider, a variety of beverages and a selection of gourmet desserts.

Since both Dammeier and Snook have lived in Newton Village since it opened, they have seen a lot of new additions that have improved resident experience and enhanced their overall care. Dammeier commends the inclusion of the memory care unit designed specifically for those with Alzheimer’s disease.

Other additions like the enlarged chapel made residents happy, as did extra amenities like the game room and library. The esteemed care from Newton Village staff is well-documented, too, with the facility earning the Governor’s Award for Quality Care in Health Care Facilities in 2022.

Of course, the facility has encountered its challenges, too, but none was more difficult than the COVID-19 pandemic, which confined many residents to their apartments and at times prevented face-to-face contact with guests. Dammeier and Snook said staff were so good to residents.

“They delivered food to us in styrofoam containers; I’m surprised they didn’t go broke buying all those styrofoam containers,” Snook said. “They even went grocery shopping for us. They took such good care of us, but we were pretty much limited to our rooms.”

Dammeier added, “To see each other we would stand outside our door, and we could talk to the person across the way.”

Angela Adam, executive director of Newton Village, said it is the people — the residents — who make the facility so “extraordinary,” which is bolstered by the positive culture that thrives within its walls. Snook said residents look out for one another, too. If mail stacks up outside a door for too long, people notice.

“Then I’ll start doing some asking,” Snook said.

Even missing a lunch would cause residents to at least start door knocking and inquiring where their friends are at. To Dammeier, it is a sign that Newton Village residents are more like family. For someone like her who grew up in a big farm family in Newton, she feels right at home at Newton Village.

If Dammeier really wanted to, she could find another retirement community. But when asked about it, she confessed the thought had never crossed her mind.

“It meets my needs,” she said with a shrug and a smile.

Snook added, “And there’s no place like it. When I look around, I don’t want to go across the street, and other places don’t have a parking garage and they don’t have this and they don’t have that. We have a lot of activities going on here. It’s not worth moving any place else because I wouldn’t be as happy as I am here.”

RSVPs to the 20th anniversary celebration are appreciated. Contact director of sales Eileen Mitri at 641-787-6014 and eileen.mitri@cassialife.org.