What is life at Independence Village of Waukee really like for seniors? How did residents at our Waukee senior living community go viral? Continue reading to learn all this and more with a spotlight feature on the community and the surrounding area.
What’s Happening in Waukee, Iowa?
Waukee, Iowa, located just west of Des Moines, is a city rich in history and growth. Known for its coal mining roots, Waukee’s history dates back to 1869 when General Lewis Addison Grant and Major William Ragan first purchased land in the area. Initially named “Shirley,” the town was renamed “Waukee” at the suggestion of railroad officials. Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, coal mining, particularly at the Shuler Mine — the deepest and largest coal producer in Iowa — was a major industry, employing many of the town’s residents until the last mine closed in 1949.
Today, Waukee is a vibrant community. The city offers easy access to nearby colleges like Drake University and is home to sculptures and landmarks that pay homage to its mining heritage, including a 13-foot sculpture honoring the Shuler Coal Company. With its growing population, expanding amenities, and connection to its past, Waukee continues to evolve into a thriving community that embraces its historical roots.
Independence Village of Waukee
At Independence Village of Waukee, we are honored to serve local Waukee seniors. At our community, it’s our mission to provide the absolute best experience for the seniors, and peace of mind for their families.
How do we do this? We focus on creating meaningful connections around every turn. In every aspect of life with us, our team members take the time to get to know the seniors they serve. We take the time to really get to know residents.
Who takes their coffee black? Who’s been a lifelong sports fan? What are their grandchildren up to, and how would they define a perfect day? Questions like these and more help us to create everyday moments where residents can truly shine.
In addition to compassionate support from passionate employees, we also offer a variety of amenities and features to help residents make the most of every day. And, for those who would benefit from a bit of support, we offer a variety of living options, too. In fact, we offer a full continuum of care, so we can support residents at every stage of their senior living journey. These services include independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing options:
- Independent Living: With maintenance-free living, residents in the independent living neighborhood can spend their days exactly as they want to. Whether that means making friends over delicious meals in our restaurant-style dining room, participating in one of many life enrichment activities or reading a book in your spacious apartment, your ideal retirement is possible here.
- Assisted Living: With 24-hour support, assisted living is a great fit for seniors who could benefit from services like assistance with daily activities, medication support, coordinating appointments, and more. When families can be sure their loved one is receiving the absolute best care, assisted living also means peace of mind for our residents’ families.
- Memory Care: In the memory care neighborhood at Independence Village of Waukee, specially trained employees, intentional programming, and unique amenities are all designed to best support those experiencing dementia, Alzheimer’s or other memory impairments.
- Skilled Nursing: Whether you’re recovering from surgery, coming from a hospital stay, or experiencing health complications, our specially trained employees are here 24/7 to assist with all aspects of your recovery. During their short-term stay, residents will also gain access to all the amenities and features offered in our community.
Learn More About Life With Us
At Independence Village of Waukee, we host a variety of activities and events for residents to enjoy from happy hours to educational presentations, exercise classes, themed activities, and more. In addition to what’s going on in our community, we also love to get out and explore the surrounding area of Waukee.
Here are a few of the exciting events, outings, and experiences we’ve shared:
Iowa Wolves Game
The Iowa Wolves game was so much fun for residents and team members alike. We met up with our sister community, Independence Village of Ankeny, to watch the game together.
Visit from Horses
We had a visit from two beauties today! It was such a perfect day spent visiting with and feeding these horses. We hope they come back soon! Thanks to Robert Wilson for arranging this for everyone. When can they come back?
Iowa Science Center’s Planetarium
Our travels through Arizona in our Route 66 events brought us to the Iowa Science Center’s planetarium for some stargazing. We also got to spend the afternoon admiring a couple of good looking classic cars. A day on the open road well spent, if you ask us!
Pontoon Ride
It was the perfect weather to go out to Saylorville Lake and soak up some sunshine with a pontoon boat ride. Those smiles say it all!
Fitness Champions
For the month of July, we challenged residents to attend 10 exercise classes in order to receive an invitation to our Wellness Rewards Pizza Party. A whopping 26 residents completed their punch cards and joined us today for a well-deserved lunch!
Better yet, we had so many new faces attend a variety of our exercise programs than ever before. From sit and fit weighted exercises classes, cardio drumming, chair yoga, walking club, to tai chi and more, we surely “topped” our fitness goals!
Community Celebrations
From the swinging 20s to the early 2000s, our skilled nursing team rocked every decade during National Skilled Nursing Care Week! We celebrated with themed attire each day, an ice cream truck delight, and sizzling BBQ for our amazing residents and dedicated team. Cheers to the spirit of fun that helps us to deliver the best care possible!
Exploring Des Moines Botanical Garden
Exploring Des Moines Botanical Garden with a special guide. Our resident, Leon, volunteered here for 17 years! It was so neat to listen to him share his stories, insight and memories with us.
Click the image above to play a fun video.
We Even Went Viral!
It all started with a few videos, including residents at a bachelorette party with a newly engaged employee, participating in the latest TikTok trends, and pulling a few pranks on April Fool’s Day. It led to our residents becoming international stars!
When those videos caught the eye of TikTok, the company asked if they could come out to Waukee, interview residents and employees, and film a commercial with us as a part of their TikTok Sparks Good initiative. Through this initiative, TikTok featured creators who are sparking good around the world, creating a lasting positive impact on local and global communities. We were honored to be included!
In the commercial, residents and employees agreed that making videos was only part of the fun. The real impact came through spending time together, trying something new, and sharing laughs along the way.
“I mean, we’re the ones being entertained, really,” one resident shared with TikTok about her experience making videos. Click here to see our full TikTok Sparks Good Feature.
We’ll Be Your Guide
Whether you’re interested in life at Independence Village of Waukee or another StoryPoint Group community, we’re here for you. We’d be happy to speak with you, answer any questions you may have and help you discover the senior living option that’s best for you and your family. Just click here to find the community nearest you and give us a call. We can’t wait to meet you!
