A Retirement Resources Blog for Seniors and Retirees – HOME

As a B-17 tail gunner during WWII, Wesley Homes Des Moines resident Ted Gary flew in 22 combat missions in the Army Air Corps. When the time came for Ted to fly during Operation Chowhound in 1945, he was happy to participate.

Operation Chowhound consisted of flight missions to drop food to the Dutch people who were starving in the Netherlands during the Dutch Famine. These food drops were possible because of a truce between the German, American and British forces in response to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands’ pleas for aid. Read the rest of this entry »

“In 2010 when my mother, Mary Magnuson, made the decision to move to Wesley Homes, it was agreed that it was her best gift to her family,” recalled Wesley Homes Board of Trustees member Rev. Dennis Magnuson. “Over the last two years, the wisdom of her decision has been reflected back to me by other residents and their families. Whether a family member or a resident, they all agree that moving to Wesley Homes was the best decision they ever made.” Read the rest of this entry »

Wesley Homes Des Moines residents are holding their annual Bake Sale and Craft Boutique on Friday, November 2nd (that’s tomorrow!) in The Gardens: Stanton Hall. Proceeds benefit the Circle of Concern.

What is the Circle of Concern? The Circle of Concern fund makes it possible for Wesley Homes to keep its commitment to provide housing for residents who have outlived their assets through no fault of their own. Read the rest of this entry »

This delicious topper to your holiday meal was featured at Wesley Homes Lea Hill’s Harvest Moon Open House.

Ingredients

10 ounces Cream Cheese

1/2 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

16 ounces Pumpkin, Canned

1/4 cup Heavy Cream Read the rest of this entry »

Grandparents Investing in Grandchildren: The MetLife Study on How Grandparents Share Their Time, Values, and Money, conducted in partnership with Generations United, provides a window into the many contributions grandparents make to the lives of their grandchildren in passing down important values as well as providing care and financial assistance even when this support may impact their own financial security. Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to our Autumn Harvest Open House Passport to the Moon drawing winners!

James Thuirer: Alki Tours Grand Prize

Marion Peterson: Anthony’s Homeport Des Moines Gift Certificate

Richard Mason: Copper Falls Restaurant & Bar Gift Certificate

Ed Palin: Copper Falls Restaurant & Bar Gift Certificate

And thank you to our friends at Anthony’s Homeport Des Moines, Print Time and Copper Falls Restaurant & Bar in Auburn for your donations to the Wesley Homes Des Moines and Wesley Homes Lea Hill open houses.

Statistics released on Thursday by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service indicate an increase in homes sold over this same time last year. Read more.

Wesley Homes is honored to have several retired members of the clergy as residents on both our Des Moines and Auburn campuses as well as our campus chaplains. In honor of Pastor Appreciation Month, we’re spotlighting a few of our retired pastors. Each recalls why they entered the ministry, a favorite memory or an event that touched their hearts. Read the rest of this entry »

Food is food. Cooking is cooking. This simple philosophy is demonstrated by Chris Paulsen, Wesley Homes Lea Hill’s new executive chef, every day with an emphasis on quality with every meal.

Chris is very passionate about food. He has brought that passion to the food service industry for 36 years. In his career, Chris has worked for restaurants, large hotels, retailers and hospitals. He started his journey as a dishwasher when he was in high school in New Jersey; then he bused tables and finally made his way into the kitchen. Read the rest of this entry »

We had a beautiful day for Wesley Homes Des Moines’ Harvest Moon Open House last Sunday. Thank you to all of our wonderful guests. We loved having you and hope we’ll see you again soon. Also, thank you to our fantastic resident volunteers, Board of Trustees, family and staff who helped make Open House such a special occasion for our guests. You folks rock!