Rotary Senior Living
On February 9, 1959, Rotarian Robert Blue, former Governor of Iowa, presented a
program to the Eagle Grove Rotary Club on care of the aged.
He pointed out that Iowa had the largest percentage of citizens over 65
years of age in the nation. He also
stated how modern medical technology had increased the individual life
expectancy approximately 20 years during the past half-century.
At the conclusion of his speech, Mr. Blue proposed that a Rotary Senior Living
committee be appointed to study the feasibility of building a retirement home in
Eagle Grove. The committee was
composed of Dr. Dale Harding, Robert Blue, Frank Sacquety, Roy Larson, Grigg
Elkin, Dr. Martin Schaeferle, Dr. George Hogenson, Dr. Einar Johnson, M. B.
Crabbe, Ronald Diggins and R. C. Allbaugh.
Rotary Ann Home opened June 1, 1962 with forty-two rooms and eight residents.
This was a new concept in eldercare. Acceptance was slow with cash flow
problems. Half the building was an infirmary, the other half a retirement home
and apartments.
In 1968 the South Day Room was added and two years later the North Day Room was
added. In 1982 a private donation allowed the addition of the chapel. Over the
span of eight years, thirty-two low-income units were built. The Rotary Ann
Group Home opened in June 1981 with twelve residents. The duplex townhouses were
constructed in 1999. Each home featured two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a
two-car garage.
The Board of Directors received word a year later that it was one of thirteen
facilities across the country to receive a grant of $750,000 for renovation of
its original building and converting it to Assisted Living.