History:

As far back as 1945, a group of pastors and lay leaders of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod met in Williamsburg, Iowa, to discuss ways and means of caring for the elderly in a Christian caring atmosphere. In 1951, a hospital building in Vinton, Iowa became available. The price for this three-story building and parcel of land across the street was $35,000. With the building purchased and the non profit organization formed, the first resident arrived at the Vinton Lutheran Home in 1952. This first facility had occupancy for forty residents. The residents on the first floor were active, receiving minor help with tasks such as dressing or bathing. Also, if able, the residents assisted in gardening, food service, light housekeeping and laundry, helping to keep expenses down. These arrangements were typical in other facilities of the era as well. The residents on the second floor need close supervision and continuous nursing care.

In 1965, ten acres of land was purchased in northwest Davenport, Iowa, as a site for an additional facility to be constructed. It wasn’t until 1970, after a series fund drive was conducted that construction began. The facility opened its doors on May 3, 1971. Today the Davenport Lutheran Home serves ninety-six residents.

In 1974, with all of the added state requirements implemented for nursing homes, the Board of Directors elected to build a new Vinton Lutheran Home on the parcel of ground located across the street. In 1977, the old facility was closed and the residents moved to the brand new facility, which now provides for sixty-one residents.

With the diagnosis and research of Alzheimers’ and the growing number of seniors afflicted with the disease and other similar dementias, the Lutheran Homes identified and met these needs by converting an existing wing, added a lounge and dining room at our Vinton location and constructed a new Special Care Unit in Davenport.

In 1993, the decision was made to make the addition of a Chapel as a symbol of our Mission of Christian Caring. At this same time, there was an increasing demand and limited services available to seniors in an apartment setting and the concept of Assisted Living was developed. In 1994 and 1995 ten assisted living apartments were opened in Vinton (an additional eight have since been added) and eighteen in Davenport.

To expand the continuum of care, duplex town homes were constructed starting in 1994. The town homes were designed to provide an independent lifestyle with privacy and self-reliance. We have sixteen independently living units in Vinton and fourteen in Davenport.

In 2004, both of our nursing facilities became Medicare Certified, allowing us to expand services to those individual who required a skilled level of care.

We have further diversified our services to include an Out Reach Program. This program includes Respite Day Program, giving caregivers a break from the daily routine of care giving or just get away for a few hours or days. Our Home Health Services is available enabling you to stay in your own home, yet receive some supportive assistance.