DES MOINES - On Tuesday, officials from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) presented the first of two 2022 Governor's Awards for Quality Care in Health Care Facilities.

Newton Village is located at 114 North Fifth Avenue West in Newton. It is a 24-bed skilled nursing facility that opened in 2014.

“Newton Village goes above and beyond to give its residents the quality care they need, while providing the sense of comfort and community they deserve” said Governor Reynolds. “I want to thank its staff for their dedication to the health and wellbeing of those under their care and congratulate them for earning this award.”

DIA Director Larry Johnson, Jr., presented the award to Newton Village Administrator Angela Adam during the ceremony at the facility.

"The staff, residents, and family have created something very special here," he said.

When DIA staff visited the facility following its nomination, they noticed a clean, brightly-colored and decorated home, where each resident had a view of the courtyard from their room. All of the rooms are either private or semi-private, with residents in semi-private rooms sharing only a restroom between bedrooms. Residents were seen spending time in their rooms as well as the facility's common areas, reading the newspaper, quilting, and socializing.

Newton Village was nominated for the award by four people.

Paul Ruggle, M.D., is a former medical director of Newton Village. He now practices at the MercyOne Newton Clinic.

"The caregivers go to the greatest lengths to consistently protect all from danger and illness," Dr. Ruggle said in his nomination form. "Their success of insulating their residents from the COVID pandemic is the most recent example of a tireless effort that values living in the best physical and mental health possible."

Diana Chance is a retired nurse who used to work in a nursing home. She spent two weeks in the facility while she needed rehab. She had several positive things to say about the staff, noting that the housekeeping, dietary, nursing, and therapy staff were all attentive and caring. 

"Staff went out of their way to make sure that I was getting the care that I expected," she said. She said she would recommend the facility "to everyone."

At the time she submitted her nomination, Joan Thorpe's mother had called Newton Village "home" for three years.

"The entire staff, from dietary to administration, has provided exceptional care to our mother each and every day," she wrote. "Newton Village is always bright, cheerful, inviting, and clean."

She said it's not unusual for her to call her mother's room and find that she is unavailable. "She is busy, busy, busy."

Charles Elliott's wife resides at the facility. He echoed the sentiments of the other nominators regarding the staff's compassion, cleanliness, and activities.

"There are many and varied activities provided for the residents and they are encouraged to participate," he said.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals is committed to protecting the health and safety of Iowans through regulation and oversight of health care, food, and gaming; application of administrative law; and investigation of Medicaid and welfare fraud.