A Director With A Dream

Patricia Heiden, Executive Director, of Oaknoll Retirement Residence has the compassion and vision it takes to make Oaknoll successful. Oaknoll has been in the Iowa City community for over forty years and Patricia has proudly served 28 of those years as a faithful employee who has worked her way up the ranks. She started out as a part-time employee in the business office, was eventually promoted to Business Manager then to Assistant Administrator and became Executive Director of Oaknoll in 1995. “Having a director who has worked for our not-for-profit continuing care retirement community for 27 years speaks volumes. She knows what she is doing and does it very well. She is intelligent, compassionate and can truly attest that Oaknoll is the place to live if you want to receive the best care in your later years. Patricia is dedicated to our residents and her staff. As our spokesperson she genuinely represents the essence of Oaknoll and the quality services we offer,” said Kimberly Haring, Marketing Director.

As Executive Director, Patricia has proven herself an exceptional leader. Not surprisingly, if one were to ask her why she has been so successful in her leadership role, without hesitation she will say that first and foremost she has surrounded herself with exceptional people who are leaders themselves. The success is attributed to Heiden letting her leadership team do what they do best. Those leaders include: Steve Roe, Administrator/CFO; Bill Mishler, Head of Buildings and Grounds; Diane Ely, Human Resource Director, Margaret Kaltefleiter, Director of Nursing, RN; Kimberly Haring, Marketing Director; Lisa Chapman, Business Manager; David Anson, Recreation Director; Lindsey Payton, Assistant Recreation Director, CTRS; Ray Carley, Assistant to Building and Grounds; Chris Perdue, Assistant to Building and Grounds; Sylvia Venuto, Director of Dining Services; Seiji Nakatani, Chef; Natalie Cornwell, Director of Assisted Living; Sara Kellogg, Social Services Coordinator; Lisa Tatge, Social Worker; Shirley Cox, RN; Nancy Swartzendruber, RN; Shelia McBride, Care Plan Coordinator; Laura O’Conner, Wellness Coordinator; Jerry Jepson, Director of Housekeeping; Steve Cuppy, Director of Transportation and Retha Haas, Administrative Professional. Reluctant to take all of the credit for the success of the Oaknoll Community she stressed that it is this team and all the dedicated staff and residents who make Oaknoll such an appealing community.

• In her tenure Heiden has overseen the expansion and renovation of Oaknoll in a series of major projects, including:
• The Benton Street East addition in 1998 (14 independent living units)
• Creating and renovating the Assisted Living Wing in 2000 (certified for 21 units)
• The Benton Court addition including the construction of a new health center, licensed for skilled and intermediate nursing care, as well as the renovation of an existing wing which was built in 1990. Nine independent living apartment units were also a part of the Benton Court addition which was completed in 2004
• The George Sreet addition

Ms. Heiden’s vision became reality with the opening of the George Street addition in November 2006, “shortly after becoming Executive Director, the Oaknoll Board of Directors and administration engaged in a strategic planning process. That plan in 1996 included the George Street project,” she said. This $25 million expansion added 51 spacious apartments, beautiful common areas a warm water-lap pool, hot tub, hair salon and spa, physical therapy, library, internet café with patio seating, movie theatre and a full service restaurant. These along with the existing features: a 48 bed health center, assisted living wing, lounges, a coffee shop, sewing room, computer room and many activities and programs make Oaknoll a very active retirement community.

“While all this building and expanding is taking place our waiting list continues to grow reinforcing the need for these services in the Iowa City/Coralville community. I feel privileged to work with the Oaknoll Board of Directors and to learn from the wisdom of our current residents. We will stay ready to serve the up and coming retirees who wish to enjoy all the benefits of living their leisure years in an active and contemporary retirement community with the assurance of LifeCare,” beams Heiden with a confident smile.

Pat is a licensed nursing home administrator and holds a Masters degree in health services administration. She is currently a chairperson of the CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) Network Group through the IAHSA organization (Iowa Association of Homes and Services For the Aging: www.ageiowa.org); Co-Session Leader for and graduate of the Iowa City Community Leadership Program sponsored by the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Noon Rotary Club; Altrusa; and serves on the Family Life Commission at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She is also a Past Board Member of IAHSA serving as secretary and past chair of the Membership Committee; Past Board of Directors member of Iowa City Hospice where she also served as the chairperson for the Strategic Planning Committee; and Past President of Altrusa. She is an active parent at City High school which her daughter, Ariel, attends and is very proud of her daughter, Lindsey, who will be graduating this spring from the University of Kansas and attending graduate school in the fall.

 

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