(Please note: This is an older article. Dahl Adult Day's current director is Julie Reed. You can reach her at jreed@wesleylife.org, or (515) 271-6646.)
Maria Jordan, director of Dahl Adult Day Center, a Wesley Life adult day center in Des Moines, has been named recipient of this year’s Tandy Spirit Award. The advocacy organization CareGiving.com chose Jordan for the designation in honor of her work to lift up and provide resources for family caregivers.
Jordan was honored last weekend at the CareGiving.com national conference in Chicago. Kathy Koenig, a retired counselor and therapist, a WesleyLife Hospice volunteer, and a certified caregiver consultant, nominated Jordan for the award.
“For the families of the center’s participants, Maria offers opportunities for education and support to make their lives easier, personalizing not only patient care, but care for their family members as well,” Koenig said in her nominating letter. “Maria has made a commitment to further expand the center’s educational offerings, and I've had the great fortune of helping her with new programs that have been tremendously well-received.”
Throughout 2019, Jordan enhanced the award-winning center’s educational and support offerings for family caregivers, adding monthly workshops on such topics as exploring the stages of the caregiving journey and prioritizing self-care.
“November is National Family Caregivers Month, and I committed 2019 to be the Year of the Caregiver at Dahl Adult Day -- so the way this came together was so humbling,” Jordan said. “CareGiving.com and I are certainly aligned in our passion, as we know that the stress of managing care, finances, and usually a full-time job on top of providing care takes a huge toll emotionally and physically on caregivers. We have a responsibility to do all we can.
“I am humbled to have been selected – and the fact that I was able to meet the children of the woman the award is named after was a very special honor. I am blessed to be a part of WesleyLife, as I’m always encouraged to do more for the individuals and families we serve.”
Dahl Adult Day is located on the campus of Wesley Acres, a WesleyLife community in Des Moines. Damon Buskohl, executive director of Wesley Acres, says he wasn’t surprised to learn Jordan received the award, as he can’t think of anyone more deserving.
“Maria and her team are so special because they are constantly looking at ways to maximize quality of life for our participants and families,” Buskohl said. “Maria is an exemplary individual who comes to work every day not motivated by a paycheck, but by the difference she is able to make. She is a true servant-leader, and we are so proud her, her team, and Dahl Adult Day.”
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Dahl Adult Day Center, on the campus of Wesley Acres in Des Moines, ensures individuals who need assistance and involvement during the day – primarily individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory challenges -- enjoy a sense of independence while receiving support and encouragement. The center focuses on what participants can and want to do in order to provide them with a purposeful and fulfilling experience. To learn more or schedule a private tour of the center, call (515) 271-6646, or email director Julie Reed at jreed@wesleylife.org.