Amy Vandiver has received the Excellence in Long-term Services and Supports
Activity Services Award from the Iowa Health Care Association. She is
the Life Enhancement supervisor at Great River Klein Center.
The Iowa Health Care Association represents more than 730 nursing homes,
assisted-living programs, residential care facilities and home health
agencies in Iowa.
In her 16 years at the Klein Center, Amy has reinvented the activities
program. The root of Vandiver’s mission is her passion to help others
learn, and a drive to ensure elder activities are meaningful.
Vandiver developed Klein University, a summer school program for elders.
Taught in a classroom setting, elders help choose the subjects, and guest
lecturers and Vandiver teach the courses. There is a graduation ceremony
at the end.
Vandiver’s leadership and creativity comes from her ability to look
at problems as opportunities. She sees how Klein Center staff, elders
and the community can work together to find solutions. For example, she
established the Sunshine Club, whose membership and leadership consists
of only elders. Its mission is to raise money for activities and services
that will support the group’s motto: brighten someone’s day.
“Amy’s activities encompass all aspects of life and encourage
re-engagement in the community,” said the award judges. “Amy
sounds like a driven leader who inspires others to enjoy life to the fullest.”