The Perry Health Care Center changed hands Jan. 1, and the facility is now known as Pearl Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation in Perry.
“But it’s not just a name change,” said Jake Chapler, director of operations for Pearl Valley. “We bring our caring nature. I want to emphasize that. The reason we chose to go into this business is because we truly care about our residents.”
Pearl Valley bought the Perry facility from Johnston-based Signature Care Centers, which began operating the Perry Health Care Center in 1998 along with five other nursing homes in northwest Iowa.
The six Signature Care facilities now join Pearl Valley’s three other operations in the southeastern Iowa towns of Muscatine, Washington and Donnellson. Pearl Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation is owned by MB Healthcare LLC, a New Jersey corporation with operations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Iowa.
“We love the Iowa population of people,” Chapler said. “Everybody is all nice and friendly. It’s true. One of our things is that when we take over a building, it’s the residents’ home. We’re going to make sure that it stays their home. There’s not going to be any change. Nobody’s being displaced. On the contrary, we’re going to do whatever we can to make them as comfortable as they already are plus more comfortable.”
Eighteen people reside at Pearl Valley’s Perry facility, which employs 35 full- and part-time staff members.
Signature Care Center owner Bruce Mehlhop said when he and his wife, Debbie, “started to look for a company that we could trust to ensure that the legacy of quality senior care that we have developed would continue, we found that company in MB Healthcare.”
Signature Care’s other Iowa facilities are located in Gowrie, Lake Park, Primghar, Estherville and Sutherland.
“We have worked with a wonderful group of staff members and have made many friends throughout northwest Iowa,” Mehlhop said. “We are extremely proud of the quality of care and services that we have provided to hundreds of people over nearly two decades.”
Mehlhop said he will work for a few months with the Pearl Valley owners to ensure a smooth transition of service. Chapler said Pearl Valley’s commitment to care will be the hallmark of the Perry facility.
“We hope to be able to attain that high level of care through local help,” Chapler said. “Obviously, locals should always feel welcome by us and if there’s any locals that are seeking employment and have the talent necessary, by all means please contact us. We definitely give preference to the locals. We like to give back to the community. How many people can go to work and say they make a difference every day in somebody’s life?” People in long-term care can definitely say that. It’s probably one of the most fulfilling jobs, knowing that you’re actually doing something for someone.”
Pearl Valley Nursing and Rehabilitaion in Perry is located at 2625 Iowa St. The phone number is 515-465-5349.
I truly loved working for Pearl Valley in Washington, Iowa, but when I’m wrongfully let go and forced to resign, it makes me very upset. I was a very good employee and was there to succeed at being the new scheduler for Pearl Valley in Washington. I was told first off that I would work three days a week and every other weekend, three days in the office, scheduling for the nursing department. The first day I’m training on the floor as a CNA, I was pulled aside by Jennifer and asked if I would be interested in working Monday thru Friday, no weekends, scheduling appointments for residents (which I never did or trained for). I was also told if I was needed on the floor as a CNA (first shift) that I would have to fill in. Not a problem. Then all the sudden I’m told I have to pick up all shifts as a CNA if needed, and that if I didn’t like that, I could quit. You have a lot of wonderful staff (CNAs and nurses), and they are treated like crap. Disrespectful people and dishonest staff in the office.