As normalcy returns, Oakwood Care Center administrator formalizes retirement

(Above) Administrator Sheri Weaver-Isvik (seated) is surrounded by members of her staff: (kneeling) Activity Coordinator Olivia Myers, Dietary Manager Shawna Pralle, (standing L-R) Kelly Gute, Healthy Living Home Care;  Jenna Kuechenberg, director of nursing; Social Worker Mary Harle; and Annette Collins, assistant director of nursing.-Reporter photo by Marianne Gasaway.

by Marianne Gasaway

The long good-bye will come to an end this month for Sheri Weaver-Isvik, administrator at Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

After 54-years of caring for the elderly, Weaver-Isvik has announced her retirement, effective July 1.   The date is actually a year later than she had planned, but when COVID hit, she delayed her departure.

“I just could not leave Oakwood with all the daily changes and extreme work load that COVID added to everyone’s responsibilities,” she said.  “When the COVID pandemic hit and we had to shut our doors, I witnessed teamwork and ‘out of the box’ thinking like no other.  I knew we had a great team, but everyone proved just how great they were as we made our way through month after month of constant change from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Cerro Gordo Public Health and our ABCM Corporation.”

Weaver-Isvik considers COVID the greatest challenge she has faced in her 27 and one-half years as adminis-

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trator at the care center.

“Keeping our residents cared for, safe, entertained and inspired was our main priority, and always has been.  And, keeping our team positive was another major focus.  There were many long days, but our teams pushed through it all and are now experiencing the wonderful ‘re-opening’ of Oakwood.  Although we do not work for awards, our teams’ dedication and hard work resulted in, most recently, a Deficiency Free Survey in March 2021, as well as four Infection Control Surveys during 2020 and 2021 that results in no concerns.”

While a number of physical projects rank among her achievements at Oakwood, including a new entrance to the care center, creation of a larger therapy area, garden area where residents can plant and care for flowers, opening of The Courtyard Assisted Living and establishment of Healthy Living Home Care Services, Weaver-Isvik considers achieving certification to make Oakwood a Person Directed Care (PDC) home a major milestone.

“In 2008, we began our journey to make Oakwood a PDC home. We had to achieve over 90 benchmarks to become certified.  Although we thought we already were doing many of the PDC benchmarks, becoming certified took a lot of planning and paperwork.  It took us seven years to achieve our goal of being certified and that goal was realized in 2015.” To maintain the certification Oakwood must rectify every two years.

Weaver-Isvik makes it a point to credit her staff with the success of the care center and notes many have been with the organization for decades.

“I have been blessed throughout the years by being surrounded by a very talented and skilled group of Team Leaders and wonderful care givers in every department.  We have longevity of employees, which is so important in continuity of care,” she said.  “While I have served as administrator at Oakwood, we have faced staffing challenges, but I am truly blessed to have longevity of service in so many areas.”

Oakwood’s office manager and manager of The Courtyard Assisted Living has been at Oakwood for 37-years; activity assistant 42-years, social worker and human resources leaders 23-years apiece; two workers in laundry each have more than 30-years; dietary aide 19-years, nursing directors 31 and 18-years; and six nurses aides with 19 to 28-years on the job.

Weaver-Isvik knows what it is like to perform nearly all of the jobs at the care center.  She began her career at the age of 16 when she went to work as a nurse aide.

“I loved caring for the elderly and listening to the wealth of knowledge they had about what the world was like as they grew up,” she said, adding that her love for the elderly actually developed as a young girl who spent a lot of time with her grandparents.  “I remember thinking at the time that they were so old, when in fact, they were in their 50s,” she laughed.  “I asked for nurse kits every Christmas and my sister got the dolls.  They seemed to be sick a lot, so I would get out my nurse kit and fix them right up.”

While working as a nurse aide, Sheri attended NIACC and continued working at Concord Care Center in Garner. Once she earned her degree, she worked as a nurse for 27 years, first at Concord Care Center, and then as Nursing Supervisor at Duncan Heights.  While there, she decided to further her education to become an administrator.  She become a licensed administrator in 1994, and in December of 1997 was hired by the ABCM Corporation as the administrator of Oakwood Care Center.

“Twenty-three and a half years later, I have realized it is time to retire.  It is said you will know when it is time, and I have now realized it is time.  I have had a lot of push from my kids and grandkids to retire, and they have told me they want me to have a few years to enjoy life before moving in to Oakwood!”

Before that happens, Sheri says she is looking forward to traveling and seeing more of the United States.  A Route 66 adventure is being planned.

“I haven’t ventured away much because as administrator, I needed to be available.  I won’t miss the drive from Garner in the winter, but I will miss all the people.  I have truly enjoyed being a part of the Clear Lake community.  It’s such a wonderful, progressive community with so much to offer everyone and truly dedicated leaders.  My best wishes always to everyone.”

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