The Spiritual Heartbeat of Western Home
Chaplain Doug Stone enjoys a conversation with resident Marty Halupnik in her apartment.
When Western Home Communities opened in 1912, the founders believed caring for elders meant tending to the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. More than a century later, that foundation continues to shape us as a charitable Christian service organization. Today, that enduring legacy lives on through Fresh Wind Ministry — a relational, Christ-centered expression of spiritual care woven naturally into the rhythms of community life.
Spiritual care is not simply a program; it is a ministry of presence. It unfolds in quiet interactions, in gathered worship, and in shared devotional moments, reflecting our mission to create fulfilling lifestyles. Chaplains and dedicated volunteers offer a faithful presence to residents and their families each day, offering prayer, Scripture and heartfelt conversation. Personal moments often become the highlight of a day as stories are shared, relationships deepen, and God’s steadfast love is remembered together. Group ministries create space for residents to grow, reflect, and encourage one another in faith.
“We see residents deepen long-held faith or discover new hope in this season of life.”
“Faith doesn’t retire,” says Chaplain Enrique “Q” Ochoa. “We see residents deepen long-held faith or discover new hope in this season of life. Our role is to remind people they are seen, known, and loved.”
Chaplain Doug Stone is often found in the Windcove library, greeting residents as they pass. What begins as a hello becomes a story — and a moment of reflection. Sometimes reflection becomes prayer. “It’s about being available,” Doug says. “You never know when a casual conversation becomes something sacred.”
Chaplain Byron Simar brings a deeply relational approach to his work. After two decades serving in France, he now walks the halls of Western Home with the same conviction. “Ministry is always about people,” Byron says. “Whether in Lyon or Cedar Falls, it’s about listening, learning, and loving well.”
Shared history has sparked meaningful conversations with residents like Bill Madsen, who served as a sergeant in France near the German border. While serving, Bill was permitted to ship his convertible overseas, and it quickly became a gathering place for friendship. “The car wasn’t just transportation,” Bill recalls, “it built friendships.” Byron and Bill reminisce about familiar towns and experiences, reminders of how life’s journeys shape the way we care for others.
Chaplain Mark Eggleston describes the senior years as “a unique and deeply meaningful season of life — one that brings challenges, but also remarkable opportunity.”
“This stage of life gives people space to reflect on where they’ve been and how they still want to invest in others,” Mark says. “Spiritual wellbeing doesn’t fade with age. In many ways, it becomes even more important.”
For Mark, spiritual wellness means more than attending a service. It includes space to ask hard questions, process grief, and find peace in seasons of change. It means walking alongside someone and reminding them they are not alone. “Their life experiences and wisdom matter. They shape this community,” Mark explains.
Residents greet at services, help lead worship, sing in choir, visit neighbors who are recovering or grieving, and quietly alert chaplains when someone may need encouragement. “They’re part of our chaplain team,” Mark says with a smile. “Not on our payroll, but certainly on God’s.”
Volunteers also extend Fresh Wind’s ministry across campus. Ken Morlan, a Navy veteran and former teacher, sees Western Home as his mission field. He begins his mornings in prayer for the residents in his building, then meets people over coffee where conversations often turn meaningful. “Some of the people I meet are Christians, some aren’t,” he says. “But everyone needs someone who listens.” His approach is simple: show up, be present, and remind people they matter.
Elaine Rosenau serves residents in memory support, bringing them outside for fresh air or sitting with them in quiet conversation. “These moments impact me as much as they do them,” she says. “It’s a blessing both ways.”
For employees, Fresh Wind is not just a resident service — it is a daily support system. Melissa Adreon, a nurse mentor in Deery Suites, says working in a faith-based environment has reshaped the way she approaches care.
“Here, we understand that care isn’t just physical,” Melissa says. “It’s emotional and spiritual, too. Being able to honor and support residents’ spiritual well-being changes everything about how we show up as caregivers.”
She notes that in many healthcare settings, spiritual conversations are avoided. At Western Home, they are welcomed, thoughtfully and respectfully. “We’re able to meet residents where they are,” she explains. “We can support their spiritual needs without forcing beliefs. And when situations become heavy, especially during end-of-life care, the spiritual care team is just a phone call away. They come alongside us and our families with compassion and steadiness.”
For Melissa, her faith informs her professional role in practical ways. “It strengthens my leadership, my integrity, and my emotional presence,” she says. “Those small acts of kindness — that’s where bonds are formed. That’s where lasting memories are made.”
“Care isn’t just physical. It’s emotional and spiritual, too.”
She pauses, then adds simply: “They’re the support so many other facilities don’t have. We truly couldn’t do this without them.”
Western Home Communities’ leadership continues to champion this spiritual heritage. For Jerry Harris, chief experience officer, the work of Fresh Wind is not an added layer of programming. It is foundational to the organization’s identity.
“The spiritual care team does critical work here,” Jerry says. “It’s the glue that holds our mission together. We can provide excellent housing and healthcare, but what truly defines Western Home is the way we care for the whole person, including their spiritual well-being.”
More than a century after its founding, Western Home Communities still lives out a simple truth. Ministry happens wherever people are willing to show up for one another.
“Spiritual well-being doesn’t fade with age. In many ways, it becomes even more important.”
Spiritual care happens across campus and beyond, in libraries and coffee shops, at a bedside and in worship, through prayer and quiet conversations. Fresh Wind nurtures a community where faith is strengthened and purpose endures. At Western Home Communities, spiritual care is not an addition to the mission — it is its heartbeat.
As Chaplain Mark reminds us, “As long as you have a pulse, you have a purpose.”
