For our Capstone project we served dinner at the Russell and Ann Gerdin Hope Lodge in
Iowa City on Tuesday August 4, 2015. We choose the Hope Lodge after discussing previous capstone class projects and our desire, as nurses, to do a project for adults with illnesses. We focused on adults as that is the population we all work with in our day to day careers. With Matt and Heidi working in the Clinical Cancer Center infusion suite the Hope Lodge dinner seemed an appropriate choice. We all pitched in to serve the residents a home cooked meal. We divided meats, salads, sides and desserts up. Amy provided goodie bags for the guests for some pampering. Matt contacted the Hope Lodge, verifying date and time would work for them. We were a bit on a tight schedule as dinner was at 5:30pm and we needed to be out of the Hope Lodge by 6:30pm due to another event occurring. Most of us were able to arrive by 5pm; this allowed us to mingle with the guests and enjoy the nature.
The location of the guest house is in the middle of town; however is set close to a wooded area. The guests, and ourselves, enjoyed seeing the deer and birds that visited while we were there. Many guests spoke of the wildlife telling of the numerous photos they have taken of them. They tell
…show more content…
The requirements of a cancer patient and a care provider to stay at the Hope Lodge, free of charge, is to reside at least forty miles from the Hope Lodge and actively undergoing outpatient cancer treatment at one of the local hospitals (Mercy, VAMC or UIHC). Hope Lodge specifically states that “all individuals who meet the Hope Lodge eligibility requirements will be welcomed regardless of race, creed, citizenship, physical disability, gender, color, ethnic heritage, veteran status, economic status, or sexual orientation” (Russell and Ann Gerdin ACS Hope