The Mayflower Community: A Place to Call Home

Kellie McGriff and her staff at The Mayflower Community have always cared about people. McGriff, the current executive director/administrator of the Grinnell retirement community, is only one of numerous staff members who have worked here over two decades. From grounds crews to food service, housekeeping to operations, the team has been working diligently for its residents.

“It’s been a busy and fun few years, especially with our 75th anniversary,” says McGriff. “We have changed our logo and see new colors on our marketing materials and new website.”

The Mayflower, which is home to 250 residents and 125 employees, has multiple living options, including independent living, assisted living, and a health center. Last August, the team opened a memory care unit and currently have nurses that offer around the clock care.

“We were finding out that our residents were starting to have cognitive decline memory issues in their apartments,” says McGriff. “So having that memory care assisted living, that higher functioning care, on-site has been wonderful.”

The Mayflower has also seen a huge improvement in amenities due to generous philanthropic donations — the retirement home offers Hydromassage chairs to deal with fatigue and soreness, two fitness centers with weight machines, acupuncture services, and a mani/pedicure section that will open on May 4.

“As we age, one of the things we give up is driving,” explains McGriff. “Having services come to the Mayflower instead means so much to our residents.” The social center is usually packed with exercising residents. But being active does not mean only in terms of exercise — the Mayflower makes sure you have an active social life, with a built-in movie theater, miniature golf, foosball, and shuffleboard, to name a few.

“The goal is to approach care that is not focused on just medications,” says McGriff. “We often think, ‘how can we treat a person’s diagnosis without throwing medication at it? We’ve grown leaps and bounds in that area by adding to our community life and wellness.”

Every weekend, the Mayflower theater shows two movies, and has weekly devotionals for religious residents. When residents’ family members come to visit, they are also able to take advantage of the amenities alongside their loved ones.

“When residents move here, they gain a community,” says McGriff. “Although you may have a smaller apartment, you have so many acres of campus to utilize.” With newly renovated spaces like the J&B Bistro and Roudabush Cornerstone dining room, residents can reserve and enjoy delicious meals catered by the Mayflower team.

The residents also have the option to join the Mayflower Residents Association. “When I was the director of nursing, I thought to myself, ‘it’s horrible that they are making the residents work!’’” recounts McGriff. “But I realized that our residents use this to have a purpose and an identity.” Without the association, the mini gift shop, movie theatre, the campus library, and even the Lyceum music series on Thursday nights wouldn’t exist! (Psst…the mini gift shop is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10-2 PM.)

Most excitingly, the Mayflower is offering a new CNA school, launching in May with their development and quality assurance program instructor Sarah Marcum.

The program already has over 10 students signed up — some with Grinnell College and some from North Mahaska. Students train for 75 hours and receive certification afterward, which allows them to work two shifts at the Mayflower.

In case you missed it, the Mayflower was honored as the 2025 Service Business of the Year at the Grinnell Chamber’s Annual Celebration! To catch up on the Mayflower’s accomplishments in the last year, watch their award video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxnDlZcJ6Bo...

Currently, the Mayflower is filled with residents, but interested folks can secure a spot on their waiting list. The minimum age for residency is 55 years, and you do not need to be on the waiting list to look at a property.

Chamber Ambassadors from left to right:

• Erin Bustin — Grinnell School of Music
• Trent Arment — MCG - Mahaska Communication Group
• Fran Conn
• Nicolle Donnelly — Poweshiek Insurance Agency
• Yesenia Mozo — Grinnell Chamber
• Kellie McGriff — The Mayflower Community
• Pam Voxburg — The Mayflower Community
• Joni Schmidt — The Mayflower Community
• Evan Petig — The Grinnellian
• Christy Kaisand — The Mayflower Community
• Ashley Sorensen — Volunteer Iowa
• Shivam Sharma — Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
• Blake Pearson — Converge Chiropractic PLLC
• Rachel Arseneault — Ramsey-Weeks Inc. Real Estate
• Dan McCue — McCue & Associates LLC - American Family Insurance
• Monica St Angelo — Grinnell Area Arts Council
• Nikki Armstead — Grinnell Chamber