For our picnic in the park we went to the Thomson Causeway. It was a beautiful day for lunch along the Mississippi. Thank you Sandy for making a delicious lunch and coming along. #BickfordofClinton

We had a fun 50's Day. We had some 50's music playing while we danced, played toss to win, did some reminiscing and trivia. The kitchen staff made a delicious 50's style lunch and even whipped up our afternoon treat of milkshakes for us. Our Activity Director had her Granddaughter "Bri" come to show off her vocal skills. Bri picked out some favorite 50's songs. #BickfordofClinton

Sandy gave me this idea, so we put it to the test and made this cute hand puppet. #BickfordofClinton

We love wishing our residents a happy birthday. Here's to you Jean "Happy Birthday " #BickfordofClinton

These ladies took no time in shucking this corn that our very own BFM Karlee dropped off from her parents farm. Thank you to the Griswold family for always thinking of us. We all enjoyed it so much! Yum ????

With the Canadian fires and smoke consuming the air here are some hints for healthier breathing. To cope with poor air quality from smoke, stay indoors with windows and doors closed, run your AC on the "recirculate" setting, and use a portable HEPA air purifier. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and if you must go outside, wear a properly fitted N95 mask. 1. Optimize Your Indoor Air • Seal your space: Keep all windows and doors shut. You can even place rolled-up damp towels at the base of exterior doors to block smoke from seeping in. • Filter the air: Use a portable HEPA air cleaner in your main living space or bedroom. If you use central air conditioning, ensure the filter is rated MERV-13 or higher and set the fan to "On" rather than "Auto" • Avoid indoor pollutants: Do not burn candles, use fireplaces, or fry/broil food. Avoid vacuuming unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter, as it can stir up ash and fine particles that have settled. 2. Protect Yourself When Outdoors • Check local conditions: Monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) before planning your day using the AirNow tracker or app. • Wear the right mask: Simple cloth or surgical masks will not filter out microscopic smoke particles. Use a NIOSH-approved N95 or KN95 respirator. • Avoid strenuous exertion: Even healthy individuals should avoid running, biking, or heavy yard work when air quality is unhealthy. 3. Monitor Your Symptoms • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help your respiratory tract clear out mucus and inhaled irritants. • Look for warning signs: Common reactions include coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated eyes, and mild shortness of breath. • When to seek help: People with pre-existing conditions like asthma, COPD, or heart disease are most at risk. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or if your respiratory symptoms do not improve after moving to clean indoor air. #StayHealthy #BickfordofClinton #HigherPath

Iowa farmers produced around 2.4 billion bushels of corn for grain and harvested 12.9 million acres according to the U.S. Department of Agricultural Statistics Service. Iowa grows more corn than any other state and even most countries! Needless to say, it’s a crop that plays a very big role in the state of Iowa. We were blessed by the Griswold Family as our very own Karlee brought this corn in that her dad picked fresh this morning from their family farm. The residents enjoyed it so much for lunch today! Thank you once again to this amazing family for showing our Bickford family the love that is totally homegrown from the Griswold Family Farm - yummy!!!!

Our new mascot goose. Brought to us by our BFM Paula. We need to give her a name. I say "Loosey Goosey " throw out a name so we can give her or a proper name. #BickfordofClinton

Very happy to say our raised gardens are doing fantastic and our Monarch Quest is coming along as well. #BickfordofClinton

Violet, one of our valued residents Granddaughter is in town a came to show us her piano skills. Violet is just getting ready to turn 15 and her skills are amazing. #BickfordofClinton