Caring for Our Community

Ms. K was a weekly regular at the Van Ness branch of Chevy Chase Bank, stopping in to deposit a check, make a small withdrawal, or just sit in the lobby sipping coffee and chatting with the staff. Last spring, when Ms. K didn’t appear for several weeks, the bank employees became concerned. Worried, branch manager Austin Isemann phoned her at home to check on her, putting their relationship on a new footing that would change both their lives.

Deb Rubenstein, Iona’s Director of Elder Care Services, comments “We depend on caring people like Mr. Isemann to reach out to seniors who might be vulnerable.  These relationships benefit not only the senior but those who open their hearts and take the time to see how they might help.”

When Isemann phoned Ms. K, she insisted that she was all right. “But I suspected she wasn’t. There was just something about the tone of her voice that seemed different,” he says.  Indeed, Ms. K had fallen and wasn’t doing too well at home.  Isemann’s pastor suggested that he contact Iona Senior Services.   At the mention of Iona, a bell went off: “In several conversations, Ms. K had mentioned that Iona had called her, trying to schedule an appointment. I had thought Iona was a female friend!” he says. In contacting Iona, Isemann learned that Ms. K already had a social worker, Lisa Rindner, who had been consistently calling and trying to visit.

“Lisa was a breath of fresh air and sunshine,” Isemann says. “She and Ms. K connected immediately.” By building trust, Lisa was able to talk to Ms. K about the future and even got Ms. K to submit to her first medical examination in many years. When Ms. K decided to move out of her apartment into an assisted living residence, cleaning out more than forty years of accumulation in her small apartment preparing Ms. K for the move required Lisa’s professional and compassionate expertise.  Lisa evaluated what Ms. K would need in a new living situation so that she would have the quality of her life improved, and Lisa researched and visited each place with her.

Mr. Iseman, the professional and caring staff at Iona and people who support Iona through their charitable giving embody the spirit that led to Iona’s founding more than 33 years ago. Compassion, respect for the individual and a genuine sense of friendship keeps our community thriving and beautiful.

You make a difference – to your neighbors and to our community.

To make a gift to Iona or for more information, please contact:

Meg Artley
Director of Development
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202-895-9401

To donate online, please click here.