The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors visited Heritage House on Thursday, September 24th, to welcome Rose Jurgensen, the new Director of Food and Beverage, and learn more about the Rock Steady Boxing program offered at the senior living community.
Rose brings years of food service experience from schools, hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in several states. Originally from Minnesota, she recently moved to Atlantic and told the Ambassadors she felt right at home when she arrived in southwest Iowa.
Heritage House is preparing to introduce a new restaurant-style dining experience for its assisted and independent living residents on October 5th. The new dining room, called The Hilltop, will offer a wider selection of meals, including chicken, pork, fish and beef options, along with daily chef specials. Meals will be served in courses, giving residents more choices and a dining experience similar to visiting a restaurant.
The Hilltop will also be open to the public, giving community members another place to enjoy a meal. Heritage House plans to expand its café hours and introduce additional dining options in the future.
The Ambassadors also met with Andrea Wiederstein, Wellness Coordinator, who leads Heritage House’s Rock Steady Boxing program for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Rock Steady Boxing began in 2006 after founder Scott C. Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 40. Newman began training with his friend and former Golden Gloves boxer Vince Perez and found that the workouts helped him manage his symptoms. What started as a personal effort to fight back against Parkinson’s grew into an international nonprofit organization offering non-contact boxing classes designed specifically for people with the disease.
Heritage House brought Rock Steady Boxing to Atlantic in 2016 through Jon Jordan, whose father was impacted by Parkinson’s. The program brought together Jon’s love of fitness and his desire to help others facing the same diagnosis. First Whitney Bank & Trust helped fund the program’s start and continues to support it, while Atlantic Rotary has also contributed equipment.
Andrea began helping Jon with classes before taking over as head coach in 2025. She now leads seven regular participants, some of whom have attended since the program began.
Classes combine non-contact boxing with strength training, balance exercises, cardio and activities that challenge coordination and mobility. Andrea adapts the exercises to each participant’s abilities so people at different stages of Parkinson’s can take part.
The workouts are only part of what keeps participants coming back. Andrea said the group has become like a little family, with members encouraging one another and building friendships along the way.
Rock Steady Boxing meets Mondays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 2:30 PM and is open to anyone in the community with a Parkinson’s diagnosis, not just Heritage House residents. The cost is $60 for an eight-class punch card.
Heritage House is located at 1200 Brookridge Circle in Atlantic. For more information about Rock Steady Boxing, The Hilltop dining room or other services, contact Heritage House at 712-243-1850 or visit their website and Facebook page.
