Good Samaritan Society

The Good Samaritan Society is adding more senior services in Rapid City, South Dakota. The former St. Martin Monastery, on the campus of Good Samaritan Society – St. Martin Village in northwest Rapid City, will be renovated to include 22 assisted living units and 10 memory care assisted living units. Aimee Middleton, chief operating officer at the Good Samaritan Society said, "Having the opportunity to expand an already existing campus to provide additional room for senior services allows us to grow and care for more seniors in an area where we already have deep roots in the community. Read more: https://san.fo/3AhU2FG

Kudos to our 2024 National Ever Forward winners for living out the Good Samaritan Society’s mission! Six amazing staff members and a wonderful volunteer received surprise visits from Society President & CEO Nate Schema, who presented them with their awards. Later, they were honored at the Society’s Annual Operations Conference. The winners are: Amy Davis, Director of Nursing Champion, Wamego, KS Jason Anderson, Administrator Champion, Sanford Health Sylvan Court, Canby, MN Jerry Kelch, Employee Champion, Windsor, CO Leanne Atwood, Leader Champion, Albion, NE Patience Russell, Caregiver Champion; New Hope, MN Peyton Marquardt, Volunteer Champion, Lakota, ND Taelor Wimmer, Caregiver Champion, Indianola, IA “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 Watch the stories at: https://san.fo/3WLepnp

Sanford Health Sylvan Court in Canby, Minnesota, is a rural long-term care center often buzzing with activity. Administrator Jason Anderson prefers the nursing home that way for several reasons. “I really like intergenerational activities with the residents and our school system,” says Jason. “So, I really have tried throughout my six years to get youth coming into our building.” Whether it's partnering with the Canby school system to create those intergenerational activities or enjoying a resident's accordion skills, Anderson always keeps "a resident-first mentality." Jason has been named this year's National Ever Forward Administrator Champion. Watch the full story at: https://san.fo/4fx4kSg

Residents at Good Samaritan Society – Ottumwa have been getting active this summer! 🚲 To help motivate residents to engage in restorative exercises, nurses at the community organized a RAGBRAI-themed program and encouraged residents to complete as many exercises as possible within a set time frame, tailoring exercises to residents' needs. Forty-six residents participated in the program, with over half achieving their goals and earning gold medals. Watch more from KTVO: https://san.fo/3WK5EJd

Arriving at 6 a.m. daily, 58-year-old Patience Russell hits the ground running at Good Samaritan Society – Ambassador in New Hope, Minnesota. Patience came to the United States from Liberia in 1998 and has been caregiving at the long-term care center now for almost 25 years. In between getting residents ready for the day, you will often hear Patience singing or laughing with those nearby. Bringing a positive persona is just part of what makes her a special caregiver. A mother of three and a grandma, Patience is also thankful for the organization that's come through for her on difficult days. Four years ago, her husband Isaac died unexpectedly. Her team rallied around her and were there for when she needed it most. While it's not always easy to show up for those in need of an extra hand each day, Patience credits her faith for the strength she finds each day, saying, "You ask God to direct you because you cannot do it all by yourself. That's the first thing I do before I come into the building." Patience is being honored as this year's National Ever Forward Caregiver Champion. When Society leaders surprised her with the award, she broke out singing her favorite hymn, "How Great Thou Art." Read the full story: https://san.fo/4dHZsbx

Ali Hofer, vice president of the Good Samaritan Foundation recently inducted Tom Syverson, director of external affairs for the Society into the Foundation's Honor Society for his lifetime level of giving! Congratulations, Tom, and thank you for your continued support!

The South Dakota Department of Human Services recently awarded $2 million in grants for technology and equipment in the long-term care industry. The grants will fund projects including food preparation and storage equipment; video monitoring and sensory technology systems which can monitor patients remotely; telecommunications equipment; and diagnostic and interactive technology. The projects are aimed at helping long-term care centers create efficiencies to reduce the need for workers, as the long-term care industry continues to struggle with staffing more than other health care fields since the pandemic. Good Samaritan Society chief operating officer Aimee Middleton said, "We're a large organization that operates in different states and we don't see this type of investment everywhere. This is historic and appreciated." Read more: https://san.fo/4cYD6CA

The Good Samaritan Society recently hosted a job fair in Sioux Falls, SD at the Great Plains Zoo. Representatives from the organization were there to answer questions about what it's like to work for the Society and offered information about available jobs. Alecia O’Neill, Society administrator said, "We have nursing positions, we have CNAs, med aides, we also have housekeeping and laundry positions as well that are open within. We have four communities here in Sioux Falls, and then it’s Canton, Canistota and Dell Rapids as well that are all represented here too." Watch more from the event: https://san.fo/4dfIMaR Explore careers at the Good Samaritan Society: https://san.fo/3SToXih

Tiffany Kuznia was the first to work for the Good Samaritan Society and recruited her dad and daughter to join her. All of them love interacting with residents and working together. The three generations make it one big family experience at the Society’s Heritage Grove location in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Read more about this family: https://san.fo/3A37Ovu

Work has officially begun at the corner of Veterans Parkway and 57th Street in Sioux Falls, SD for the Good Samaritan Society's newest senior living community, Founder's Crossing! The full continuum of care campus will expand access to high quality care close to home by fulfilling a growing need for senior services on the east side of Sioux Falls. About the new location, Nate Schema, Good Samaritan Society president and CEO said, "Good Samaritan Society – Founder’s Crossing will offer a new level of comfort and convenience that Sioux Falls has never seen before." Learn more: https://san.fo/4cZzLmD