About us

May 08, 2013

(Daytona Beach, Fla.) – Bob Rizzo, 83, has lived at the Good Samaritan Society’s Luther Hall for seven years. He loves taking photos, visiting friends and shopping at local businesses. With Florida’s mild weather year-round, one of his favorite things to do is travel around town on his scooter. While his life has been a fun ride, one trip to the store last year almost brought it all to a crashing end.

Right: Luther Hall resident Bob Rizzo

Bob’s road to retirement in Florida began in New York City, where he had his hand in several creative careers. His father was an antique furniture restorer, a trade Bob also took up in the late 1950s and continued until the 1970s.

His photography and carving hobbies led to new professions. For several years, he made a living shooting portfolio photos for up-and-coming actors and making point-of-purchase advertising models for several large corporations. In 1984, he moved to Florida, where he retired.

March 11, 2012, started out like any typical day for Bob as he left his Luther Hall apartment to run errands on his scooter. On his way to the store, a car in front of Bob stopped short. In the attempt to avoid hitting the car, the brakes on Bob’s scooter locked, sending him over the handlebars.

Bob was wearing a helmet, but the impact of hitting the ground resulted in a punctured lung, broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

“I was frightened,” Bob says. “I did not think I would make it.”

May 06, 2013

(Blaine, Wash.) – I’ve enjoyed my daily visits to Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt over the past two and a half years while visiting my wife, Amy. Bringing her here was a difficult but good choice.

Left: Lowell Jackson visits his wife, Stafholt resident Amy Jackson, every day at the center.

I was unable to care for Amy at home and had no immediate family living nearby. Nevertheless, I often felt guilt-ridden and lonely after 63 years of marriage to a loving human being.

May 03, 2013

(Omaha, Neb.) – Millard residents and community members have shown that they love learning, so Good Samaritan Society – Millard is going to give them more of what they want.

Since 2007, the Good Samaritan Society’s Senior College program has been extremely popular at the Millard campus. The free educational courses are open to all seniors, and the spring and fall Senior College courses have been met with overwhelming interest.

After many requests for additional educational programs, the campus’ community relations and recreational therapy departments teamed together to offer Lifelong Learning sessions. The new program will be available in addition to Senior College courses.

Lifelong Learning brings local educators to teach six-week courses on topics that local community members are interested in. Lifelong Learning is free and open to people of all ages. Good Samaritan Society – Millard’s first Lifelong Learning session will begin Thursday, May 23. Classes will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Thursday for six weeks. This session’s theme is World War II, led by instructor Troy Stolp. Troy has bachelor's degrees in anthropology, religion and history, and he's taught several history courses to local seniors before.

Like Senior College courses, there are no tests or grades in Lifelong Learning sessions. You’re invited to learn new things, get to know new people, and spend quality time with your friends and family.

The program will take place in the Millard campus’ chapel to allow more access to wireless hearing devices, accommodate larger class sizes, and utilize the campus’ in-house camera to televise each class to the rooms of residents who are unable to attend in person.

Registration forms for Lifelong Learning courses will be mailed in early May. For more information or to make sure you’re on the class registration mailing list, please call Joanne Carlberg or Heather Holmes at (402) 895-2266.

May 01, 2013

(Mesa, Ariz.) – In addition to serving hundreds of seniors over the past 10 years, the Abundant Life Wellness Program has also provided dozens of Arizona State University students real-world experience through internships with the program.

Mesa Good Shepherd is proud to offer internship opportunities that not only help equip future health and wellness professionals, but also enhance the services and programs for campus residents and Abundant Life Wellness Program participants. Here are reflections from the three latest interns.

Rainnah Rayes

My experience at the Good Samaritan Society campus has been nothing but enjoyable. I look forward to coming here and seeing the residents and staff.

I have given health-related presentations and hosted exercise and wellness events here for the residents; everyone walks away with a smile on their face and a spark in their eye.

Right: Resident Geri Terryah works with Abundant Life intern Rainnah Rayes on her strength and exercise program.

I find I relate to seniors because of their appreciation of life and deep-rooted histories. With my degree in healthy lifestyle coaching, talking with Mesa Good Shepherd residents about mental, physical and spiritual wellness is a well-perceived topic.

This experience gave me confidence in myself and a better understanding how some individuals may have experiences or events that prevent them from trying new things, or that keep them from having time to partake in activities. Because of my interactions with Good Samaritan Society residents, I believe I am better equipped to help find motivational key points to those who have “holds” on their lives. I hope to be able to approach numerous different situations with the leverage of my wonderful experience here.

John Snyder

I truly love my experience here at Mesa Good Shepherd. I chose this internship because I wanted to obtain more experience with the senior population.

Left: Resident Lori Bennett gets encouragement in her exercises from intern John Snyder.

I have been accepted to Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Ill., and this experience will help me on my way. With the different classes offered here at Mesa Good Shepherd, I have learned different stretches and exercises that help with the various injuries related to aging.

As I further my career as an occupational therapist, the things that I have learned here will greatly benefit me.

Christina Keller

I chose to intern at Mesa Good Shepherd to become more familiar with working one-on-one with individuals, as well as to learn to instruct a group fitness class.

Right: Intern Christina Keller leads a group wellness class.

After I graduate from Arizona State University, my goal is to become a certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and eventual trainer for professional athletes.

Interning with the Abundant Life Wellness Program gave me experiences to enhance my knowledge and techniques. Working with seniors has taught me to be more thorough and clear during my instruction. The classes and their participants have made me a better leader, and I feel more prepared to continue in my exercise and wellness career.

Apr 24, 2013

(Moscow, Idaho) – The Good Samaritan Society – Moscow is proud to offer Lifeline Medical Alert Services to the Moscow-Pullman community. The small, waterproof personal help button gives extra assurance to seniors that emergency response service is available to them 24/7.

Family members of many Lifeline users know the personal response technology is just one part in caring for an aging or ailing loved one. With these family caregivers in mind, Philips Lifeline has launched a free mobile phone app called CarePartners.

The CarePartners app, which is available for iPhone and Android, streamlines care coordination, enabling caregivers to:

• Communicate in a private, secure online community;
• Create, manage and view upcoming caregiving tasks;
• View a shared to-do list and assign tasks to individuals; and
• Sync tasks they are responsible for directly into their smartphone calendars.

“The CarePartners mobile app allows people to spend more time giving care, and less time trying to determine what needs to be done and who is doing it,” says Kathy Ward-Teipelke, Good Samaritan Society – Moscow’s Lifeline coordinator. “The app also taps into the growing trend of using mobile technology to communicate wirelessly, organize our lives and improve our health.”

For more information about Lifeline services or the CarePartners app, please call Kathy Ward-Teipelke at (208) 882-6560.