After Milan Phelps started having health issues and fell at home a few times, his wife realized she couldn’t provide the care he needed.
They decided assisted living would be helpful and found Good Samaritan Society – Prairie View Gardens in Kearney, Nebraska. Milan moved there in January 2025.
Soon after settling in, he met Krista Pentheny, activities coordinator at Prairie View Gardens. She introduced herself, learned about Milan’s interests and gave him a monthly activity calendar.
“He was in bad shape. He couldn’t walk without his walker and his memory wasn’t good,” says Krista.
She encouraged him to attend the 30-minute exercise classes held four days a week. Residents watch a livestream video of exercises and use exercise bands.
“I started class right away. I felt with the condition I was in, I’d try anything to get better,” says Milan.
Growing stronger
At first, the classes were challenging for Milan, but he didn’t give up.
“There were some exercises I could not do because of the arthritis and bursitis in my shoulder. The one I had trouble with was taking the band behind my head and stretching it, but now I've been able to do it,” Milan says.
In addition to attending exercise classes, he stays active on his own, thanks to the step machine and the outdoor walking path at Prairie View Gardens.
“I started using the step machine about three months after I got here and worked up to using it three times a day for 20 minutes at a time. I have a view outside and watch the birds,” says Milan.
“We walk around the pond, and he can do that all the way around. It’s a quarter of a mile from our door all the way around,” Krista says.
By regularly attending classes and staying active, Milan is stronger and his cognitive ability has improved.
“He is able to walk on his own without using his walker, and he can remember everyone’s name who lives here,” says Krista.
Milan’s perseverance and dedication are paying off in other ways, too.
“I had a checkup with my doctor recently, and I’m doing so good that I don't have to check my blood sugars any longer. I also had a pretty good checkup with my neurologist, so he told me I don’t have to come back for a year,” Milan says.
Finding freedom to move
He appreciates how Krista and the other staff members at Prairie View Gardens provide quality care and well-being opportunities that help him stay independent.
“It’s been very good. Anything I ask for they seem to be able to take care of. I’m free to go pretty much wherever I want to go, and they have a coffee shop, which I spend a lot of time in,” says Milan.
In addition to exercise classes, Krista offers shuffleboard, dice and board games, coffee and donut time, movie and popcorn events, axe throwing, bingo, and games that use an interactive projector called a Tovertafel.
“I get residents out of their apartments so they can do more things and grow in their lives,” Krista says.
She began working for Good Samaritan six years ago in memory care. She became the activities coordinator a year ago and is happy to see Milan’s improvement.
“I'm glad we could help him out. He loves his exercise,” says Krista.
