The Disciple - Winter 2012 by Darren Matthes

A quarterly publication for staff members of The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

the

DISCIPLE Spreading t he t eachings of Christ

Now it’s my turn: A story of caring — pg. 6 Resident has a lifelong gumption to succeed — pg. 10

Winter 2012

Grace NOTES

A pproach prayer like a bowl of candy By Ann Full

Human Resources Director at Good Samaritan Society – Pipestone in Pipestone, Minn.

’ve decided that I can’t have a candy bowl in my office. I love having one so that staff members can grab a quick treat when they come in. But I put it out, and before I know it, I’ve eaten most of it myself! I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I’m probably not the only one who does this. It’s just so tempting when it’s right in front of you, and sometimes I grab it without even thinking about it. It’s just a natural reflex when I walk by to grab a piece of candy, and I’m chewing away before I even realize what I’m doing. It’s amazing how a little piece here and a little piece there

will add up as the day goes on. All this candy got me thinking: What if I approached prayer like I did that candy bowl? What if it was in front of me all day, and I just couldn’t resist

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. — Ephesians 6:18

praying every chance I got? What if it only took a second, but added up as the day went on? What if it became such a habit that I did it without even thinking about it? This is my goal for my relationship with God. I want my conversations with Him to be constant, automatic and unending so that prayer isn’t something I do, it becomes a part of who I am. It seems like a difficult goal to reach, but if I can remind myself to pray each time I reach for a piece of candy, I think I’ll be well on my way. Happy praying (and snacking)! V

DISCIPLE

the

Inside

Spreading the t eachings of Christ

C h r i s t- c e n t e r e d: C O M PA S S I O N

Featuring stories of how centers share the compassion found in Christ’s love

2 Grace notes: Approach prayer like a bowl of candy 6 Now it’s my turn: A story of caring

R e s i d e n t - c e n t e r e d : H O S P I TA L I T Y

Featuring stories of how centers offer hospitality and kindness to residents living the fullest possible life

5 10 11 12 17 19

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care Resident has a lifelong gumption to succeed Staff members help restore a resident’s eyesight Common ground: A work of art Internet searches help piece together a resident’s past Electronic notes turn into real greeting cards

S t a f f - c e n t e r e d : v ocation

Featuring stories of how centers encourage and foster the vocation of staff members who offer their skills and their love 7 8 16

Staff members’ training helps them save a stranger’s life Society spotlight: Online learning hub puts training at staff members’ fingertips One final task: Hospice patient helps staff members become better caregivers

Community-centered: SERVICE

Featuring stories of how centers serve and reach out to the communities that welcome and support the Good Samaritan Society 4 Society partners and friends answer prayers from Zimbabwe 18 Centers receive grants to share the Society’s mission with their communities

On the cover: Staff members have access to hundreds of online courses and training materials through the Good Samaritan Society’s Learning Center. Read more on page 8.

About us:

The Disciple is a quarterly publication for staff members of The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. With more than 22,000 staff members nationwide, there are thousands upon thousands of inspirational stories happening at Good Samaritan Society locations every day. We’ve gathered a few of these stories to share with you, and we hope you find some ideas in this issue to help you share God’s love in word and deed at your own center. We encourage you to share your center’s stories with each other, and with us. To submit an article, devotional or feedback for The Disciple, contact Megan Baldridge at (605) 362-3982 or mbaldrid@good-sam.com. The Disciple is published by The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, 4800 West 57th Street, P.O. Box 5038, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57117-5038. Executive Editor: Doris Haugen Managing Editor: Megan Baldridge Creative Director: Susan Hollingsworth Becker © 2012 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved. AA/EOE, M/F/Vet/ Handicap, Drug-Free Workplace

S ociety partners and friends

answer prayers from Zimbabwe

By Martha Fick Good Samaritan Society Network Chaplain for western Minnesota

wo years ago, the Good Samaritan Society partnered with Orphan Grain Train — a service organization that delivers humanitarian aid to people worldwide — to send a shipping container of medical supplies and other items to Karanda Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe. At the Society’s 2010 Annual Meeting, we assembled many boxes of personal health kits and baby layettes, and we collected blankets, furniture, wheelchairs, walkers, braces and other equipment donated from Good Samaritan Society centers and friends. Orphan Grain Train added medical equipment that had been donated to the cause, and together we filled a container the size of a semitrailer to send to Karanda Mission Hospital. Karanda is one of the Society’s Project Outreach mission locations, and I was so honored to be involved in supporting them. We received thankyou letters from doctors, staff members and patients at the hospital whose lives were changed because of the container we sent. Earlier this year, Orphan Grain Train informed us that they were planning to send another semitrailer-sized container

to Karanda, and they invited us to be a part of the project. Once again, we collected hundreds of blankets from friends across the Society wanting to give Karanda patients a token of their love and comforting warmth. We also contacted Dr. Dan Stephens, administrator and surgeon at Karanda, to ask about their most urgent needs. The list of requests included items like bilingual Bible resources, maintenance equipment and kitchen supplies. The full list seemed overwhelming –— yet God answered our prayers, and those of the people in Zimbabwe. A family in my hometown of Luverne, Minn., was in the middle of completely renovating the kitchen of a restaurant they had just purchased when they heard about our project for Karanda. With glad hearts, they donated many of the supplies that were on the Karanda kitchen staff ’s wish list — including industrial-sized pots and pans, dishes, silverware and cooking utensils — to send in the shipping container. Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown residents, staff members and friends volunteered to box up the kitchen equipment, gently wrapping

the supplies with some of the blankets collected at this summer’s Annual Meeting. Our small Luverne, Minn., center was a flurry of activity with all the items being prepared for the container. Also on the Karanda staff ’s wish list were aprons; friends of our Mary Jane Brown center heard about the project, bought heavy-duty fabric, and sewed 30 slip-over aprons with pockets to add to the container. Orphan Grain Train found whiteboards to include in the shipment for Karanda’s classrooms, and a local family purchased a set of fiberglass ladders for the Karanda maintenance staff members. Dr. Stephens said that one of their ongoing requests is for Shona/English bilingual Bible study materials. With the help of Friday, the head nurse at Karanda, we’ve developed a series of 12 Bible studies outlining the life of Christ and His ministry. Boxes of these studies were printed in the Society’s National Campus print shop and paid for with donations from supporters of the Society and Karanda. God works through wonderful people to provide for those in need. We are thankful to be part of His plan. The filled-to-the-seams shipping container left Orphan Grain Train’s headquarters in Norfolk, Neb., late this summer. Please join me in praying that the supplies have made it safely to Karanda Mission Hospital, and that the people who receive it will be blessed by the gifts we have sent. V

Project Outreach: Karanda Mission Hospital The Good Samaritan Society supports the work of Karanda Mission Hospital year-round. Upcoming fundraisers will benefit a project at the hospital being led by Ryan and Andrea Horazdovsky, son and daughter-in-law of Society President and CEO David J. Horazdovsky. Ryan and Andrea — and their son, Winslow — have moved to Zimbabwe to work at Karanda, and they are hoping to establish a program there to treat bone fractures with modern techniques. Find updates about the project online at good-sam.com and in future issues of The Disciple and The Good Samaritan magazines. Learn more about Karanda and other Project Outreach missions at good-sam.com/projectoutreach.

Senior living residents at Good Samaritan Society – Prairie Pines have made a Christmas tradition of decorating the fireplace in their front room with stockings for each resident.

Prairie Pines resident Maxine Hemelstrand remembers looking in her Christmas stocking as a child and finding goodies like candy, a pencil, and — if she was lucky—a quarter.

T he stockings were hung by the chimney with care By Laura Frink

Director of Marketing and Housing at Good Samaritan Society – Prairie Pines in Arapahoe, Neb.

ast year, we started what has become a holiday tradition at Good Samaritan Society – Prairie Pines. As we were putting up our Christmas decorations throughout the center, we talked about what our favorite Christmas memories were. Several residents mentioned the joy of looking in their stockings on Christmas morning to see what surprises Santa had left. With a fireplace in Prairie Pines’ front room, I thought this was one tradition our residents should experience again. Along the mantle, we hung a stocking for each of our Prairie Pines residents, which made a beautiful display

throughout the holiday season. Leading up to Christmas Day, we talked about the treats residents remember getting in their stockings when they were children. Resident Maxine Hemelstrand remembers the things she would find in her stocking every year. “I’d get a new toothbrush, an orange, maybe an apple, some peanuts in the shell, two English walnuts, a few striped Christmas candies, and — if it was a good year — a quarter. Otherwise, it would be a nickel,” she says. “And there was always a new yellow pencil, too.” Hanging the stockings at Prairie

Pines was a fun way to reminisce, and to bring back the excitement of checking the stockings. On Christmas morning, it was so much fun to watch residents look over their goodies and have that same joyful smile they did when they were children. Many laughed, saying Santa must have had them on the “nice list” that year, as they took out bags of peanuts, old-time candies, oranges, apples, and yellow pencils from their filled stockings. We look forward to hanging up the stockings again this year, and gathering together on Christmas morning to see what treats St. Nicholas brought. V

Resident Ed Groves and Pastor Frank Kerkemeyer

N ow it’s my turn: A story of caring By Pastor Frank Kerkemeyer

Chaplain at Good Samaritan Society – Millard in Omaha, Neb.

met Ed Groves when I first came to work at Good Samaritan Society – Millard. I felt like there was something familiar about Ed, but I dismissed it, thinking it was probably just a coincidence considering the many people I’ve met after 16 years of parish ministry. A few weeks after we met, I sat down with Ed for a visit. I asked him what he did for a living before he retired. “I was a janitor for more than 40 years for the Omaha public school system,” he said. I asked what school he worked at; he said Beals. “You mean Beals Elementary School on 48th and Center?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. “Were you there when Mrs. Rigby was principal?” “Sure was. You did not want to get on her mean side.” I laughed. “I know that from experience,” I said. I told Ed that I was a student at Beals the same time he was working there — I thought he looked familiar, and now we knew our common thread.

We talked about the teachers and principals we remembered, and about our favorite memories in the hallways of that school. Later recalling our conversation, I thought about how Ed had cared for me as an elementary school student. Ed made sure that I had an environment that was safe, clean and functional. Ed was the one who mopped the floors, emptied the trash, and repaired broken windows and squeaky doors. When the teachers needed help, Ed was the one most often called upon. That often meant helping clean up after sick kids. For more than 40 years, Ed did all this and more with a smile on his face. He loved his work. He loved being around children, and he spent extra time with certain students, acting as a mentor to them. It was a highlight of a kid’s school year when Ed gave you a ride in the back of his pickup truck. Ed and his wife raised a family, caring for their own children in addition to the many students at my elementary school.

Before he moved to our center, Ed’s wife had passed away, and he was in a wheelchair, in need of care 24/7. And I realized that it was my turn to care for Ed. I’m so proud to be working for the Good Samaritan Society, where I can be part of a team that provided Ed with a clean and functional environment that is as safe as possible. We offered the physical care he needed, as well as the social and spiritual care he desired. In my chaplain position, I try not only to live out our motto — “In Christ’s Love, Everyone Is Someone” — but also to remind Ed and all our residents that they are part of that motto. They are special. They are loved and accepted by us and by God just as they are. We care about them, we strive to meet all their needs and desires, and we hope they feel and experience our love through Christ. Whether it’s a delicious meal, a productive therapy session, a rousing card game, or just a good conversation, everything we do at Good Samaritan Society – Millard is part of sharing God’s love. And, like Ed, we hope that no matter what the task is, we can always do it with a smile. This summer, Ed closed the last chapter of his life with us at Good Samaritan Society – Millard. He passed away quietly surrounded by his beautiful family and the love of our staff. His family asked me to conduct his funeral. I was honored to do so. During his funeral ceremony, Ed’s daughter took the opportunity to thank many people. But none received more praise and appreciation than the caring staff at Good Samaritan Society – Millard. I am blessed to have been part of the team that cared for Ed with the same compassion and kindness that he showed so many people throughout his life. V

Good Samaritan Society – St. John’s staff members (left to right) Mariette Lournes, Connie Witt, Amy Bradley and Kaitlyn Olson

taff members’ training helps S them save a stranger’s life

ood Samaritan Society – St. John’s staff members Kaitlyn Olson, Amy Bradley and Mariette Lournes were spending a day off together floating on inner tubes down a river. When Amy noticed a man floating face down outside of his tube, she knew immediately that something wasn’t right. Amy swam to the man and found that he wasn’t breathing. She used all of her strength to pull the man out of the river as Kaitlyn, Mariette and others swam over to help. Recalling training they received at their Kearney, Neb., center, the co-workers did an initial assessment and discovered the man had no pulse. They began CPR. Kaitlyn says their teamwork skills from St. John’s carried over into the real world. After they performed CPR, the man initially sat up and began having a conversation with them. But shortly after, his eyes rolled back into his head and they could not find his pulse again. The women performed CPR for another 30 minutes and revived him again just as the volunteer fire department arrived at the secluded riverbank. “I am just so proud of them,” says Connie Witt, the center’s CPR instructor. “The training we receive goes so far beyond St. John’s. I always remind students that these skills could be used to save a family member — or, in this case, a total stranger.” The Basic Life Skills CPR training is required for licensed practical nurses, but certified nursing assistants Kaitlyn and Mariette had taken Connie’s training course voluntarily. The staff members’ efforts to remain well trained paid off. “In the heat of the moment, we really worked together and felt prepared,” says Kaitlyn. V

Society SPOTLIGHT

nline learning hub puts training at staff O members’ fingertips

he digital age is in full force, and many once-manual tasks — such as banking, shopping, corresponding and buying music — are now completed with ease on the Internet. The new convenience of technology has made it possible for the Good Samaritan Society to shift more of its staff training and development online as well.

With more than 20,000 staff members, the Good Samaritan Society has significant training and education needs. To help streamline the process for staff members, the Society created an online hub called the Learning Center. But the Learning Center is providing much more than mandatory training for healthcare compliance.

“While the Society and its Learning Center are headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., we have 22,000 employees in 240 locations nationwide who need access to training 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” says Carol Elkins, director of workforce learning and development. “In four years, we’ve gone from a labor-intensive paper-based

Society SPOTLIGHT system at each center to a centralized online system that includes more than 300 courses on a variety of topics.” The courses cover just about anything staff members would need to know about — from HIPAA and affirmative action compliance, to disaster preparedness, to proper documentation procedures, to professionalism in the workplace. “Many of the courses are specific to the long-term care industry, but we’re always developing and adding new courses as we expand service settings, such as rehabilitation and home care,” says Anna Suckow, learning technology supervisor. “The Society’s services are growing at a rapid pace, and this brings new challenges from a training perspective. Each service line has its own training requirements and regulations. Where and how people need to access this information is changing as well.” To meet the increasing needs for staff training services, the learning and development team acquires course content from external vendors while also internally developing content specific to the Good Samaritan Society. Since 2009, Society staff members have completed more than 621,000 online courses. In addition to federally required training topics that must be completed annually by staff members, the Learning Center also has many courses for continuing education. In 2011, more than 9,000 certificates were awarded for professional continuing education hours from online courses completed in the Learning Center. With the growth of the Learning Center, the learning and development team strives to make sure the system stays ahead of what people need, as well

as what they want, in terms of training and education. “We don’t want the Learning Center to become stagnant,” says Jason Bennett, learning technology consultant. “And we definitely don’t want staff members to have negative connotations associated with it, like it’s only a place to go when you have to do mandatory training. We want to keep things interesting and moving forward, complementing the Society’s development initiatives along the way.” One new area the team is researching is a social learning component for the Learning Center. Some possible additions include blogs, threaded discussions and document sharing. These options would help integrate informal learning alongside the formal training on the same topics.

Questions about the Learning Center? E-mail the team at lmsadmin@good-sam.com. “There’s a lot of knowledge in the form of experience from many Good Samaritan Society employees,” Jason says. “Providing an area where someone with 15 years of experience can help mentor someone starting out gives an opportunity to learn from real-world situations and interact firsthand with people on a whole other level.” The Learning Center is available at every Society location 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To access the Learning Center and explore its offerings, go to the Web Portal → Training → Learning Center. V

Good Samaritan Society – Bismarck resident Gladys Royse

Royce’s Twin City Produce

R esident has a lifelong gumption to succeed By Lynn Boehm

Director of Marketing and Resource Development at Good Samaritan Society – Bismarck in Bismarck, N.D.

ind words and a pleasant smile — that’s how Good Samaritan Society – Bismarck resident Gladys Royse greets me. She is indeed a kind woman, but she’s also a woman who possesses gumption — a word that combines courage, spunk and determination. Perhaps it was on the family farm near Selfridge, N.D., where Gladys’ gumption began to take root. She persevered through the Great Depression — and the drought, starving cattle and dust storms that came with it. “The grasshoppers would come in what seemed like a cloud and block the sun,” Gladys remembers. “They would drop and clean up everything. We ran outside with blankets to protect some of mother’s garden, but it was gone.” Gladys was introduced to hard work at a young age. “We shocked the crops

by hand into piles for the thrashing crew,” she says. “My sisters and I would wear big straw hats and use flour to powder our faces so we didn’t get suntan. We didn’t want city people to know we were farm girls working in the fields.” Gladys’ family didn’t have running water, let alone other things considered luxuries at the time. “Times were so tough that I think I was 10 years old before I knew what a banana tasted like, and I must have been 13 before I tasted an orange or a grapefruit,” she says. Most people probably don’t remember the first time they had an orange, but considering Gladys’ future, it seems right that she does. Though Gladys taught country school for two years and spent time working for the state, most of her working career revolved around the business she and her husband, Homer, started.

During their travels, they noticed such an excess of watermelons in Oklahoma that melons were being thrown out. The Royses brought a truck full of watermelon to Selfridge, and they sold out in just two days. The business Gladys and Homer would watch evolve for 60 years had begun. Royse’s Watermelon Kingdom, now Royse’s Twin City Produce, is seen by many as an institution in the Mandan– Bismarck area. As the business grew, Gladys’ gumption became more apparent. She checked produce coolers in the middle of the night and drove semi trucks. Never was Gladys’ gumption more obvious than when she confronted two men stealing from the produce stand. They said they had a gun in their car, but that didn’t stop Gladys. “ ‘ You don’t scare me,’ I told them. I can be pretty tough when I want to be, I guess,” she

says with a chuckle. She escorted the men as they brought back every watermelon they had taken, and she charged them for the one they smashed. Gladys used her business to help those in need. “When I would see people struggling to stretch their dollar, I would give them the produce at no charge,” she says. “My granddaughter told me I gave too much away and that I would go out of business. I said, ‘No, I’ll get repaid.’ ” Gladys found that payment can be made in many ways. She received a thank-you call from a woman who had been a young runaway. The woman thanked Gladys for being like a mother to her and told Gladys she was the nicest person she had ever met. “I found that hard to believe,” says Gladys. “I remember being a bit tough on her, but I did try to encourage her.” Gladys’ humble and unassuming nature comes through as she shares advice. “I think if you’re kind and fair, people will treat you just,” she says. Trusting and relying on God is Gladys’ guiding force, though. “The most important thing in life is to be brought up in a Christian faith,” she says. “It influences so much of your life, and has a huge impact on your children. I’m so grateful for my children. They turned out miraculously!” Gladys lives in assisted living at Good Samaritan Society – Bismarck, where she continues to share her smile, her gumption, and delicious fruit from Royse’s Twin City Produce. “The people here have been good to me,” she says. “They’re very kind and helpful — that means a lot.” V

taff members S help restore a

resident’s eyesight

gift from Good Samaritan Society staff members helped make the last few months of George Rutledge’s life a little more vibrant. George, who lived at Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt in Blaine, Wash., had slowly developed cataracts that eventually eclipsed his vision. Suzanne Jablonski, a resident manager at the center, became concerned about George. Because of his cataracts, he was spending more time in his room and was becoming less and less active. George’s insurance didn’t cover cataract surgery. Some nurses at the center said they would be willing to help pay for the procedure to help George get his eyesight back. The idea gained momentum, and a poster asking for donations was hung up at the center. Within two days, enough money was pledged to pay for surgery on one eye. By the end of the week, pledges from staff members, combined with pledges from the Good Samaritan Society’s National Campus in Sioux Falls, S.D., totaled enough to pay for both eyes. George embraced the gift offered to him by his caregivers. He was deeply touched by the act of compassion, love and generosity. Within a couple weeks of his surgery, there was a noticeable difference. One day, Suzanne greeted George while he was eating, something he needed help with before. George said, “It’s good to see you.” Going through the center, George mentioned how beautiful the Christmas tree looked. Seeing the Christmas tree

Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt staff member Theresa Schenk and resident George Rutledge

so clearly was an especially touching gift for his birthday on Dec. 24. “Just restoring that vision, it gave him a different relationship with the nursing assistants,” Suzanne says. “He could see them again. It was easier for him to relate to them.” Van driver Bob Rieke often visited with George on trips to the surgeon for follow-up appointments. “George expressed his gratitude and joy in being able to see the smiles on the faces of his caretakers on these trips,” Bob says. “He would say, ‘It’s a whole new life,’ and ‘I never thought this would happen to me.’ ” Four months after his surgery, George was admitted to the hospital for separate health issues. He died a few weeks later. At the age of 89, he was able to see the world around him in a new light — and, his caregivers would say, with a new perspective on life. Thanks to the generosity and care shown by Good Samaritan Society staff members, George’s last months were filled with joy and light. V

Common GROUND

A work of art

Artist Charlene Buescher conducts a watercolor workshop at Good Samaritan Society – Millard.

Good Samaritan Society centers across the nation recognize that many residents appreciate being surrounded by art and can benefit from exploring their own talents. Here are examples of some ways centers are celebrating residents’ artistic sides.

Local artists teach skills to center residents A program at Good Samaritan Society – Lakota features six artists sharing their skills with residents at the Lakota, N.D., center. And by showing their talents, they’re also helping residents create their own works of art. The Art for Life program began

earlier this year, with funding from the North Dakota Council on the Arts. Visiting artists demonstrate skills and then help residents use the techniques in their own projects. The artists’ specialties include mosaics, ceramics, silverwork, beadwork, fabric art and Swedish Dala painting. The program is modeled after a pilot project at a nearby care center. It helped

show that residents’ physical and mental health could improve with art activities, and through interaction between the artist and residents. When the Art for Life program at Good Samaritan Society – Lakota concludes in May 2013, the center will host a reception featuring all the resident art pieces.

Common GROUND

Good Samaritan Society – Lakota resident Don Pogatshnik create a mosaic with Susan Olson, a visiting artist from the Art for Life program.

Course interest brings art professor to center Since 2007, Good Samaritan Society – Millard has hosted free Senior College courses for its residents and all seniors in the Omaha, Neb., area. Senior College is an educational program sponsored by the Good Samaritan Society and its academic partners. The most recent Senior College session at the Millard center had 72 participants, and interest in the sessions continues to grow. The popularity of Senior College, especially the art classes, has spun off into another event at the center. Earlier this year, Good Samaritan Society – Millard welcomed artist Charlene Buescher to conduct watercolor workshops over three days. Charlene first visited the center in 2009 to lead a one-day workshop. She returned this year to offer classes to both beginner and experienced painters. Charlene is a professional artist and adjunct professor of art at Southwest Minnesota State University. She has

led several Senior College courses on painting, including this spring’s “Painting Living Things in Watercolor.” In her workshops at Good Samaritan Society – Millard, students worked one-on-one with Charlene as they created still-life art featuring florals, vases, grapevines and landscapes. “We offered the watercolor workshops to our Senior College students and seniors in the community who were interested in trying watercolor,” says Joanne Carlberg, director of resident and community relations. “We are very blessed to be able to offer this opportunity, and to know such dedicated instructors who are willing to share their time and knowledge. It has had such a positive impact on our residents’ well-being and community involvement.”

Community members and residents from the Millard campus learn new watercolor techniques from visiting artist Charlene Buescher.

Art Camp triggers trips down memory lane When Good Samaritan Society – Stillwater hosts Art Camp, residents participating in the program are doing

Good Samaritan Society – Stillwater resident Martha Korntved uses pastels to capture a memory of ripe apples.

much more than doodling. “We’re encouraging self-expression, increasing self-confidence, creating a time of personal enrichment, and recognizing that beauty and spirit can be evoked through art by everyone at any age,” says Pam Trudeau, director of community relations at the Stillwater, Minn., center. The Art Camp program is funded by donations. A local artist leads sessions. During a recent Art Camp session, residents were invited to talk about their favorite summertime memories, and then sketch something from one of the memories with graphite pencil. Marge Zaspel talked about gardens and pickling. She drew a vine-ripened cucumber. Barb Dickenson drew a field of prairie wheat blowing in a summer breeze. Pastel chalks and watercolors were used during other Art Camp sessions, which yielded memories of clothes on the line, pottery and apple trees heavy with fruit. After residents signed their artwork, Art Camp facilitator Erik Sletten framed the pieces and returned them to residents to display.

Common GROUND needlework and carved wood. “Staying productive is a big focus for most of our residents, and the creative juices still continue to flow. Art or hobby studio areas are not uncommon in our residents’ apartments. Many constantly strive for new ideas and new subjects to design, paint or collect. We are just beginning to realize how much amazing talent is within our ranks.”

Residents contribute to sculpture project Water Valley residents (left to right) Ann Scott, Wilma Leach and Mildred Dick look at jewelry made by June Miller.

Campus discovers the talent within its ranks Twelve residents displayed nearly 25 masterpieces in watercolor, pencil, acrylic and oil at Good Samaritan Society – Water Valley Senior Living Resort’s recent Art Walk. “Several pieces had won awards in previous art shows, and many residents were so prolific in their creations, we had to limit the number of paintings per exhibitor in the show,” says Colleen Garton, director of lifestyle enrichment at the Windsor, Colo., campus. More than 50 residents, staff members and guests from the community viewed the various works as the artists described their technique or subject matter. “Because the Art Walk was one of our most popular events, residents asked if we would host a Craft and Hobby Walk,” Colleen says. “The exhibits were even more varied, including jewelry designs, quilts, knit creations, model airplanes, custom-designed shirts, hand-painted dishes, and a plethora of

Residents at four Society centers in Minnesota were part of a months-long community art project coordinated by artist Bridget Beck. To create her interactive, mobile art piece called Locomotive Sculpture, Bridget partnered with eight senior care centers in Minnesota, including the Society’s centers in Inver Grove Heights, Minneapolis, Roseville and Stillwater. Over several months, Bridget hosted two workshops at each of the centers, where she worked with residents to create pieces to add to the sculpture. Residents used brightly colored paint to transform industrial, craft and found objects. Bridget then added the pieces from the workshops to a frame she built on a flatbed trailer. The finished piece

Residents Wilma and Leonard Leach pause to study paintings displayed at Water Valley’s Art Walk.

is a colorful, organic creation that has various areas where visitors can enter. Using a pickup truck to pull the sculpture’s trailer, Bridget returned to each of the centers so residents could see the finished piece. Each participant was encouraged to sign the artwork. Bridget says her goal with the project was to bring movement and adventure into residents’ daily routines. The finished Locomotive Sculpture is on permanent display in the sculpture park in Franconia, Minn. More information, including photos and updates from the project’s creation, can be found online at facebook.com/LocomotiveSculpture.

More than 50 residents and guests attended the Art Walk at Water Valley Senior Living Resort.

Common GROUND

Each art gallery reception at Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village draws a crowd to see the newest display of residents’ talents.

Campus gallery displays residents’ artwork

A recent gallery reception at Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village featured resident artist Gene Frye.

Many talented artists live on the campus of Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village in Albuquerque, N.M. To showcase some of their work, the campus designed a new gallery near the lobby of the main building. Special track lighting highlights displays in the permanent gallery. The campus changes the art every two months and hosts a reception for each new display. The events include refreshments, live music and the featured resident artists. Residents’ media of choice so far have been photography,

Millie Tjeltweed and Clarence Giese are two Manzano del Sol Village residents whose artwork was displayed at the campus gallery’s first art show.

painting, needlework, sketches and ceramics. The gallery and receptions are free and open to the public. V

ne final task: Hospice patient helps staff O members become better caregivers By Michael Berlowe Clinical Inpatient Supervisor at Good Samaritan Society – Marley House in Prescott, Ariz.

hen “Dick” came to Good Samaritan Society – Marley House, he was seeking pain control, comfort and a place to be well cared for in his final days.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Learn more at nhpco.org.

However, as his wife, Melanie, says, “It appears that Dick was placed at Marley House because he had a job to do before he passed.” Early on, I really wanted Dick to have the opportunity to live each day to the fullest. I wanted him to enjoy the weather, eat good food, watch good movies. I even brought in a Wii golf game for him since he was an avid golfer. But what I had envisioned for Dick was not what Dick had envisioned for

himself. He taught me to be more astute in recognizing where an individual is on the end-of-life journey, and to allow that person to retain self-determination to guide the rest of the way. Mary Reilly is a certified nursing assistant who started her nursing career at Marley House just two days after Dick arrived. She helped care for Dick throughout his stay. She says Dick provided her more of a hospice education in that short time than years

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. — Isaiah 55:12 of schooling possibly could have. “The ability to get to know someone on a personal level through part of a life event is a chapter that cannot be adequately captured in a textbook,” Mary says. Catherine LeBlanc, a registered nurse on the overnight shift, developed a special relationship with Dick. As Dick’s cancer advanced, his body went through many changes: weight loss, temperature variations, loss of appetite and mood swings. On several mornings, Dick awoke with a “less than pleasant” attitude. So, Catherine and Terri DeHart, Dick’s night-shift CNA, began bringing his morning coffee with handdecorated coffee lids. Catherine began referring to him as “Sunshine.” This made it difficult for Dick to maintain any type of “less than pleasant” attitude in the morning. He, in turn, began to refer to Catherine as “his sunshine.” Each of the 20 or so Marley House staff members could share a special story about how Dick touched their lives. A little more than three months after he arrived at Marley House, Dick died under the care of “his sunshine.” Melanie created an employee appreciation fund in recognition of the special care Dick received. She held a room dedication ceremony for Dick a few months later. Near the room where he lived his final days is a memorial plaque inscribed with Dick’s legacy, “Joy and Peace,” inspired by Isaiah 55:12: “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” Dick came to Good Samaritan Society – Marley House as a hospice patient, but he left as a teacher, and we were honored to learn from him. V

Mary Jo Steebner, circa 1950

Good Samaritan Society – Quiburi Mission resident Mary Jo Steebner

I nternet searches help piece together a resident’s past By Melissa Maize Resource Development Director and Special Care Unit Activity Director at Good Samaritan Society – Quiburi Mission in Benson, Ariz.

hen resident Mary Jo Steebner came to the special care unit at Quiburi Mission two years ago, she shared memories of being a professional singer and living in Pennsylvania. With Mary Jo’s memory decline and no known family members, we wanted to learn more about her and preserve what information we could. While researching, we found the Web site of professional musician Kathleen Shimeta, who had Mary Jo’s name listed as part of a choir. She was looking for information about Mary Jo and other choir members. This choir turned out to be the Gena Branscombe Choral, which performed from 1934 to 1954. According to Kathleen, it was a mainstay of the New York City music scene. The group performed at the first United Nations, was featured on the radio, and gave annual Christmas concerts at the Broadway Tabernacle Church and spring concerts at Town Hall.

Mary Jo joined the Choral in the fall of 1954 and performed only one concert, the Choral’s last one, in December of that year. We don’t yet know how Mary Jo became a member of the Choral, but she spent four months making music with the famous Gena Branscombe. Kathleen gave us pictures of Choral members, including Gena. When we show Mary Jo these pictures, her face lights up, perhaps with recognition and memories. We ordered Mary Jo one of Kathleen’s CDs that features songs by Gena. It was a joy to learn about and share these memories with Mary Jo. Kathleen wrote a story about Mary Jo on her blog, and together we hope if friends or family members see Mary Jo’s name come up on Internet searches, they’ll be able to find us and provide some other memories about Mary Jo’s life to share with her. V

enters receive grants to share the Society’s C mission with their communities The Good Samaritan Society has awarded grants to 21 centers in its latest round of the Social Accountability grant program. The recipients of the second round of 2012 grants are: • Good Samaritan Society – Ambassador in New Hope, Minn., which received $4,500 to support a weekend backpack program that supplies food to local elementary school students. • Good Samaritan Society – Las Cruces Village in Las Cruces, N.M., which received $4,000 to support a local diabetes education and management program. • Good Samaritan Society – Loveland Village in Loveland, Colo., which received $4,000 to help fund a program that provides food for children in need. • Good Samaritan Society – Prairie View Gardens in Kearney, Neb., which received $3,400 to offer free educational, physical and recreational activities to area seniors. • Good Samaritan Society – Forest City in Forest City, Iowa, which received $3,000 to establish a program that helps the community better serve its seniors. • Good Samaritan Society – Pohai Nani in Kaneohe, Hawaii, which received $3,000 to establish a community walking program designed to prevent arthritis and help ease its symptoms. • Good Samaritan Society – Le Mars in Le Mars, Iowa, which received $2,500 to partner with a local program that provides after-school and weekend snacks to students. • Good Samaritan Society – Prescott Valley in Prescott, Ariz., which received $2,500 to purchase supplies for residents to assemble hygiene kits for teens at a local counseling center, and stuffed animals to offer children at a local shelter for those seeking refuge from abusive homes. • Good Samaritan Society – Scribner in Scribner, Neb., which received $2,500 to support a community program that offers transportation, housekeeping and other services to seniors. • Good Samaritan Society – Howard in Howard, S.D., which received $2,000 to support a project that is creating outdoor tennis, basketball and volleyball courts in the community. • Good Samaritan Society – Decatur County in Oberlin, Kan., which received $1,800 to purchase equipment and materials to offer CPR and first aid classes to the community. • Good Samaritan Society – Larimore in Larimore, N.D., which received $1,800 to help create a community wellness center.

• Good Samaritan Society – St. Luke’s in Kearney, Neb., which received $1,800 to fund free activities for families facing economic, social or physical barriers. • Good Samaritan Society – Socorro in Socorro, N.M., which received $1,800 to support a local water conservation and scenic walkway project. • Good Samaritan Society – Syracuse in Syracuse, Neb., which received $1,700 to support a community program that provides food for children in need and their families. • Good Samaritan Society – Mountain Home in Mountain Home, Ark., which received $1,500 to offer copies of a spiritual book to families after the death of a loved one. • Good Samaritan Society – Sioux Falls Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., which received $1,400 to purchase supplies so residents can assemble Christmas gifts and care packages for a program that serves children in countries worldwide. • Good Samaritan Society – Hastings Village in Hastings, Neb., which received $1,250 to purchase equipment for a local nonprofit organization that provides food to those in need. • Good Samaritan Society – Valentine in Valentine, Neb., which received $1,000 to purchase food for a local food pantry. • Good Samaritan Society – Waconia in Waconia, Minn., which received $875 to fund an educational seminar to help clergy identify and cope with stress. • Good Samaritan Society – Arthur in Arthur, N.D., which received $700 to purchase equipment for a free community senior wellness class designed to prevent osteoporosis. V

About the Social Accountability grant program Since 2010, the Good Samaritan Society has awarded centers up to $100,000 each year in Social Accountability grants for projects and programs that demonstrate mission outreach. To see a full list of grant recipients to date, and to read more about how centers are using their grants, visit good-sam.com → About us → Social accountability. To view and download grant criteria and the application form, visit the Web Portal → Applications → Social Accountability. If you have questions or want additional information about Social Accountability grants, please e-mail Bill Kubat, director of mission integration, at bkubat@good-sam.com.

Resident Jean Cook reads a note a friend sent to her through Good Samaritan Society – Arlington’s “send a card” Web site feature.

E lectronic notes turn into real greeting cards R

esidents at Good Samaritan Society – Arlington love hearing from friends and family members. But they also know that people are busy, and taking the time to write a letter or drop a card in the mail is something people often wish they remembered to do more. Staff members at the Arlington, Ohio, center wanted a convenient way for friends and family to keep in touch, while still preserving residents’ excitement of getting real mail. So the center set up an online form on their Web site at good-sam.com called “send a card.”

In the form, visitors write their greeting or well wishes, say which resident the note is for, and sometimes upload a photo to include with their message. Staff members receive an e-mail with the filled-out form information, then print it out into a greeting card, and deliver it to the resident. “Residents are really happy to receive the cards,” says Amber Newlove, activities director. “I think residents feel uplifted when they receive cards because they know someone is thinking of them and taking the time to express that.”

In the first months of the send-a-card Web site feature being up, several residents have received birthday well-wishes, Mother’s Day greetings and — the most popular kind of greeting so far — simple “thinking of you” notes. “I think people are really liking this option of staying in touch,” Amber says. “It’s convenient and timely, and you know it’s going to make a resident’s day.” Resident Jean Cook has received several cards from friends and family members over the past couple months. “When I get a card,” she says, “I’m always elated!” V

e can help you reach your career goals

Have you thought about continuing your education but don’t know where to start? Visit www.careerlattice.org to read about the opportunities available through the Good Samaritan Society’s academic partners. At the Career Lattice Web site, you’ll find information about online programs that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, healthcare management and healthcare administration, as well as a graduate certificate in long-term care management. Visit the Career Lattice Web site at www.careerlattice.org to see how you can pursue your educational goals and professional dreams.