Community sad Good Samaritan Society is closing

Good Samaritan Society announced recently that its Fontanelle long-term care facility would be closing Nov. 19. Many families have already found other arrangements for the care of their loved ones who lived there.

The facility was rated for 46 residents as of latest check, however only 24 residents were living there, company officials said.

Community members with ties to the facility report sadness that Good Samaritan Society Fontanelle is closing. Jeanette Jorgensen’s mother, Emera Maynard, moved out of the facility last Monday into another area facility.

The Jorgensens chose Caring Acres Nursing and Rehab in Anita because of their family’s equal association with Anita.

Jorgensen reports that her mom, who lives with dementia, lived at Good Samaritan for the better part of six years and it was a good experience because of how many Fontanelle people she knew there and because of the good care she received. Staff were very helpful in her mom’s move to Anita.

“I think I figured up that all but seven years of her life she’s lived in Adair County and the Fontanelle area, so this is home for her,” Jorgensen said. “They took good care of her, she saw people she recognized. It is yet to be seen how this transition will go for her. Will it continue her decline because now she doesn’t know anybody in that facility? That’s a huge concern for us. How will this impact mom herself?”

Becky Stuva of Fontanelle worked at Good Samaritan for a combined 27 years, most recently in 2003. She held a wide array of positions, from charge nurse to director of nursing.

As a Christian organization building their ideals upon the story of the Good Samaritan, Stuva said that the goal of the staff of that facility was always to care for the whole person, and not just their visible, physical needs.

“The corporate office had a very strong mission and motto that was Scripture based. We really, really emphasized that we were caring for more of their physical needs. Every morning we had a devotion for the residents. I did orientation for new staff when I went back, and that was something we really emphasized,” Stuva said. “Quality of care was always a priority. I was always really proud of the fact that I worked there and that we did provide good care. I know there are probably people who feel like I do, that we left a piece of ourselves out there, a piece of our heart, and it’s sad that it won’t be there anymore.”

Debbie Sickles, another longtime employee, called Good Samaritan closing a “sad situation.” Sickles worked there until March. She said she enjoyed working there years ago and had very good experiences with those she worked with.

Fontanelle mayor Mary Sturdy-Martin said the city is keeping the residents and staff of Good Samaritan in their thoughts during this time. She called the center closing “very sad” for the Fontanelle community.

“They’ve been an integral part of Fontanelle, but the affect it has on the residents, their families and staff weighs heavy on our minds. As a community we will support each other and get through this. The impact this has on our town is much more than from a budget perspective,” Sturdy-Martin said. “As mayor, I’m currently in the process of reaching out to different grant writers to see what options may be available for the town. We are looking at exploring whether this could be purchased, whether public or private, and developed into an opportunity for growth and community enhancement that would benefit the citizens and city as a whole.”