Good Samaritan Society

Posted by Vince Campbell on Nov 18, 2016

At this past Tuesday’s meeting our speaker, Dale Olsen, (pictured) spoke about the Good Samaritan Society.

The Society started in 1949 with a $7000 dollar donation to the Lutheran Church from a Leduc farmer , Mr. Gottlieb Wedman. He saw several of his neighboring elderly friends suffering after their wives passed away. They needed someone to look after them. Other donations quickly came in, and in 1955 the first auxiliary hospital was standing. 5000 people attended the grand opening.

This was the first of many buildings as now there are about 6000 residents in Good Samaritan care centers in Alberta and British Columbia with about 4000 workers.

Good Samaritan now offers many programs for those that can look after themselves to those that need full time nursing care. Dale said that seniors suffer from the most from loneliness. This is where Rotary can help. Perhaps we could visit a seniors’ home and talk to someone that Good Sam suggests needs company. They will even help to train us how to visit. We could join the other 1700 volunteers they already have.

Dale showed a video of a couple in their 80’s that met at one of their residences and got married. Another video was of a gal who entertains by singing and playing the piano. She was also in her eighties. To me it seems the Good Samaritan Society has got it right.