Administrator from the


who work in rehabilitation and skilled care. But, there are many care providers in America who strive for excellence in their service. We are one of them. We participate in a variety of


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programs to help improve our quality of care and we strive to staff the right number of employees with the right training. At Good Samaritan Society –


Hutchinson Village, at least one licensed nurse is working at all times to monitor changes, provide treatment and manage the delivery of quality care. Hutchinson Village also has


n the national media, we sometimes hear negative stories about those


“A good name is better


than precious ointment.” – Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV)


Focusing on superior customer service By Brenda Janda


professional physical, occupational and speech therapists providing reha- bilitation and making certain that residents can function independently. Each year, approximately 75 residents return home or to other facilities after successful rehabilitation. A good opportunity to evaluate our


quality of care is an intense survey process called My InnerView. This annual program evaluates healthcare centers nationwide and publishes the results. A few of the successes in our 2010 survey results included: • Scoring in the top 10 percent of centers with an excellent rating on the category, “Rate this center on the quality of rehabilitation therapy (occupational, physical, speech).”


Brenda Janda


• Scoring in the top 10 percent of centers with an excellent rating on the category, “Rate this center on helping you to experience God’s love.”


We do not claim to be perfect, but we


are consciously striving to be as close to it as we are able. Our staff members deserve this recognition and a lot of appreciation for doing difficult work with love and dignity. Your comments and suggestions for improvement are always welcome. Call me, or stop by my office. Or, anonymously place your suggestion in the suggestion box outside the social services office. We appreciate your input. ✞


G race notes Writing the last chapters of life


By Rev. Greg Wilcox Vice President for Mission Effectiveness


And now, as I visit her in a care center, I am learning at least one more. This may be the most impor- tant lesson of all: how to deal with aging and death. After a trip to Arthur, N.D., where


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my father is buried, I was telling my mother about visiting his grave. “How did it look?” she asked. “Fine,” I said. “Everything was


Village Voice


have learned many lessons from my mother — a lifetime of lessons.


green and fresh, with evidence of spring all around.” “Is my name on the gravestone?”


she asked. “Yes,” I said, “along with your birth


date.” “Only my going home date left to


put on it,” she said. And then she looked at me and said, “Greg, don’t be sad when I die. The Lord knows just how much I’m looking forward to going home!” I will, of course, be very sad when


she dies. But I will also be very sure that she is finally where she has longed to be: at home with her Lord


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in her Father’s house. And knowing that will help me claim Jesus’ promise to “not let your hearts be troubled.” Growing old and facing death are


the last chapters of life for those who live long enough to write them. For many, they are the hardest chapters to write. But if we can come to believe and trust that they are not really the last chapter at all, but simply a final footnote before going home, then we can face them with so much more than courage. We can face them with the hope that there is a wonderful place prepared and waiting just for us. ✞


April 2011


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