Corporate Profile
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The Good Samaritan Society (A Lutheran Social Service Organization) Corporate Profile The Good Samaritan Society has over 60 years of experience in providing complex/continuing care, assisted living and other specialized health and community care services in innovative and caring environments. We are one of the largest not-for-profit, voluntary care providers in Alberta and British Columbia. Our Vision We are committed to and constantly strive to provide a quality of care that will enable The mission of The Good Samaritan Society is the elderly and the physically and to extend Christian Hospitality through a mentally challenged to experience an continuum of care to those in need or at risk, optimum quality of life. regardless of race or religious belief. The Good Samaritan Society has played a key role in the development of new and innovative programs – ones that are considered industry standards throughout Canada. The Good Samaritan Society currently serves over 7500 individuals throughout Alberta and in British Columbia. The Society holds an organization-wide three-year accreditation status with Accreditation Canada through 2011. The Society was created in 1949 and built its first facility, a long- term care hospital in 1955. Capital development since then in the greater Edmonton area includes five continuing care centres, four assisted living facilities, an apartment building for independent seniors, and many purpose-built or service-provided homes. In 2001, The Good Samaritan Society decided to expand outside of the greater Edmonton area into smaller communities in Alberta and British Columbia. Since that time, GSS has opened/operated programs in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Pincher Creek, Magrath, Raymond, Hinton, Evansburg, Lacombe, Wetaskiwin and Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Salmon Arm, New Westminster, Gibsons and Nanaimo, British Columbia. Additional facilities are under construction in Taber and Cardston, Alberta. Our Vision A volunteer Board of Directors governs The Good Samaritan Society will grow in The Society as a not-for-profit health and strength, excellence and creativity in caring for social services organization. Registered others. in Alberta and British Columbia, The Society is owned by members who qualify for membership status. Presently, we have 3,600 full-time, part-time, and casual Our Values employees and more than 1700 volunteers. The populations we serve Reflecting Christian Hospitality, the values of include the independent elderly, frail The Good Samaritan Society are: elderly, mentally challenged, physically challenged, and chronically ill. Our key • Healthy Relationships service areas include independent • Hospitable Environments living; assisted living; • Servant Leadership complex/continuing care; programs for persons with development disabilities; Telecare® personal emergency response services; rehabilitative services; community care programs and day programs We are guided in our delivery of services though our commitment to Christian hospitality. This directs us to create environments that are inviting, hospitable, promote wellness, and allow the guest to be, belong, and become. Our services are offered with respect, dignity, trust and choice. In 1990, The Good Samaritan Board of Directors recommended that The Society adopt a number of strategies to meet the service demands, cultural changes, and economic trends that it had forecast. One of the major outcomes was the development of assisted living. The first assisted living facility in Canada, Wedman House, officially opened April 1994. The Good Samaritan Society has Our Ministry also developed a unique cottage program for persons with But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the Alzheimer’s disease and other man was; and when he say him, he took pity on dementia. In addition, The Society is him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, a leader in the development of pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on community programs, such as day his donkey, took him to an inn and took care of programs and shared living that him. Luke 10: 33-34 seeks to assist people in their own homes and communities. The parable of the good Samaritan challenges us to continue to be mindful of those whose needs are easy to pass by. In a spirit of compassion, we work in supportive partnerships and open our hearts to others by affirming their goodness and potential. We provide safe, comfortable communities inspiring involvement, where people experience a sense of caring, belonging and purpose. We lead through giving of ourselves in service to others, by acting with courage in a trustworthy and ethical manner. .