When the team at Good Samaritan Society Hays started hearing about fellow nursing homes in the area going through COVID-19 outbreaks, they stepped up to help in an incredible way.In a month, they pulled together and picked up over 100 shifts at other Good Samaritan Society locations so that those centers could continue to serve residents.The Hays, Kansas, center had been one of the first in its region to experience a surge in COVID-19 cases, so staff members knew what to expect as they entered the doors at other locations.Wed already been through it and the fear of COVID had come and gone in a sense, says Noe Gillespie, administrator at Hays.When he first started hearing how other centers were experiencing outbreaks, he spoke to his team about it.They wanted to step up to support others, Noe says.Everyone from CNAs, LPNs and RNs jumped in to help at Society locations in Atwood, Ellis, Ellsworth, Hutchinson, Lyons and Oberlin, Kansas.Noe says that his team covered shifts from the beginning of November through the beginning of December. Some shifts required staff members to stay overnight, so lodging was arranged by the respective centers.In just a week, Noe says his team had built relationships with residents in the other locations and didnt want to leave them.Meanwhile, those who continued to work at Hays made sure things ran smoothly there and for those serving at other locations.Sara Hughes, an LPN and nurse manager/scheduler for the Hays campus, was the leader who helped communicate with staff members at other locations.Sara is our glue that helped ensure that shifts were covered, says Noe. This support could not have happened without her.The team who traveled to support other locations included: Kaitlyn Christen, Melanie Esposti, Jordan Gabel, Brittany Hillery, Jasmine Lohrmeyer, Jeremiah Lopez, Shayla Palmer, Bramalette Perryman, Cheyenne Shelton, Paula Stewart, Emmerae Svaty, Jaylee Straub, Kaitlin Tyler, David Wooten and Tara Wu.Jordan Gable was one of our team nurses who went above and beyond, says Noe. Within a short time, she already had that personable, joking relationship with residents.Im thankful and honored to be working with my team. They truly are amazing at what they do.Home health team lends a handStaff members from Good Samaritan Society Home Health of Central Kansas in Hays also lent a hand to nearby locations.Its been really awesome because its helped us develop stronger relationships with the facilities, says Ashley Rohr, administrator of Home Health of Central Kansas.She encouraged her team to help whenever there was a need since they had extra staff available. LPNs, RNs and aides helped at the Ellsworth, Hays and Lyons, Kansas, locations.They enjoyed it and felt really welcome, says Ashley. The administrators and everyone at the locations were very thankful.Throughout the entire pandemic, staff members have put others first and come together to support each other. Noe says its been one of the best things to watch in his more than nine years of experience in long-term care. It was just awesome to see our team come together, he says.It would not have happened if we hadnt experienced COVID-19 like we did and getting over the fear and knowing what to expect. Our team had that empathy to say yes and were going to support people so they know theyre not alone.

Independent living at The Good Samaritan Society provides many opportunities for seniors to meet new friends. For Laura Miller and Carolyn Cuddy, The Society is actually bringing them back together after decades spent apart.The beginning Laura and Carolyn first met through their husbands in Clarkston, Washington. It was 1950 and the ladies were in their early 20s. I was teaching and my husband was still going to school and they were quite busy with their life, Laura says. The Millers and Cuddy's lived about a block from each other for just over a year. They'd go to formal dances together, join up for dinners or go out sometimes on the weekends. Job opportunities in different cities would split them up. For the next six decades, they enjoyed separate lives raising children and being active members of their communities. Through the years, even though we didn't see one another all that often, we always stayed connected in our minds and our hearts, Carolyn says. Little did the ladies know, they'd reunite down the road.Tammie Poe is a Senior Sales Representative at Good Samaritan Society Moscow Village in Idaho. Its just a really neat story, Tammie says. Her office is across the hallway from Laura's apartment at the center. Tammie says the women both ended up in Moscow roughly ten years ago but didn't realize they were in the same town. Meant to be. That's a good way to say it, Tammie says. One day, a mutual friend wanted Laura to meet someone named Carolyn Cuddy. Laura said, Oh, my Carolyn Cuddy? Tammie says. The friendship picked up right where it left off. However, the story doesnt end there. Laura and Carolyn, now 92 and 91 respectively, have both sadly lost their spouses. Laura was the first to move to The Society's independent living location in Moscow. Carolyn and her family started looking into the center in 2019. When I came in to do the tour, they saw each other. It just happened that the apartment we had available was right next to where Laura is living, Tammie says. Oh we were so pleased and our children, how about that, were pleased that we had company next door, Laura says. It was quite the coincidence. It is exactly crazy. I can tap on the wall, Carolyn says.Carolyn and her family didn't hesitate to make the move knowing it would mean joining back up with Laura. Ill tell you it made all the difference in my feeling comfortable about moving in here, Carolyn says. The two can be seen hanging out together often. Just enjoy visiting in her apartment and she comes and visits in mine. Or we sit down at the door and visit with people that come and go, Laura says. They watch movies and do their physical therapy together, socially distanced these days. The friends even did this Zoom interview with us in the same room properly spaced. When asked what they like about each other, they highlight kindness. "Oh my gosh. Shes sitting right here beside me," Laura says. "Tell a big lie!" Carolyn says laughing. "Carolyn is very friendly. Carolyn is great at complimenting. I like people like that," Laura replies. Jokingly, Carolyn admits Laura having wheels doesnt hurt. She always has a friendly manner. Everybody here knows her and loves her. And oh yes, she has a car, Carolyn says. That's helpful when the pair want to make a run to the grocery store. Its a special friendship you wont find every day in the produce section. God, for whatever reason, wanted these two women to have this friendship that would just span decades, Tammie says. Its a bond getting even stronger during their time at The Good Samaritan Society. Were right next to one another. Whatever happens in one, the other understands. So, were in good shape, Carolyn says.