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Letter to the Editor | Sadness Shrouds Samaritan | By Debra Kison & Bill Koch

October 25, 2024 – West Bend, WI – Since Samaritan was sold, terms and conditions of the sale are still secret, made behind closed doors. We immediately felt the change, residents and staff.

Letter to Samaritan

There was a ceremonial photo-op signature signing in the parking lot of Samaritan to document this “transaction.”  Perhaps a congratulatory handshake and pat on the back between the county exec Schoemann and board chair Schleif acknowledging a job well done between the two.

They finally rid themselves of the  money-draining, monkey on their back, nursing home.  With those signatures, they amputated the spirit and gutted soul of once was Samaritan. Never again will county residents experience the warmth and sense of family atmosphere that once was here.

Almost immediately the food quality and flavor declined.  Essential supplies for resident safety and dignity also have gone downhill.  The rooms are being filled continuously with rehab patients.
To accommodate the need, a website  agency staffing source has been called to assist.  The only thing we long-term and rehab patients are guarantied is a revolving door of unfamiliar faces from different backgrounds and work ethics.  The present staff are stressed, overwhelmed to care for the remaining residents and rehab patients here.
The county exec, Josh Schoemann said “the only way to save Samaritan, was to sell Samaritan.”  The black-and-white of it is, they abandoned their aging and disabled. Although we’re grateful to stay here, our quality of life, the life we had under county ownership, is no more.  We long-term residents will die off, one by one, when it’s our time. We’re the only witnesses of what used to be, “back in the day.”
The lives of the 2022-2024 county board of supervisors, who sold us and future residents out, will go on unaffected by their fateful decision made April 12, 2023. They have no idea what they’ve done…
On behalf of Samaritan residents,
Debra Kison
Samaritan Resident/Author
Bill Koch
Samaritan Resident

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2 COMMENTS

  1. This article is so very true, and so very sad all at the same time – the long term residents wanted to stay at Samaritan and to have continued care and dignity while there. THIS has Changed Dramatically and there needs to be accountability. The building remains in the county – this didn’t change…Someone in the county should be touching base with residents there to make sure their quality of care and food hasn’t changed…While we understand it is no longer owned by the county – Someone from from the Department of Aging in Washington County should be checking in on the situation that has changed so Much since the sale. – Residents not being out of bed until after 10:00am – Served Cold food – quality of care and lack of staffing…Samaritan had a Heart, two of my uncle’s lived there and my aunt currently does – Bring back the Dignity the people of Samaritan deserve. Please don’t wash your hands of this once wonderful place that cared about it’s people…THEY still need you to check in on them…Just like any other facility for the aging or people with special needs. They are PEOPLE and deserve better.

  2. I agree with you they need to check on people whether there’s things happening or not people should be checked on. I have to say one negative thing about Samaritan is when my mother was here for a brief time they made my mother bring her own self in a wheelchair to eat and that added up to six times a day for a month. My mother’s legs became sore because no one would help her. So yes any in all facilities need to have frequent checks wellness checks on everyone there and every place in Washington county and beyond. This could create really good jobs for people to make sure that everyone of every age who unfortunately has to be in a facility for care of with dignity. I know this first hand during covid people would be ignored when they were very ill. 🥹 God bless everyone. ❤️🙏✝️

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