After spending most of her married life in Alabama, Rhonda* never expected to return to the Quad Cities on her own.
Rhonda had spent her professional life in art and design. Her husband, Stephen, had built a career in medical research, and the couple had planned carefully for retirement. They had no children, but they shared a full life and felt confident they had prepared well for the years ahead.
Then, in 2020, Stephen died after a brief illness.
Grieving the loss of her husband, Rhonda began thinking about what she wanted her next chapter to look like. She had been born and raised in Davenport, and although her parents were deceased, all eight of her siblings still lived in the area. Several invited her to make her home with them.
Rhonda appreciated their generosity, but she felt strongly about maintaining her independence.
An invitation
A cousin and a friend who lived at The Summit of Bettendorf, a WesleyLife community for healthy living in Bettendorf, Iowa, encouraged her to visit. Both spoke highly of the community, and when Rhonda toured the campus, she understood why.
She loved what she saw and soon moved into an independent living apartment, delighted to be among The Summit’s first residents.
For the next year, Rhonda settled happily into her new home. She enjoyed having her own space, reconnecting with her siblings, and becoming part of a new community.
Then, her health began to change. Ultimately, like one of her brothers, Rhonda was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“I knew the symptoms well and had been in denial for a while before I decided to go to the doctor and begin what I knew would be a long testing process,” Rhonda says. “I was well aware of what the diagnosis likely would be, and that while there were ways to delay the progression of the disease, there is no cure.
“I’m a practical person, so I began planning for my care. I knew I eventually would need to move to the health center at The Summit. I just had no idea I would need to move so quickly.”
A needed change
Looking back, Rhonda realized her symptoms likely had begun before Stephen died. By 2023, they had escalated significantly. After repeated falls, she made the difficult decision to give up her apartment and move into a suite in The Summit’s health center.
Several of her siblings helped her move. Two of her sisters again urged her to live with them instead.
“I appreciated the invitation, but given the realities of my disease, the last thing I wanted was to burden them,” Rhonda says. “At The Summit, I could have my own space and the care I needed, and I knew they would visit often.”
Rhonda had entrusted oversight of her finances to one of her nephews, a wealth manager. In late 2025, he came to her with troubling news: Her financial resources were running out. The cost of long-term care combined with the progression of Parkinson's disease had depleted the nest egg Rhonda and Stephen had spent decades building.
Alone in her suite that night, Rhonda sobbed. She and Stephen had planned so carefully. She could not believe she was facing the possibility of losing the home, care, and independence she valued so deeply.
The next morning, her eyes still red from crying, Rhonda shared her fears with a trusted member of her care team.
Hope in a dark time
To her relief, the nurse told her about The Summit’s Good Samaritan Fund. The fund helps qualifying residents whose financial resources have been exhausted through no fault of their own. Through the generosity of donors who had invested in the fund long before Rhonda ever needed assistance, help was already waiting when she faced this unexpected challenge.
This support fulfills the WesleyLife Promise, which assures residents they will not be asked to leave their WesleyLife homes or experience a reduction in care because they can no longer afford the full cost. WesleyLife applies other available payment sources toward each resident’s care, but charitable contributions to the Good Samaritan Fund cover the remaining gap.
The Summit’s office manager met with Rhonda and helped her complete the necessary paperwork. Soon afterward, Rhonda received the news she scarcely had allowed herself to hope for: She could remain in the health center and continue receiving the care she needed.
Peace of mind
“To say the news gave me peace of mind would be a gross understatement,” Rhonda says. “Compared with people who are healthy, it may not seem as though I have much independence here. But as much as possible, I have my own space, I make my own choices, and I remain close to the people I love. No one can imagine how much that means to me.”
Because of the generosity of donors to The Summit’s Good Samaritan Fund, Rhonda can continue to call the community home, surrounded by caring team members, a cousin and friend nearby, and eight devoted siblings who visit often.
“I thought Stephen and I had prepared for everything,” Rhonda says. “Parkinson’s changed my life in ways neither of us could have predicted. Knowing I will not have to leave The Summit has lifted an enormous weight from me. To everyone who has supported the Good Samaritan Fund here in our community, thank you.”
Every resident's story is different. Yet many share a common reality: Despite a lifetime of responsible planning, unexpected health challenges can quickly exhaust financial resources. Through gifts to The Summit's Good Samaritan Fund, donors ensure that neighbors like Rhonda can continue receiving the care they need while remaining in the community they call home.
*All names and identifying information have been changed.
