Neighbors Helping Neighbors: The WesleyLife Promise

Guided by Christian compassion, WesleyLife believes everyone should have the opportunity to live a life of continued growth, experience, engagement, and meaning regardless of physical, social, or economic circumstances. A significant way we illustrate this belief is through the WesleyLife Promise.

The promise began with WesleyLife's inception in 1947. Since then, we've assured our residents that if they deplete their financial resources through no fault of their own, they will never be asked to leave their homes with us, or experience a reduction in the degree of care they receive.

Promises kept

Susan H.*, a resident at one of our Communities for Healthy Living, benefited from the Promise when she unexpectedly needed to transfer to the campus Health Center following a sudden illness. She and her family never could have imagined that just two years after moving to Independent Living, Susan would be experiencing a far different living — and the dramatic increase in medical costs that can accompany such a change.

Similarly, the Promise was called into action when George and Kathy A.'s* retirement savings was decimated by a collapse in the stock market. The couple, longtime Independent Living residents at a WesleyLife community in the Des Moines area, were heartbroken that the money they had worked so hard to make and to save was so suddenly gone. They were planning to move in with one of their adult children when they learned that donations to their community's Good Samaritan fund would help pay their monthly service fee, and they would be able to stay in their apartment home.

Finally, the Promise was called into play when Bob F.* turned 95 and took a close look at his finances. Having moved into Independent Living with his wife when both were 70, he never expected to be nearing centenarian status, and the money he had so carefully saved and invested was beginning to dwindle. He was delighted to learn that his campus's Good Samaritan fund could help him continue to afford his apartment.

Making it all possible

Supported solely by donations, the WesleyLife Promise is funded by each community's Good Samaritan or Good Shepherd fund. Neighbors helping neighbors; that's what being a Good Samaritan is all about! Each WesleyLife community supports its own residents in times of financial need through local fundraising activities and events, such as chili suppers, golf outings, and garage sales. Broader fundraising efforts through philanthropic giving also contribute funds to support this promise.

As healthy living in our communities helps lead to longer life spans, many residents who lived and invested well for retirement may nonetheless need assistance. The WesleyLife Promise covers not only the cost of care for residents whose needs cannot be met with government-funded programs, but also helps provide necessities and comfort items. Those who receive funds do so confidentially.

Please consider donating to the Good Samaritan/Good Shepherd fund at the community of your choice to help keep residents safe and healthy at home. Whether you are giving for the first time or have supported these funds previously, we appreciate your compassion and generosity!

Assistance from the Good Samaritan or Good Shepherd fund at a WesleyLife community can make a world of difference to a resident in need.

*These names have been changed out of respect to residents who have benefited from the WesleyLife Promise.