Honoring Our Elders
Jacob Bacall
Special to the Chaldean News
Building a Chaldean senior community in Michigan
If you ever find yourself driving down Jamacha Road in San Diego, you might notice a modest wooden sign that reads: Good Samaritan Retirement Center. Tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood, this Spanish-style building, surrounded by well-kept landscaping, may seem like a hidden gem—and it is.
Since opening its doors in 2000, Good Samaritan has served the community with compassion and care. What sets it apart is that it’s operated by the Chaldean Sisters, a religious order founded in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1922. These devoted women have dedicated their lives to service, embodying the Christian values of virtue, compassion and selflessness that many of us were raised with.
San Diego’s Good Samaritan is one of two facilities the Chaldean Sisters operate, the other being in Turlock, California, established in the late 1980s. Both were made possible through the tireless efforts of Sister Alexandra Matti, who has been a driving force behind their mission.
“I’m very motivated to help the needy and the helpless, regardless of where they come from,” says Sister Alexandra—a sentiment that perfectly captures the spirit of Good Samaritan.
Licensed as a nonprofit organization, Good Samaritan welcomes all residents who can afford to live there. The facilities are professionally managed, with administrators, marketing directors, activity coordinators, dietitians, healthcare providers and a full kitchen staff—all under the close supervision of the Chaldean Sisters.
“Our goal is not for us to make a profit. God will provide,” said Sister Lourde, the acting facility director. The goal is not just to provide care, but to create a warm, culturally familiar environment where seniors feel at home.
Despite the strong Chaldean presence in metro Detroit—where the community is known for its resilience and tight-knit bonds—we face a critical gap: a senior living facility tailored specifically to Chaldeans. A place with an on-site chapel, a communal kitchen serving traditional meals, and activities led by fellow Chaldeans.
Our elders deserve more than standard care. They deserve to live out their golden years in dignity and joy—surrounded by familiar faces, speaking their language, eating traditional foods, listening to Arabic music, and sharing stories in a faith-centered, culturally rich setting.
Such a place isn’t just a convenience - it’s a necessity. A dedicated Chaldean senior living center would allow our elderly to thrive, feel connected, and live as one large extended family.
The example set by Good Samaritan in California shows what can happen when faith, culture, and service unite under strong leadership. Here in Michigan, we already have a solid foundation, a vibrant community, dedicated families, and a Church deeply rooted in service.
Recognizing this need, the Chaldean Community Foundation is now actively pursuing plans to establish a Chaldean senior living facility in Southeast Michigan. The vision is not for a nursing home, but rather an assisted living and memory care center where elders can live independently or with light support—close to their families, their faith, and their culture.
After all, we are the largest Chaldean community in the world. What we need now is a Chaldean-assisted living and memory care facility—not a nursing home, at least not yet, but a place where elders can live independently or with light support. A place where they’ll recognize a relative, a distant cousin or someone they once went to school with back in Iraq.
Our community has shown incredible generosity. In recent years, we have raised more than $750,000 in a single event—multiple times. If our parishes, community leaders and business owners came together with a shared vision, we could create something extraordinary for our elders here in Michigan.
Such a facility would not only serve their needs but stand as a gift of love, gratitude and duty to those who came before us. Because caring for them is not just our responsibility—it is our honor.
Jacob Bacall is the founder of Bacall Development and a real estate developer who owns and operates 2 independent and licensed senior living facilities in the downriver area with his 2 sons.