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  • A Message from the COO

    Moving Forward with Resident and Family Engagement

    Over the last few years there has been a significant shift in Continuing Care towards greater engagement of residents and families in the delivery of care. This shift is reflected in the current Accreditation Standards, Continuing Care Health Services Standards and the Health Quality Council of Alberta surveys. All of these speak to the importance of involving residents and families in the development of care goals so that they are customized and reflect the needs, values and choices of the resident. An emerging person-centered approach in health care is engaging residents and families beyond individual care decisions and partnering with them in planning and design decisions that contribute to the development of programs and services within Supportive Living and Continuing Care. This fall, Bethany was given an opportunity to participate in a collaborative program with the University of Calgary that supports this work.

    Bethany is partnering with the University of Calgary’s Scholars Academy Cohort Program which provides students across faculties to choose voluntary work within the community that supports their learning. Students from Medicine, Social Sciences and Business will come together to contribute their perspectives and skills in the design and development of a resident and family engagement strategy for Bethany. This strategy will be used to help align Bethany’s programs, service planning and delivery with national standards. Their work will contribute to improving and enhancing resident and family engagement approaches and opportunities over the next year.

    This work is timely and aligned with Bill 22 (The Resident and Family Councils Act) which the NDP government tabled in the Alberta legislature on October 31, 2017. This Bill acknowledges the crucial role that resident and family councils play in creating caring and supportive environments and ensures that their voice is heard on issues including food, care services, programs and activities.

    This is very important work and all of us have an important role to play in engaging our residents and families as we move forward. I look forward to working with you on this exciting journey.

    As always, I welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have. Please send them to me at nancy.hughes@bethanyseniors.com.

    Regards,

    – Nancy

  • Bethany Employees Stand Out

    Congratulations to the Bethany employees who were nominated for the Alberta Care Provider of the Year award at the ACCA IQ Awards.

    Jeanne Calma, HCA at Bethany Cochrane, Lyanne Limbona-Gange, RN at Bethany CollegeSide and Nicola Devoe, LPN at Bethany CollegeSide were all nominated for this award. Chelsey Bruyea, HCA at Bethany CollegeSide was also nominated and was a finalist for this award. Thank you all for your hard work and for exemplifying our mission of creating caring communities at Bethany.

  • Conference Profile: Nadine Buchart

    What did you present on at the conference?

    Peter Czepuryk and I presented a poster on the family onboarding working group and I also provided a verbal presentation on freedoms offered in a dementia secured environment.

    What was the best part about representing Bethany at the ACCA conference?

    It was a great opportunity to share some of the initiatives and work that is happening with Bethany. I am especially proud of the care team at Bethany Harvest Hills and the stories of success that I shared were a testimonial to their dedication towards quality dementia care.

    What is your favourite part about working at Bethany?

    Diversity – both in my role and the people that I work with. No two days are alike.

    What is your personal philosophy?

    Live in the moment!

    What do you like to do in your spare time?

    Spend time with my kids and dogs – and my grandkids and granddogs! We love to be outdoors, take summer camping trips and I enjoy a good book or a long walk!

  • Conference Profile: Peter Czepuryk

    What did you present on at the conference?

    My presentation was based on the expansion of the Managing Dementia with Expertise program (MDE). It was based on the strong resident and family-focused philosophy that this program displays. It is a one of a kind program that supports the care of residents that have complex dementia needs that other traditional long-term care environments are not structured to provide and are unable to do in a safe manner.

    What was the best part about representing Bethany at the ACCA conference?

    Sharing with industry partners, colleagues, leaders and champions. This allowed me to share the good work with many people that have a passion for the work that we do here at Bethany.

    What is your favourite part about working at Bethany?

    That we embrace challenges and try to create the best environment for the residents we care for.

    What is your personal philosophy?

    Treat everyone with dignity and respect. While the work that we do isn’t always easy we still need to remember that we are people first, and we are part of a larger team. By respecting this and everyone in the team I feel that we can get the best out of everyone.

    What do you like to do in your spare time?

    I am a very active person and a family-based individual. I love to spend time with my two boys Ethan and Cole in whatever activity I can, whether that is tennis, volleyball, baseball or just watching a movie. Of course I could not do that without my wife Stacey, and together we really make an effort to put family first in all our decisions.

  • A Message from the VP, People and Culture

    A Successful Safety Audit

    Safety is a key priority for Bethany, and our commitment to safety was recently recognized and commended during a PIR safety audit conducted October 16 – 23 at Bethany Calgary, Aidrie, Harvest Hills and Sylvan Lake. PIR refers to Partners in Injury Reduction, and is an important safety program that Bethany has been a participating member of for many years.

    Bethany is audited very often (many would say too often!). However, the PIR Audit is the only audit that focusses exclusively on the safety of those who work at Bethany (staff, contractors, volunteers). On behalf of the entire Executive Leadership Team, I wanted to take this opportunity to express our personal gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of our staff and Aramark partners at Bethany Airdrie, Bethany Calgary, Bethany Harvest Hills and Bethany Sylvan Lake for your participation in, and support of, our successful PIR audit.  Passing the audit allows us to re-certify for the provincial Certificate of Recognition for Bethany’s occupational health and safety program for the next three years. Whether you were interviewed by the auditor, completed a questionnaire, or just showed our typical Bethany hospitality and friendliness, it is greatly appreciated.

    Employee and contractor safety is one of Bethany’s Standards for Service Excellence, and one of our core values. Participating in Partners in Injury Reduction helps us to evaluate and improve our safety program as part of our ongoing commitment and dedication to providing the safest possible workplace for everyone who comes to work at Bethany. Our safety program can only ever be as good as the people who work with it every day, so thank you to each and every one of you for “living” safety every day in support of “Creating Caring Communities”.

    – Lisa

  • Conference Profile: Janine Ollenberger

    What did you present on at the conference?

    I co-presented at the conference with Peter Czepuryk on the expansion of the Managing Dementia with Expertise (MDE) complex care unit. My part was to present a case review.

    What was the best part about representing Bethany at the ACCA conference?

    It was a great opportunity to continue to raise awareness and educate health care professionals across Alberta on the wonderful work our MDE program does and the impact it has on complex dementia.

    What is your favourite part about working at Bethany?

    My favorite part of working at Bethany is the relationships I have built, with staff as well as residents and their families.

    What is your personal philosophy?

    My personal philosophy is about making a difference in the world. Everyone has individual gifts and it is our responsibility to utilize these gifts to the fullest and live our best life.

    What do you like to do in your spare time?

    In my spare time I enjoy going to my trailer on weekends to spend time with family and friends and to golf. Now that the weather is getting colder, I am looking forward to heading to the mountains to snowboard.

  • Remembrance Day Service Dates

    Please see the list below of Remembrance Day services at each site.

  • Conference Profile: Jennifer Vance

    What did you present on at the conference?

    My presentation for the ACCA conference was about community engagement in a person and family-centred approach. In essence, the presentation was the story of how Bethany Cochrane increased community partners by 70 per cent in four years.

    What was the best part about representing Bethany at the ACCA conference?

    Unfortunately due to a family emergency I was unable to present at the conference so Steve Friesen represented and channeled his inner me!

    What is your favourite part about working at Bethany?

    I never wanted to be a “catch and release” nurse – one that treats the patient and then discharges. For me, life is all about relationships. Working at Bethany, I am able to nurture relationships on a continuous basis – with residents, staff, families, volunteers and community partners. The relationships I have formed are my favorite part of Bethany. The best part of those relationships is that we are all working with a common goal which is to care for those we serve.

    What is your personal philosophy?

    I live by many personal philosophies. One that guides many of my decisions is, “Be kind. Be consistent. Be grateful.” You never know that moment when you are impacting the life of another. Be kind with actions, consistent with decisions and express genuineness of gratitude.

    What do you like to do in your spare time?

    In my spare time I love to garden. I have a full vegetable garden that I love to plant, grow and harvest. It is very soothing getting my hands dirty – it grounds me and reminds me of my roots and forces me into that moment of pause. My back yard is also full of the birds and squirrels that I love to feed. It goes without saying that my greatest joys are my three girls – as they are nearly all adults now it is amazing to see them grow and develop into amazing human beings!

  • Bethany Riverview Update

    In the months to come, you are going to hear a lot about Bethany Riverview. We are making great progress as you can see from the photo taken in August. Construction is continuing on schedule and we are working towards a Fall 2018 move-in.

    Watch for our monthly Bethany Riverview update to help you stay current on our progress. The following are a few highlights and updates relating to the development.

    A few highlights & fun facts

    • Within the next few weeks, a new Foundation website will go live and as part of that, there will be a designated page about the Riverview project. You will be able to read more about the unique features of Bethany Riverview and stay up to date on campaign news.
    • We are getting noticed! Bethany Riverview was recently featured in the new Dementia Connections magazine and you can read the article here (see page 33).
    • The Bethany Foundation is actively fundraising and in the upcoming months, you will see and hear a lot more about the campaign. We are thankful for the support of Rotary Calgary, who is donating $1 million towards the Atrium, a secure and beautiful year-round environment where residents can safely walk about and families can gather with loved ones.
    • Bethany Riverview will take dementia care to a new level in Calgary. It is the largest purpose-built dementia care residence in our city and designed to meet the evolving needs of our community, as well as the unique requirements of dementia care.
    • Our “campus of care” concept will help bring our community together. It offers seniors the chance to age in community – in familiar surroundings with their loved ones and friends nearby – as their care needs change. Residents in our current buildings (Kanerva, Wilkinson and Mikkelsen Houses), as well as people living in the surrounding neighbourhood, can enjoy the amenities planned for the site and access support from our care professionals. Seniors who live in the area will be able to volunteer, visit and build connections through our programs and amenities.

    Answering your questions

    We understand that there are many questions regarding Bethany Riverview. Going forward, please send any questions you have to our dedicated Bethany Riverview email: riverviewquestions@bethanyseniors.com. We will answer them in upcoming issues of Update.

    How do I get my mom on the waitlist for Bethany Riverview?

    Admission to Bethany Riverview will be managed like admission to all care centers in Alberta via Alberta Health Services. We will provide information closer to opening about how to request a transfer to Riverview if a family member currently resides in continuing care in another location.

    How can I apply for a position at Riverview?

    We are in the process of developing the staffing plan for Bethany Riverview. Hiring for the site will begin several months in advance of the opening date. The details will be shared as they become available.

    How big is Bethany Riverview?

    Bethany Riverview will have 210 beds and will be approximately 160,000 square feet.

    When is Bethany Riverview opening?

    It is scheduled to open in the Fall 2018.

    We look forward to continuing to share our progress with all of you. Together, we can showcase Bethany’s leadership and expertise in dementia care and provide the very best care to people with dementia and their families. Check back next month for more news!

  • Bethany Volunteer Profile: Barb George

    It was an unforgettable night for Barb George, a longtime Bethany volunteer, when her name was called as the the Volunteer of the Year at the ACCA conference. Barb has volunteered at Bethany Calgary for 45 years, so we sat down with her to chat more about her passion for helping our residents. Thank you Barb for being a dedicated and caring volunteer with Bethany; we hope to have you volunteering with us for many years to come!

    When did you first start volunteering at Bethany?

    I started volunteering at Bethany Calgary in the early 1970’s when I brought my mother here as a resident.

    Why did you decide to volunteer at Bethany?

    I started volunteering in the craft room so that my mom would get involved in crafts. In 1975, I started working at Bethany and was an employee for 16 years. During this time, I was president of the staff association and helped plan a Christmas dinner for 65-70 seniors in the community without any family.

    What types of volunteering do you do now?

    I volunteer throughout the building and am here four days a week. I do the surveys for Aramark and Bethany and go wherever they need somebody to help out. I oversee the tuck shop and do purchasing for it and my husband volunteers in the tuck shop too.

    What’s your favourite part of volunteering?

    I really enjoy the residents and they make me want to come back every day. They have wonderful stories and interesting lives. Every resident is different and if I make one resident smile per day then I feel like I’ve done my job.

    How did it feel to receive the ACCA Volunteer of the Year award?

    It was awesome! I’ve been nominated a lot over the years and it was very special to me to receive this award. I want to keep this up as long as I can. Coming to Bethany every day keeps me going and keeps me on my toes.

    What else do you like to do in your spare time?

    I crochet, enjoy crafts and sewing. I make blankets and donate them to Hillside Manor. It keeps me going and keeps me busy. I like to exercise and I get a lot of exercise volunteering here. Something is always going on here and I really miss it if I don’t come here for a few days. They tell you to volunteer as a senior and get involved, and it’s very rewarding to volunteer with seniors.