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  • A Message from the Executive Leadership Team – #1 Organizational Excellence

    The next series of messages will come from the ELT team rather than individual members. We will be focusing on the successes of Vision 2020, Bethany’s current strategic plan that was initiated in 2015 and will draw to a conclusion at the end of March 2020. We will be dedicating a message each week to one of the four strategic initiatives of Vision 2020; Organizational Excellence, Innovative Leadership, Community Engagement and Strategic Growth.

    Organizational Excellence

    As part of our commitment to Vision 2020 and our pillar of Organizational Excellence, our goals were to foster a culture of service excellence, attract and retain talent, implement high performance HR practices and develop succession plans for a number of key roles at Bethany. Some of the highlights in this focus area are explored below.

    We were able to develop an organization-wide Sensory Program Framework thanks to donations to the Bethany Care Foundation.

    The Sensory Framework includes programs that appeal to the senses, and the integration of sensory stimulation in a day to day care is particularly effective in stimulating emotional wellbeing and promoting engagement of those living with dementia. The goal of sensory integration is to understand the right level and type of intervention that will allow an individual to be more engaged and participate at an optimal level. When sensory stimulation is at the right level, it can have a significant impact in reducing challenging behaviours such as agitation, anxiety and depression that often manifest in individuals with dementia.

    There are a number of programs that are now offered across the organization that provide sensory stimulation for our residents, such as music and art programs, pet therapy, equine therapy, and various programs that engage our residents. The Framework will allow us to plan for an even greater impact in this important area. We have also implemented a technology-based program called iN2L (It’s Never Too Late) at two of our sites. These interactive systems empower our residents to connect, engage and enjoy life. The impact has been phenomenal.

    We embraced technology to enhance quality of life for our residents and achieve efficiencies in our business processes. We laid the foundation using technology as an enabler to provide extraordinary person-centered care through Electronic Health Records (EHR), as well as the electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) at our three central sites. As we move into Focus 2025, we will continue to build upon this foundation.

    To attract, retain and develop talent we focused on creating a strong and positive workplace culture. Over the past five years, we have implemented, quarterly leader & employee pulse surveys, performance management and the LEADS leadership development program. We also redesigned our benefits program and prioritized the awareness and education of employee psychological health and safety in the workplace.

    Another theme of Vision 2020 was to embed Service Excellence throughout the organization, bringing everyday excellence into daily practices and routines. We established Service Excellence Standards, WAVE recognition boards and developed the Service Excellence Recognition Awards to celebrate our employee achievements.

    Finally, as part of our succession plan for identifying key leadership positions and developing the next layer of leadership across Bethany, we created the Directors Leadership Team (DLT). The DLT manages the day to day operations and execution of the business plan, enabling ELT to focus on the strategic growth of the organization.

    No matter where you work at Bethany, you’ve been a part of moving us forward at Bethany on our strategic theme of Organizational Excellence. In next week’s message, we will turn our attention to the work we have done in being innovative leaders in our sector such as our work in palliative.

    As ever, please get in touch if you have any questions, ideas or comments. We are happy to hear them!

    If you have any questions, or would simply like to share your ideas, please contact us at Marketing.Communication@BethanySeniors.com

    Kind regards,
    – The Executive Leadership Team
    Jennifer, Nancy, Doreen, Lisa, Gail and Dana

  • Social Media Guidelines

    Download a printable version of this poster here: SocialMediaCheatSheet2020Final

    For the full policy, please click the link below.
    Policy Tech: Email and Social Media Guidelines

  • Safety Bulletin February 2020

    On February 26, 2020, organizations around the world will be celebrating Pink Shirt Day.

    At Bethany, our key values focus on being caring, showing respect, acting responsibly and embracing diversity. Pink Shirt Day is a great reminder about our organizational values and how we act on them.

    Make the focus of Pink Shirt Day about kindness. Small acts of kindness not only benefit the receiver, but also the giver and the whole organization, thereby creating a positive workplace culture.

    You can start practicing kindness and encourage connection with others at work by carrying out random acts of kindness during your day.

    • Invite a co-worker you don’t normally socialize with to sit with you at lunch
    • Learn something new about someone you work with
    • Say “thank you” in person
    • Admit when you’re in the wrong (it helps other people feel better about their mistakes!)
    • Hold the door open for the person behind you
    • Give a glowing recommendation

    Kindness should be something we practice every day. If we perform one act of kindness every day, our workforce will be a healthier place for us and those we serve and care for.

    Don’t forget to practice self kindness and recharge your batteries. Exercise and eat a healthy diet. Find ways to relax, such as meditation, yoga, listening to music or practicing deep-breathing exercises. Do these regularly!

    So on February 26th what will you do to practice kindness? Will you do something for someone in your life, someone you care for, or yourself? Let’s show our support by wearing pink shirts and participating in the Pink Shirt Day social media contest at Bethany. Click here for full Contest Details.

    And always remember, if you or someone you know needs assistance, check out our Employee Assistance Program, LifeWorks.

    For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety & Disability Management
    Lesley.Mackinnon@Bethanyseniors.com

    Or

    Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeLifeWorks supports employee health and well-being.

    Bethany employees have access to a wide range of resources such as:

    • LifeWorks Blog
    • Webinars and Events
    • 24/7 Specialist Counselling

    Link:
    Bethanycaresociety.lifeworks.com
    username: bcs
    Password: eap
    Phone: 1-877-207-8833
    Phone App: LifeWorks WorkAngel

  • A Message from the Executive Director, Clinical Operations

    It’s 3 am…again

    Do you often wake up in the middle of the night and start thinking about the following day? It is usually around 3:00am that I often will wake up and inevitably start thinking about work or other things I need to do at home. This can sometimes make me feel anxious, often unable to fall back asleep and before I know it, the alarm goes off. Not the best way to start one’s day!

    A recent Harvard Business Review article by Rebecca Zucker offers some helpful strategies to manage this issue. They include:

    • Make a to-do-list. Research shows that making a to-do-list before bed for the following day helps you fall asleep faster and wake up less often during the night. Keep a pen and notepad beside your bed so that if you do wake-up, you can write your thoughts down and go back to sleep.
    • Keep a journal. Writing down your thoughts and feelings helps process emotions and reduce stress and anxiety.
    • Exercise self-compassion. Often we repeatedly play-back experiences in our mind that did not unfold as we had hoped; causing us to lose sleep. Practicing self-compassion and recognizing that no one is perfect can help break the cycle of negative thoughts and result in better sleep.
    • Engage in physical activity. As little as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day can decrease rumination of thoughts at night helping us to fall asleep faster and enjoy greater sleep quality.
    • Practice meditation. Researchers found even 10 minutes of mindful meditation helped in calming racing thoughts and improved quality of sleep.

    It is not always possible to avoid the things that cause us stress and worry in our daily lives. However, if we get a good sleep, it is much easier to successfully take on the next day’s challenges.If you have any feedback, questions or ideas you would like to share, I welcome you to send them to me at: dana.penner@bethanyseniors.com

    Regards,
    — Dana

  • Safety Bulletin January 2020

    Code White – Violence /Aggression

    Bethany Care Society is committed to ensuring the protection of the physical and psychological health and safety of all Bethany employees.

    Each month in 2020, we will be reviewing a particular code as part of our emergency preparedness procedures and emergency response training. We will start off the year with a review of Code White – Violence/Aggression in the Workplace.

    The emergency response Code White is the designated phrase we use to alert staff if there is an incident of violence or aggression. The goal of alerting others is to address the potential escalation of behaviours in a safe and appropriate manner, and to remove persons who may be at risk from the immediate situation.

    Beginning the week of January 3rd, all employees will have received notification to complete a Policy Tech reading assignment and quiz for both Code White – Violence/Aggression and the Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace policy. In addition, employees will be asked to review and discuss with your teams what you would do in the scenario provided. These discussions will be reviewed the following month at each of the February OHS Committee meetings.

    The purpose is to ensure Bethany employees:

    • Review and recognize the definitions of workplace harassment, bullying and violence and when it occurs
    • Are familiar with the procedures to follow when you witness or observe a situation of violence or aggression in the workplace
    • Know how to summon help should your or our residents safety be at risk

    It is essential that you are familiar with the procedures used with respect to Code White to ensure you can Recognize, Respond and Report incidents witnessed in the workplace.

    For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety & Disability Management
    Lesley.Mackinnon@Bethanyseniors.com

    Or

    Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeADDITIONAL LINKS & RESOURCES

  • Mandatory Health Care Aide Directory Enrolment – Deadline Extended to Jan 31, 2020

    Have you registered for the HCA Directory?

    Important FAQ’s about registering for the HCA Directory. Please Read.

    The HCA Directory is a centralized location with a number of resources for HCAs including: news, education, job boards and updates. In 2018, the HCA Competency Profile was updated. This new Profile along with the Directory, will elevate the profession of HCAs by demonstrating that HCAs have successfully attained Core Competencies – including the Knowledge, Behaviour, Attitudes, and Skills required to provide excellent care.

    What does this mean for you? 

    1. All Bethany HCAs will be required to enrol in the Directory and provide their Directory number to HR Services by January 31, 2020.
    2. Enrolment should be completed on your personal time.
    3. After 2019, HCA’s will be required to renew annually to maintain current and active status in the Directory.

    To assist you in the enrollment process the following resources are available to you.

    1. Alberta Health Directory’s website
    2. YouTube Videos (click on links below)
    3. AHS Directory Package
      • AHS Instructions – I’m Ready to Enroll in the Alberta HCA Directory
      • Bethany step-by-step Instructions to assist you on how to enroll
    4. Documents will also be located on Bethany Connect under the Public Library.

    — Lisa Watson
    Vice President & Chief People Officer

  • HCA DIRECTORY MANDATORY ENROLMENT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

    NOTE : Deadline for enrolment has been extended to January 31, 2020

    Alberta Health has mandated that all Health Care Aides (HCA) working for a publicly funded employer enrol in the Alberta HCA Directory.

    The following are a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to assist you in timely enrolment.

    Who should I list as my supervisor?
    You must put HR Services as the “Immediate Alberta Supervisor” and NOT your supervisor.Why does my application say“In Progress”?
    “In Progress” means it is either: 1) currently being verified by HR Services or 2) HR Services has sent an email to your Bethany account with instructions on what you need to do to move forward with your application.

    What does the HR Services team do to verify my enrolment?
    HR Services verifies the certificate information on your Directory application against the certificate you provided upon hire. If you have more than one certificate, make sure to list what human resources has.

    My application has been declined. What are some common errors? How can I make sure my application is accurate?

    • Input the correct institution/school and graduation date
    • If you hold multiple certificates, list the certificate you gave Bethany when you were hired. We may ask you for a copy of your certificate if we do not have one on file
    • Ensure you submit under your legal name and not your common name

    Who do I speak to if I have questions about my registration?

    • Please contact info@albertahcadirectory.com
    • Please contact HR Services at 403-210-4640 on:
      • Tuesdays from 10:00am –12:00pm and
      • Fridays from 2:00pm – 4:00pm

    HCA Directory CONTACT INFO:
    info@albertahcadirectory.com

  • A Message from the Vice President & Chief People Officer

    I have never really been one to make New Year’s resolutions. However, 2019 has been a year of intention and reflection for me where I have accomplished some personal and professional goals. I now embrace the future with a mindset of endless possibilities and opportunities, and thought I would share a few personal tips as we all get ready to tackle 2020 and the new decade:

    Know yourself

    Take some time to really learn about yourself. Self-awareness is a gift. Find out how you are wired. Learn what your signature strengths are. Most of us are wholly unaware of what we are pre-wired to do in this world. Don Clifton, the Grandfather of Positive Psychology and the inventor of the Clifton StrengthsFinder once said “Everyone on the planet can do at least one thing better than ten thousand other people. That’s the good news. The bad news? Most people have no idea what that one thing is.”

    It’s easy to delude ourselves, or live somebody else’s version of life. People do it all the time. Their mothers convince them they can sing and they believe them and then wind up on YouTube forever after a really embarrassing audition on a reality TV show. That same person who is at best a mediocre singer might be a world-class writer or leader, or the best accountant in history. We all have blind spots. Do everything you can to get an honest assessment. Then, act on it, and see what happens.

    Dream a little

    When was the last time you really let yourself dream? If you could wave a magic wand over your life and make the changes in 2020 that are necessary to make that come to pass, what changes would you make? Then, ask yourself, what’s stopping me? Most hurdles are not real, but imagined. Kick them over and go to the places you were meant to go to in life.

    Re-connect with your “Who”

    We should all have a circle of trusted friends and colleagues who we can count on for honest feedback and help anytime we need it. Make a list of your “Who”. Reach out and buy them coffee or lunch sometime and, if they live far away, give them a call. Let them know they are special to you and why.

    Ask for Help

    Most of us are terrible at this one, but we are all wired to help each other and we are even more inclined to help those we are close to. But, that can’t happen if we don’t ask.

    Have fun!

    We live in a great country where literally anything is possible. Even in this challenging economy, opportunity is all around us. Have fun, play, enjoy the moment and the journey.

    “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” (Edith Lovejoy Pierce)If you have any questions, or would simply like to share your ideas, please contact me directly at lisa.watson@bethanyseniors.com.

    Kind regards,
    — Lisa

  • 2019 Founders’ Bursary Award Recipients – Daryl Paguibitan and Susan Zhang

    Daryl Paguibitan and Susan Zhang are the recipients of the 2019 Founders’ Bursary Awards. The Founders’ Bursary Awards were established in 1995 and recognize excellence in scholastic achievement, outstanding leadership, and a commitment to the community. The Bethany Care Foundation provides funding for the bursaries, through the generosity of donors.
     
    Daryl is son of Marilou Paguibitan, one of our Health Care Aides at Bethany Sylvan Lake. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering at the University of Alberta.
     
    Susan is daughter of Grace (Yihang) Fan, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Bethany Calgary. She is currently pursuing a PharmD degree at the University of Alberta.
     
    Congratulations to both Daryl and Susan. We wish you the best in your future endeavours!

  • A Message from the President and Chief Executive Officer

    As 2019 comes to an end, it is a perfect time to pause and reflect on our achievements over the past year as well as look forward to the opportunities that 2020 will bring.

    Bethany was acknowledged as one of Alberta’s Top 70 Employers for the 12th year in a row. This is an award for you, our employees, who are engaged in Service Excellence every day. Furthermore, we acknowledged the incredible work of nominees and winners of the Service Excellence awards who continue to inspire us with your dedication to those we serve.

    We want to acknowledge our outgoing Board Members Margaret Bowen, Jean Morris and Candace Spurrell for their time and dedication, as well as welcome our new Board Members; Lauren Andre, Judy Hanson, Susan Healy, Al Kryski, Ray Mack and Salimah Pirbai.

    We would like to reserve a special mention and congratulations to Rotary Clubs of Calgary & Area who were honoured as Philanthropic Group of the Year at the Generosity of Spirit Awards celebration. This award recognizes the Rotary Clubs of Calgary’s passion and financial support for The Rotary Atrium and other community projects.

    In 2020, we will also introduce Focus 2025, our new five year strategic plan. Building on the success of Vision 2020, Focus 2025 outlines our priorities as we live into our vision of ‘Leading the Transformation of Albertans Aging Well’.

    We will be sharing information shortly about our 75th anniversary celebrations. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2020!As always, I welcome your feedback at: jennifer.mccue@bethanyseniors.com

    — Jennifer