Stay up-to-date on Bethany’s progress with our March/April newsletter! From our Alberta’s Top Employer Award to our Service Excellence nominees, you’ll find it here in the latest issue of Update. Click Here to view the PDF version.
Author: SunN
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2019 Service Excellence Nominees and Finalists
Nominations and Finalists Announced!
The following is a compiled list of our 2019 nominees and finalists for the Service Excellence Awards Program.Board Of Trustee Mission Award
Finalists
Brian Way — Chaplain — Bethany Airdrie
Kim Herder — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Sylvan LakeNominees
Agatha Harun — Health Care Aide— Bethany Didsbury
Ashley Thompson — Health Care Aide— Bethany Didsbury
Carol Kelly — Care Services Manager — Bethany Riverview
Connie Tuck — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Dana Penner — Senior Director, Continuing Care & Volunteer Services — Bethany Corporate
Darlene Lovell — Health Care Aide— Bethany Didsbury
Elaine Lurcha — Health Care Aide— Bethany Sylvan Lake
Evening Shift Health Care Aides & RN — Level 1 Garden — Bethany Riverview
Jamie Jankus — Health Care Aide — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Jason Michalczyk — Health Care Aide— Bethany Cochrane
Kelly Berg — Health Care Aide — Bethany Didsbury
Lakeshore Day Staff — Bethany Riverview
Laurie Miller — Occupational Therapy Assistant — Bethany Calgary
Lisa Beaucage — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Didsbury
Marissa Timbreza — Registered Nurse — Bethany Riverview
MaryAnne Harder — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Didsbury
N1 Health Care Aide Day Team — (Ebony Burley, Cheyanne Wicks, Peggy Andrews, Agatha Harun, Florcefida Bacuyag, Kelly Berg, Ashley Thompson) — Bethany Didsbury
Peggy Andrews — Health Care Aide— Bethany Didsbury
Sandra Hinz — Recreation Coordinator — Bethany Harvest Hills
Teresita Castillo — Health Care Aide— Bethany CalgaryService Excellence Award
Finalists
Kelly Berg — Health Care Aide— Bethany Didsbury
Payton Andrews — Health Care Aide — Bethany Collegeside
Nominees
Amadea Schweighofer — Human Resources Assistant — Bethany Corporate
Amandeep Sahota — Clinical Educator — Bethany Calgary/Bethany Harvest Hills
Bernadette Perez-Oliva— Health Care Aide — Bethany Collegeside
Bethany Harvest Hills Team
Chantai Paris-Arsenault — Health Care Aide— Bethany Collegeside
Dorothy Perry — House Aide — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Elmer Reynante — Health Care Aide— Bethany Riverview
Harvest Hills Team — Admin, Recreation, OT, Social Work, Pastoral, Diet, Pharmacy, Aramark Team, Maintenance, Care Staff & Physicians
Heather Sutherland — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Riverview
Hilary Balderston — Clinical Educator — Bethany Riverview
Jim Stewart — Registered Nurse — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Jody Kostiuk — Health Care Aide — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Karlee Husch — Human Resources Coordinator — Bethany Corporate
Katharina Pustanyk — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Harvest Hills
Lakeshore Days — Bethany Riverview
Lamia Khorfan — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Riverview
Leni Estandarte — Health Care Aide— Bethany Airdrie
Level 1 — The Garden Neighborhood whole team; Nursing, Allied Health, Unit Clerk, Families — Bethany Riverview
Marilou Maclid — Health Care Aide— Bethany Riverview
Nadine Buchart — Site Manager — Bethany Harvest Hills
Nadine Frederick — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Natasha Forbes — Health Care Aide— Bethany Sylvan Lake
Natasha Yu Wen’s Evening Group — Level 1 Gardens — Bethany Riverview
Peggy Andrews — Health Care Aide — Bethany Didsbury
Rocky Matamorosa — Recreational Therapy Assistant — Bethany Riverview
Sandra Hinz — Recreation Coordinator — Bethany Harvest Hills
Steven Friesen — Quality Practice Leader (Steven Friesen, Ann Warnock-Matheron, David Schulli, Katty Oishi, Ilona Fibich, Janice Strate, Marcella Campbell, Marie-Josee (MJ) Paquin, Sharon Kulbida) — Bethany Corporate
Tabitha Miller — Health Care Aide— Bethany Sylvan LakeEngagement Excellence Award
Finalists
Jason Johnson — Recreation Supervisor — Bethany Cochrane
Shauna Ciezki — Volunteer Services Coordinator — Bethany Harvest HillsInnovative Excellence Award
Finalists
Melissa Fenton — Health Care Aide — Bethany Cochrane
Project Shift Team (Kronos) Julian Austin, Bryce Liesemer, Dawn Larche, Allison Woods, Lisa Schnurer, Theinmozhi (aka Tanya) Subramanian, Shereena Nazerali — Bethany CorporateNominees
Emily Thomson — Recreational Therapist — Bethany Riverview
Jody Kostiuk — Health Care Aide — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Julian Austin — Manager Business Solutions — Bethany Corporate
Katharine Hayman — Chaplain — Bethany Riverview
Lee Augustine — Maintenance Supervisor — Bethany Calgary
Patricia Neden — Health Care Aide — Bethany Calgary
Peter Czepuryk — Administrator — Bethany Riverview
Shizuko Shirotori — Occupational Therapy Assistant — Bethany CochraneRising Star Award
Finalists
Brianne Cruickshank — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Didsbury
Jillian Palbom — Human Resources Manager — Bethany CorporateNominees
Ann Mathews — Registered Nurse — Bethany Riverview
Byron Mason — Health Care Aide — Bethany Harvest Hills
Chris Simon — Maintenance Worker — Bethany Calgary
Corina Stevenson — Occupational Therapy Assistant — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Hannah Edgecombe — Health Care Aide — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Katie Koob — Registered Nurse — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Marilou Paguibitan — Health Care Aide — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Nuaan Bromley — Licensed Practical Nurse — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Philip Koster — Maintenance Worker — Bethany Cochrane
Sharra Martinez — Health Care Aide — Bethany Harvest HillsLeadership Award
Finalists
Joan Schwarze — Clinical Educator — Bethany Collegeside/Bethany Sylvan Lake
Paula Buckley — Occupational Therapist — Bethany CalgaryNominees
Carol Kelly — Care Services Manager — Bethany Riverview
Cathryn Byrne — Registered Nurse — Bethany Calgary
Deb Andersen — Site Manager — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Elizabeth Chacko — Health Care Aide — Bethany Collegeside
Karin Van Goudoever — Care Services Manager — Bethany Harvest Hills
Lindiwe Nyamukondiwa — Registered Nurse — Bethany Riverview
Lydia Pettinger — Registered Nurse — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Marissa Timbreza — Registered Nurse — Bethany Riverview
Monica Johnson — Care Services Manager — Bethany Cochrane
Nadene Wickstrom — Care Services Manager — Bethany Calgary
Nadine Smith-Payne — Executive Assistant to Vice President & Chief Operating Officer — Bethany Corporate
Nancy Hughes — Vice President & Chief Operating Officer — Bethany Corporate
Pennie Brennan — Clinical Educator — Bethany Didsbury
Whitney Rines — Registered Nurse — Bethany RiverviewEmployee Mentor
Finalists
Dawn Larche — Manager, Learning and Development — Bethany Calgary
Patti Lorenz — Care Services Manager — Bethany CalgaryNominees
Cathy Enarson — Clinical Educator — Bethany Calgary
Chantai Paris-Arsenault — Health Care Aide— Bethany Collegeside
Frances Buchanan — Health Care Aide — Bethany Harvest Hills
Gail Beam — Health Care Aide — Bethany Sylvan Lake
Nadine Smith-Payne — Executive Assistant to Vice President & Chief Operating Officer — Bethany Corporate
Walter Wong — Materiel Management — Bethany CorporateThank you to everyone who nominated a fellow coworker and recognizing their hard work and commitment to creating caring communities at Bethany.
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A Message from the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Interim)
“Sometimes you can’t see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others.” — Ellen DeGeneres
Spring has arrived…and not a moment too soon! After a long cold winter, I welcome the warmth of the sun, the melting snow and tiny bits of green grass peeking through the brown.
At Bethany, spring signals the end of our fiscal year and a time to look back at what has happened. Within all levels of the organization, we are completing our reviews and receiving assessments on our performance for the past year. While some of the comments will be positive and some will be constructive, there is often uneasiness felt on both sides, giving and receiving. One of the keys to success both personally and professionally, is to be receptive to feedback. So how do we receive feedback graciously and what should we do with it?
Here are some suggestions:
- Be approachable. Keep an open mind and emotions in check. We want to continue to receive feedback in order to help achieve one’s full potential. My mom often says that if she has stopped giving me feedback, I should be concerned because she has given up on me.
- Seek understanding. If necessary, ask questions to get clarity on your evaluation. Request for specific examples and tips on how to improve.
- Restate the points made to your supervisor and confirm that you have correctly interpreted their comments.
- Reflect on the feedback. Take an honest look at yourself and consider if changes need to be made. This is often the most difficult and humbling part of the process.
- Take action. Lay out steps to initiate change and follow through.
“The past is to prove that no one is perfect and the future is to prove that everyone can change.” — A. Loan
The new fiscal year signifies an opportunity for new beginnings and the use of feedback for improvement and growth. Thank you for taking the time to read this message and feel free to reach me with your comments or questions at Doreen.Lee@Bethanyseniors.com.
— Doreen
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We Are On The Move – IT Data Centre Move
Bethany’s IT Data Centre will be moving April 6 and 7, 2019. During the move some critical IT Systems and Shared Drives will not be available.
Shared Drives:
- H
- I
- J
IT Systems:
- Kronos and ASC Callouts
- Momentum (Bethany Calgary and Bethany Riverview)
Please ensure you back up and save a copy of your files on April 5, 2019.
Any questions or comments, please contact the Help Desk:
Email: HelpDesk@bethanydesniors.com
Phone: 403.210.4646
Please note the Help Desk will be operational April 6 and 7 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
IT Help Desk
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March is Nutrition Month
March is Nutrition Month—a great time to focus on making healthy food choices that contribute to your overall health and well-being.
A good way to start is to make food and activity choices based on balance, moderation and to handle food with safety in mind. We can eat very well, given the variety, safety, and wide availability of our foods today.
You can plan your meals to include foods that decrease your risk of chronic health problems like heart disease or cancer. If you watch how much you eat in relation to normal exercise, you will actively contribute to your well-being by maintaining a healthy weight.
Eating well (i.e. a well-balanced diet rich in vegetables and nutrients) is also associated with feelings of wellbeing. A study in 2014 found high levels of wellbeing were reported by people who ate more fruit and vegetables.
Most of us spend more than half of our waking hours at work. It makes sense to start thinking about what we are eating as a part of our workday. Keeping yourself hydrated and fueled up will go a long way to get you through your work shift.
Just like an athlete fueling for a marathon, it’s important to eat the right foods and stay hydrated. Eating the right foods and drinking the right fluids is key to being productive at work, staying healthy and injury-free.
Here are some tips on how to make healthy food choices:
- load up on fruits and vegetables
- choose whole grain foods
- eat less meat
- watch out for processed foods
- limit added sugar
- watch your sodium intake
Food can also bring people together in community. Starting a Bethany Healthy Eating Challenge this month with your co-workers will foster community among your team and beyond the work walls.
There is a different theme each week that you can choose from to help you build those healthy habits.
Below is a theme for each week of March.
WEEK ONE — Paint your plate with vegetables
WEEK TWO — Fill up on fibre
WEEK THREE— Rethink your drink
WEEK FOUR — Hold the salt
ADDITIONAL LINKS AND RESOURCES:
LifeWorks (login : BCS and password: eap)
Continuing Care Safety Association
Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety & Disability Management
Human Resources -
Service Excellence Recognition Awards Program
Nominations Now Closed!
Nominations for the Service Excellence Recognition Awards have now closed. We would like to thank all those who submitted their nominations. A complete list of this year’s nominees will be coming soon.
At Bethany, we action our values each and every day. Once again it’s time we recognize one another for our “best of the best” efforts!
Our Service Excellence Recognition Awards program lets us acknowledge the very best efforts from across Bethany! Efforts that soar far above the average, taking our people-centered work to brand new heights. By nominating your most excellent co-worker(s), you validate their best efforts to champion our Standards for Service Excellence.
Click Here to learn more and nominate a colleague.
Join us in celebrating Bethany’s “best of the best” in Service Excellence! Hurry…your opportunity to nominate closes March 8th, 2019!
Award Categories:
Board of Trustee MissionService Excellence
New Employee Mentor
Engagement Excellence
Innovation Excellence
Rising Star
Leadership
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A Message from the Vice President, Corporate Services & Chief People Officer
I have been involved in sports all of my life. My parents were very active, and from an early age, I had a racquet or stick in my hand. I loved participating in team and individual sports. In elementary school, I captained our girl’s soccer team. In high school, I played on our girl’s field hockey team and tennis team, while also competing within the Okanagan in racquetball and tennis. Some of my fondest memories were competing in ladies doubles tennis tournaments with my mum as a teenager. Nowadays, I am an avid singles and doubles squash player. My sister and I compete in ladies doubles and are known as the “Twisted Sistas”. She and I are also members of our amazing ladies squash team called “Team Fierce”. Our mum would be very proud of us continuing her squash legacy.
Team sports is where I learned how to be part of a team, how to work as a team, and how to deal with a team. You do not always choose who is on your team or who you are going to work with. But in a sport where you shine as an individual because of your work as a team, you quickly learn how to come together to make great things happen. The values, attitudes, and goals of a team impact its performance and success.
It is a widely held belief in the sports world that the team culture can have a big impact on how a team functions and performs. How team members, think, feel, behave and perform are all influenced by the environment in which they practice and compete. For example, have you ever been on a “downer” team that is filled with negativity, unhealthy competition and conflict? It sure doesn’t feel good and it can definitely interfere with performing your best. I believe the same is true in the workplace.
At Bethany, we all have a role in creating an organizational culture that is positive and high performing. A culture is the expression of a team’s values, attitudes, goals and relationships. The culture establishes norms of acceptable behavior on a team, either explicitly or implicitly conveying to members what is allowed and what is not. These norms can dictate to team members how to behave, communicate, cooperate and deal with conflict. Bethany’s values “We Care”, “We Show Respect”, “We Are Responsible” are so important because they guide the decisions and choices we make as a team and as individuals.
I encourage everyone to make team culture a team effort and focus on creating a healthy team culture focused on high levels of performance and success for the team and individuals. Let’s continue to work together as a team and make great things happen for those we serve.
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
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A Message from the Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Resident and Family Engagement — One Year Later
Just over a year ago I wrote about the shift in Continuing Care towards greater engagement of residents and families in the delivery of care and how this shift has been reflected in Accreditation Standards, Continuing Care Health Services Standards and the Health Quality Council of Alberta Surveys. It was also at that time that Bill 22 (The Resident and Family Councils Act) received Royal Assent in the Alberta Legislature. Bill 22 acknowledges the crucial role of the resident and family voice on issues including food, programs and activities and requires all Continuing Care Operators to ensure Resident and Family Councils are established at each facility.
Significant work has been done at Bethany since Bill 22 was passed. We have developed policies and procedures for the establishment of Resident and Family Councils and I am pleased to say that we now have councils in place at each of our Care Centres with the exception of Bethany Riverview which is just getting established now six months after opening its doors.
Each Resident and Family Council looks a little bit different in terms of its structure and meeting frequency so that the unique issues at each site and in each community can be appropriately addressed. Some of these councils are chaired by residents and some by site leadership.
All of the Resident and Family Councils across Bethany are active, meet regularly and spend time addressing issues such as Food Services, Activities and Programming on site. In addition, our site leaders provide updates to the Councils on Audit results as well as staffing and programming changes across the organization. These forums provide a very critical venue for residents and families to ensure their voice is heard. Regular updates on the activities of the Resident and Family Councils are provided at each meeting of the Quality/Safety/Ethics Committee of the Board so the organization is aware of the concerns and issues facing residents and families.
In the summer of 2019, the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) will be conducting a Resident and Family Experience Survey at some of our sites. Through this process, the HQCA collects feedback from residents and families and then produces a report with comparison data to the previous survey results so that Continuing Care Operators can use the information to support quality improvement efforts. Given the hard work that has been done at Bethany over the last year, I am hopeful that we will receive positive feedback from our residents and families.
This is very important work and all of us have an important role to play in engaging our residents and families as we live into our mission of Creating Care Communities.
As always, I welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have. Please send them to me at nancy.hughes@bethanyseniors.com.
Regards,
— Nancy -
Kindness — It’s Who We Are
Caring is at the very core of Bethany. It shapes and connects everything we do. Our culture of caring brings out the best in Bethany; the best in us, our processes, work and interactions. It has a powerful and positive impact that expands beyond Bethany as we collaborate to improve the lives of those we serve, and the broader communities we live and work.
We build trust from the inside out, starting with each other, and extending to our residents and the public. We strengthen our culture and lead by example each time we speak up and address situations that do not reflect our values.
Our Values and Code of Conduct guide us and set expectations for ethical behaviour and decision making. They help us decide how we serve our residents and tenants, and work with each other with respect, transparency and fairness. Remember, Bethany’s Code of Conduct protects employees, volunteers, residents, and tenants by providing a common understanding of what’s acceptable and what’s not. It’s a resource that helps us understand what’s expected and why.
On the spectrum of what are appropriate behaviours in the workplace being kind to one another is a great first step. As Nancy Hughes, our Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, recently said, “There are many ways to demonstrate kindness to one another in the workplace. Kindness begins with a smile, saying “thank you” in person, holding the door open for someone behind you and asking a co-worker how they are and actually listening to their answer.”
All employees are expected to treat one another, residents, clients, families, volunteers, contractors and visitors in a respectful, kind way. I recently read a book called,“The 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life” by Karen Armstrong. The core message for living a compassionate life is to, “Treat others as you would like them to treat you.” This means being kind towards one another and recognizing each of us is doing the best we can each and every day.
On February 27, 2019, organizations around the world will be celebrating Pink Shirt Day. Let’s show our support and get our pink on! Make the focus of the day small acts of kindness. Show kindness toward someone you work with or support by saying thanks, holding the door, or eating lunch with someone new.
Kindness is one size fits all. If we all perform one act of kindness each day, the world will be a better place for all of us and those we serve.
Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety
Human Resources -
Bethany Recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Bethany Care Society has once again been acknowledged as one of Alberta’s Top Employers! This marks the 12th consecutive year that we have received this special designation that recognizes Bethany as an exceptional place to work.
Top Employer is a distinction bestowed on only 75 organizations across the province. It is an affirmation of our organization’s efforts to attract and retain the very best talent. It also acknowledges the dedicated professionals within Bethany who bring life to our mission, vision and values every day.
Being recognized as one of Alberta’s Top Employers would not be possible without each of you, our exceptional People of Bethany. Here are just a few of the reasons why we were selected as one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2019:
- Bethany supports new mothers with maternity leave top-up payments to 100% of salary ranging from 6 to 8 weeks.
- Bethany offers two annual post-secondary academic scholarships to employees’ college or university-bound kids.
- Bethany invests in the development of its workforce, offering tuition subsidies (up to $1,000 per year) for accredited courses and programs.
- Bethany helps employees plan for the longer term with retirement planning assistance services along with defined benefit, defined contribution and matching RSP plans, varying with employee group — employees nearing retirement may also have the opportunity to adopt phased-in work options.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all your hard work and dedication over the past year.
With appreciation for all that you do,— Jennifer
