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  • A Message from the Acting Executive Director, Bethany Care Foundation

    New Year…New Opportunities

    Some of us take New Year’s resolutions very seriously. Others refuse to make them. For those that make resolutions, things like eat better, drink more water, exercise and save money are often at the top of the list. As I write this on January 4, I’m just doing ‘so-so’ on every one of these!

    Whether you’re a resolution-maker or not, just about all of us take some time to reflect on our life as each old year closes and the new one begins. Just the turning of the clock to midnight on December 31 creates a psychological ‘fresh page’ to write the story of our life on.

     

    What do you want for yourself in 2019?

    What do you want for your loved ones?

    What do you want for your work colleagues?

     

    When it comes to our work together at Bethany, every day is an opportunity to show up ready to do great work and practice everyday excellence. As 2019 begins, that can look like trying new ways to stay on top of our To Do list or our email inbox. It can look like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. It can look like eating broccoli instead of eating a bag of chips for lunch (sigh).

    Perhaps most importantly, it can mean a fresh start on our relationships with each other, recognizing that we’re all on the same journey. We’re all trying to do the right things in the right way for the people we serve, with integrity and caring – for our residents, for our tenants, for our Bethany families and for each other.

    Will 2019 be a great year? I think so, especially when I consider how much of the answer to that question lives on the ‘fresh page’ that we have the opportunity to create every day.

    Happy New Year!
    — Gail

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Long-term Service Awards

    In December, Bethany celebrated some long-service employees.

    Nuri Haib has been with Bethany for five years. He joined Bethany in 2012 as the Administrator at Bethany Airdrie. In 2016, he moved into the role of Senior Director, Quality, Resident Safety & Clinical Education. In this role, Nuri has worked with his team to get the organization “audit ready” and to enhance the educational curriculums of Bethany’s new programs. In conjunction with Learning and Development, his team successfully led the training and orientation of over 300 employees hired for Bethany Riverview – a very impressive accomplishment.

    Cheryl Klassen is celebrating her 30th working anniversary at Bethany. She started her career in 1988 within the department of Finance. She started as an accountant and then spent a short time as Acting Housing Coordinator in 2000. In 2001, she moved into the systems administration world to support users with a number of Bethany’s systems. Currently, as Application Support Analyst, Cheryl very patiently explains information to various users and helps ease frustrations.

    Michael Baden is celebrating 35 years of service as a Bethany employee. He began his career as a Porter in 1983 and after a couple of years was promoted to Supervisor for all the porters. As health funding cuts made headlines in the 1990s, the use of porters was affected and Michael moved into maintenance for the next eight years. In 1998, Michael transferred into the Materiel Management department while working on his Bachelors of Commerce degree at the University of Calgary and became our Materiel Management Manger in 2004, a position he still holds today.

    Harry Johnson has also been with Bethany for 35 years. His first role was a Casual Porter – Maintenance position which commenced in 1983. Shortly afterwards, he was promoted into the Audio Visual department as a Technician. Harry upgraded his skills through technical courses and in 2008, he took over as the Supervisor of the Maintenance Department at Bethany Calgary and held this position for over a decade. In the spring of 2018, Harry moved up to the role of Area Supervisor, Maintenance Calgary Zone Sites. Harry received the Service Excellence Award at Bethany’s Service Excellence Awards banquet in April 2018.

    A big thank you to these four outstanding employees for their enthusiasm, hard work and dedication that help in creating caring communities at Bethany!

     

  • A Message from the President and Chief Executive Officer

    Christmas is Upon Us!

    There are many traditions in my family that have been part of Christmas since I was a child. Every year, I look forward to unpacking familiar tree ornaments, hanging our stockings and baking my mom’s shortbread cookies. My family also likes to watch Christmas movies and TV shows and play games. These simple activities allow us all to pause for a few moments, reflect on memories made over the years and simply enjoy our time together.

    At this time of year, I also take the time to be grateful for the many blessings in my life.

    I want to thank each of you for your commitment to everyday excellence at Bethany. Every day, you enrich the lives of those we serve by showing compassion and doing the extras that mean so much.

    May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and an abundance of happiness and joy in 2019.

    — Jennifer

    As always, I welcome your feedback at: jennifer.mccue@bethanyseniors.com

  • New Farewell Quilt to Respect and Dignify Those Who Pass Away at Bethany Sylvan Lake

    On Thursday, December 6, 2018, the Sylvan Lake Quilters Guild presented Bethany Sylvan Lake with a farewell quilt at their Time to Remember memorial service. The new quilt will be draped over the stretcher as the resident is moved through the care centre and transferred to a funeral home.

    The Sylvan Lake Quilters Guild is made up of a group of ten ladies who worked together tirelessly for two days to piece together the patterns. The pieces were sewn together by Joyce Thrush, then quilted by Gloria Armstrong.

    The quilt design is very significant and meaningful. There are many symbolic patterns stitched in the quilt, including the circle of life, flying geese, green patches of fields, trees and log cabins with red hearths representing the heart of the home. The lighthouse is a famous landmark in Sylvan Lake. When the quilt is placed over the deceased resident, the word “Farewell” is visible on both sides of the stretcher.

    “Sylvan Lake is a very close-knit community and the people really take care of each other.  The farewell quilt is a wonderful piece. It is an opportunity to allow the resident to pass away with a high level of dignity and respect, surrounded by loving neighbours and staff who live, breathe and sleep in Creating Caring Communities,” said Deb Andersen, Site Manager, Bethany Sylvan Lake.

    The Sylvan Lake Quilters Guild members enjoy making quilts for their community and their generosity extends beyond the farewell quilt.  Each new resident who moves into Bethany Sylvan Lake also receives a lap quilt from the Guild.

    A big thank you to the Sylvan Lake Quilters Guild for improving the resident and family care experience at Bethany with their beautiful, thoughtful quilts.

     

  • Service Excellence Recognition Awards and Board Recognition Dinner

    In 2018, Bethany launched the Service Excellence Recognition Awards and Board Recognition Dinner which recognized employees for their valuable contributions to specific criteria that aligns with our organizational vision. There are seven award categories and nominations that are put forward by peers, managers, co-workers and families. Two finalists from each category are selected by a review committee comprised of Board members and executive leadership.

    Let’s look back to the 2018 Board Recognition Dinner and the nominees and finalists.

    Do you know of an employee who should be recognized for their contributions? Registration of nominees for the 2019 Service Excellence Recognition Awards is coming soon!

  • Reporting of Health and Safety Incidents – Why Is This Important?

    In the world of Occupational Health and Safety, an incident is the negative outcome of an uncontrolled hazard. For example, a slippery floor that’s left unaddressed is a hazard. If someone should slip and fall — or even if they almost fall — that is considered an incident. A hazardous condition or near miss are also incidents and should be reported.

    Hazardous Condition; A hazardous condition is a situation or circumstance that could pose a risk to employees such as an icy sidewalk.
    Near Miss; A near miss is that “Whew!” moment when something occurs and a person realizes that they came “this close” to getting hurt.

    Each of these scenarios is an opportunity to mitigate a potential risk and prevent an injury from occurring. Both are preventative in that they provide the opportunity to control a hazard before somebody gets hurt. If these things go unreported, then the hazard or risk is not mitigated.

    When incidents happen and somebody does get hurt, our first priority is always to get the injured or ill worker help. After that, you should complete the Hazardous Condition Reporting Form right away and let your supervisor know what has taken place. Depending on the nature of the incident or its consequences, we may be required to report the incident to Alberta Occupational Health and Safety and/or the Workers’ Compensation Board. This process is in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety policy entitled Reporting and Investigation.

    Bethany’s Policy states:
    Employees will report hazards and injuries immediately to the supervisor of the area no matter how small they may seem at that time. If that person cannot be located, another supervisor within the facility shall be told.

    And that their manager, when an employee reports a hazard or a work related injury, will take immediate steps to investigate and document the incident as well as take steps to remove the hazard.

    The importance of reporting cannot be understated. We are obligated under law to address hazards and risk in the workplace and employees have a right to participate in this obligation by reporting hazardous conditions or near misses when they occur.

    Additional Links & Resources
    Reporting and Investigating of Incidents and Injuries
    Hazardous Condition and Employee Injury Report
    Safety Hazard and Injury Reporting
    Identifying and Controlling Hazards

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety & Disability Management
    Human Resources

  • Bethany Airdrie Hosts the Kindness Ninjas and Special Guest Bo Levi Mitchell

    On November 29, Bethany Airdrie was proud and excited to have hosted the Windsong Elementary School Kindergarten students, also known as the “Kindness Ninjas”, with special guest Bo Levi Mitchell, Quarterback, and MVP of the Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders. Each resident was gifted with a small gift bag and carnation. The light-hearted conversations between the kids and the residents, combined with the thoughtful drawings and flowers, filled the atmosphere with joy. It was a day to remember and a once in a lifetime opportunity. We are thankful for SHAW’s community support. They were instrumental in putting together this event and we are very grateful.

    Margaret Heppner, one of Bethany Airdrie’s residents, was chosen to be interviewed at the event. She and her family are avid fans of the Calgary Stampeders and she couldn’t wait to share photos of herself and Bo Levi Mitchell with her grandchildren. Her enthusiasm and high energy summed up the reaction from everyone in the room.

    Bethany’s priority is to create caring communities, not only in our care centres but the larger community of Airdrie. Bethany sees intergenerational programming and interactions between children (Kindness Ninjas) and residents as very important. All ages can learn from each other and benefit from time spent together.

    It is events like this that give us the opportunity to all join together as a caring community!

    Below is the news segment that was televised on Global Calgary https://globalnews.ca/news/4713591/airdrie-kindergarten-class-bo-levi-mitchell/

  • 2018 Founders’ Bursary Award Recipients – Shelby Geatros and Josie Simon

    Shelby Geatros and Josie Simon are the recipients of the 2018 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.

    Shelby is the daughter of Sonya Geatros, Health Care Aide, Long-Term Care (LTC), Bethany Airdrie. Shelby is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and writing NCLEX. She wants to become a Registered Nurse before applying and attending medical school to become an Emergency Medicine Physician.

    Josie is the daughter of Christopher Simon, Maintenance Worker, Bethany Calgary, and Jennifer Vance, Site Administrator, Bethany Cochrane. Josie is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with Political Science major at the University of Calgary and she plans to go to law school and become a lawyer.

    Congratulations to both Shelby and Josie!

    Jennifer McCue and Shelby Geatros
    Jennifer McCue and Shelby Geatros
    Shelbey Geatros and the Bethany Care Society Executive Leadership Team
    Shelbey Geatros and the Bethany Care Society Executive Leadership Team
    Christopher Simon, Josie Simon and Jennifer Vance
    Christopher Simon, Josie Simon and Jennifer Vance
    Josie Simon and the Bethany Care Society Executive Leadership Team
    Josie Simon and the Bethany Care Society Executive Leadership Team

  • Bethany’s Employee Newsletter: Update – November 2018 Issue

    Stay up-to-date on Bethany’s progress with our November newsletter! From the year end message to our Q1 survey results, you’ll find it here in the latest issue of Update. Click Here to view the PDF version.

  • Incident: CODE WHITE PROCEDURE

    Scenario: An employee working late is leaving the building when they observe an individual on a bicycle circling the entrance. As the employee exits the parkade, they see this person enter the parkade on their bicycle. The employee immediately drives around to the outdoor surface lot, parks their vehicle and enters the building to inform reception.

    Geographic areas or outside locations that are considered very safe during daylight hours can take on a different feel when the workday ends or when it’s dark. When there is no security on site, it is important that staff don’t put themselves in harm’s way when a suspicious person is observed in or around a building. If you notice anything suspicious, staff should enact our CODE WHITE procedure.

    The basic steps to follow for a CODE WHITE are as follows:

    • Shout or page, “CODE WHITE (AND THE LOCATIONS)” if inside a building;
    • Notify the police if required by calling 911*. Staff will be expected to speak with police should they be called;
    • If the situation is urgent and you cannot get to a phone, try to get to a fire alarm pull station and activate the fire alarm;
    • If notified of a CODE WHITE situation, staff working in and/or adjacent to the impacted area should respond and provide assistance as required.

    The police will respond to a CODE WHITE (e.g., a suspicious stranger is in the building that has no plausible reason for being there or someone is behaving erratically and/or violently or has locked or barricaded him/herself in a room). If you do encounter or observe a suspicious person, it is important to complete a Hazardous Conditions Report ASAP so that the incident can be documented and properly followed up on. If you suspect someone is lurking outside, shout or page CODE WHITE and/or call the police.

    Consideration can be given to designated parking spots that are close to the building which are well-lit for those who work after hours.

    While it is not always hazardous to work late or outside of regular work hours, it can mean you are working alone and/or traveling to or from work when the building is dark. That said, we should pay attention to any suspicious person or packages we see in and around our buildings and report it. Any questions or comments, please contact: Safety@Bethanyseniors.com

    ADDITIONAL LINKS AND RESOURCES:

    Here are a few more things you can do to keep safe if you are working late, alone or leaving work after dark.

    • Always let a friend, co-worker, family member or supervisor know you are working late and when you expect to leave.
    • Have a check-in procedure with someone you know.
    • Use the “buddy system”. Arrange to work late on the same night as a friend or colleague.
    • Plan ahead and think about which areas are safe where you can retreat to and/or call for help.
    • Before it is dark outside, move your car to a well-lit area that is close to your building.
    • Before your co-workers leave, check that all the doors and windows are locked and make sure nobody is in the washrooms and storage rooms.
    • If you enter a room and suspect that someone might be inside, do not call out. Back out quietly and go to a safe area and call for help.
    • If you encounter someone you don’t know, indicate that you are not alone. Say, “my supervisor will be right here and will be able to help you”.
    • Be aware of the services offered by your local transit company for after-hours commuters (e.g., they may have a “request stop” service that allows commuters to get off anywhere along the route after dark, rather than at a designated stop).

     

    *Be aware of the emergency number at your site. It may be 0-9-1-1 (dialing 9 to reach an outside line) and for most staff at Bethany Calgary, it is 3-9-9 (the business office, who will then call 911).