Author: SunN

  • 2020 Annual Bethany Service Excellence Finalists

    Our Service Excellence Recognition Awards program celebrates our employees’ commitment to everyday excellence in their roles and actions. Employees in eight categories were recognized for their valuable contributions that go above and beyond for our residents and tenants. They support of our Strategic Goals of Care; Campuses of Care; Our People; Community and Innovation.

    These employees take our people-centered work to new heights. Thank you to our overwhelming number of nominees as well as our finalists for championing our Standards for Service Excellence.

    And the finalists of the 2020 Annual Bethany Service Excellence Awards are:Board of Trustee Mission Award

    Jemila Abdulkadier

    Carrie Cooke

    Engagement Excellence Award

    Aldrin Ramos

    Cheryl Yaciuk

    Excellence In Health and Safety Award

    Rob Gauthier

    Darlene Grasdal

    Excellence In Innovation Award

    Janet Fadugba

    HR/IT (Bryce Liesemer, Jillian Palbom, Julian Austin, Karlee Husch, Lisa Schnurer, Shereena Nazerali, Zahra Garshasbpour)

    Leadership Award

    Jibin George

    Larina Tremblay

    New Employee Mentor Award

    GP Singh

    Lisa Beaucage

    Rising Star Award

    Cassidy Nielsen

    Darren Dressler

    Service Excellence Award

    Johanevie Ruando

    Kina BartFor further information on our Service Excellence Awards please go to our website bethanyexcellence.com

     

    Check back on October 27 when we announce our winners!

  • Update Newsletter — September/October 2020 Issue

    Stay up-to-date on Bethany’s progress with our Update newsletter!

    From our 75th Anniversary site celebrations to an employee profile on Michelle Dulmadge our new Executive Director of Human Resources, you’ll find it here in Bethany’s September/October Update!

    Click Here to view the PDF version.

  • Flu Shots: Spread the Word – Not the Virus

    Flu season begins in October and Alberta Health Services will be providing vaccine supplies to the public starting October 19, 2020.

    At Bethany we want to spread the word, not the virus. We encourage you to protect yourselves against the flu and get vaccinated. Vaccinations are available on-site, however, you may choose to get vaccinated at your local pharmacy. Please see your Care Service Manager or Site Administrator for details.

    Proof of a flu vaccination must be provided to your manager or supervisor.

    For Corporate employees, there will be a flu clinic offered on Friday October 23, 2020. Please sign up on the sheet at the front desk by end-of-day Monday October 19, 2020 to participate.

    It is extremely important this year to get your flu shot especially with COVID-19. By doing so, you protect yourselves, your family, coworkers and our residents/tenants.

  • Safety Bulletin October 2020

    Mental health suffers from a major image problem. One in every four people experience mental health issues at some point in their lives – yet, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 40 percent of countries worldwide have no mental health policy. Across the board, it seems we struggle to talk about it respectfully and responsibly.

    Poor mental health can affect us at work. It is associated with:

    • Decreased productivity
    • Mood irritability
    • Increased interpersonal conflict
    • Increased absenteeism, and short-term and long-term disability

    Creating a safe and healthy workplace environment is essential. Talking about our challenges can be difficult due to the stigma associated with opening up about our mental health. What is stigma?

    Stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s thought to be, or actually is, a disadvantage (a negative stereotype). Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common. (www.mayoclinic.org)

    Here’s how we can reduce stigma in the workplace:

    Ask and listen. If you know someone who might be struggling with a mental health problem, ask questions and listen. If that person is open to help, you can:

    • Help set up an appointment with a doctor
    • Provide information about LifeWorks, Bethany’s EAP Provider
    • Advise that a manager is spoken to

    Don’t judge. Mental illness is just that – an illness that needs treatment. Read, listen and learn about mental health.

    Reach out to a support network. Recovery from any illness requires a support network that includes medical professionals, family, friends and employers. Confiding in a close family member or friend, talking to a therapist or joining a support group can be helpful.

    Encourage co-workers to seek out the support of others. Human connection is vital to both our mental and physical wellbeing, yet illness often isolates us. Encouraging those to spend time with family and friends or seek social connections.For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety
    Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com

    Or

    Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeBe an advocate for mental health. Educate yourself on mental health. Support others struggling with mental health by guiding them to the appropriate resources.LifeWorks 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

    Other resources:

    Access Mental Health | Alberta Health Services
    www.albertahealthservices.ca

    Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
    cmha.calgary.ab.ca

    The Distress Centre
    403-266-HELP(4357)
    www.distresscentre.com

  • Return to Work FAQs: Corporate Office and Mikkelsen House – COVID-19 Guidelines & Protocols

    As we endeavour to keep our residents safe and healthy, we also do so for our employees working in our corporate departments. As corporate employees return to the office, below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) that are the guidelines and protocols that MUST be followed.

    Will my access card be activated when I return to the Corporate Office?

    For corporate employees who will be returning, your card will be activated in advance of your return date. Your parking pass, if applicable, will also be reactivated.

    How will I access the Corporate Office and Mikkelsen House?

    You will gain access to/from Corporate Office and Mikkelsen House by:

    1. (a) Through the parkade entrance (entry off 28 Street S.E.) Use the southwest door stairwell to enter
      (b) Through the front door (#100 by the Daycare entrance) using code 800415#
    2. Employees based at Mikkelsen House are to self screen if possible by taking your temperature at home prior to work or go to reception area to get your temperature taken

    IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you are wearing a mask from your car/public transit to your office or desk space.

    There is currently no access through the care centre.

    What is the screening process for entering the Corporate Office?

    If you are entering through the parkade entrance, please self-screen if possible by taking your temperature at home and record on the screening form when you get to work. Drop your completed form at the Reception desk daily.

    If this is not possible, please go to reception area to get your temperature taken. Screening will begin at 8:00 AM so unless you are self-screening with temp check you cannot enter the office before that time.

    If you are arriving outside of these hours or need to leave the office and return during business hours, get re-screened at front reception.

    What protocols are in place for working in the Corporate Office?

    While you are working in your own office/cubicle you will not need to wear a mask.

    Away from your office/cubicle you will be required to wear a mask and will need to social distance within the office.

    If someone is visiting your office/cubicle, you and that person both need to wear a mask and you will need to maintain social distancing.

    In meetings, you will need to wear a mask if social distancing cannot be maintained.

    As we are in a non-clinical setting, it is okay to reuse your mask if it is not soiled or has become contaminated.

    Note: Masks will be available if needed.

    You will need to ensure your desktop is cleared at the end of each day to facilitate cleaning by Aramark. This includes all papers and personal belongings.

    Where can I take my lunch?

    The Bistro seating area will be open at 50% capacity for corporate employees to bring their own meals. Care staff will be using the area near the Simmons Family Assembly Room for their lunch breaks. Employees will be responsible for disposing of their own leftovers and dishes.

    Lunchtime openings will be staggered for:

    HR, Executive Support and Communications at 12:00 – 12:30 PM, and

    DLT, Finance, IT and the Foundation at 12:45 – 1:15 PM

    Wipes will be available for you to use.

    Remember to wear your mask when finished eating and returning to your office/desk space.

    Employees should bring their own cups, dishes, glassware and cutlery to the workplace, and take home each evening.

    What is the capacity of the washrooms?

    Only 2 people are allowed in each washroom at any given time.

    What printer should I use in the Corporate Office?

    Please use the copier closest to you.

    Please use hand sanitizer before and after use at the multi printers and practice social distancing when waiting for the copier.

    Is there a receptionist at the main desk?

    Michelle Fulton and Marianne Smith will rotate weekly at front reception.

    How do I send mail/packages to the sites?

    Any mail or courier items can be left on the reception desk and Michelle/Marianne will arrange for it to go out.

    Bethany sites delivery schedule:

    • Monday – no mail distribution
    • Tuesday – Bethany Calgary/Bethany Cochrane
    • Wednesday – Bethany Calgary/Bethany Airdrie/Bethany Harvest Hills
    • Thursday – Bethany Calgary/Bethany Cochrane as well as Bethany Didsbury/Bethany CollegeSide/Bethany Sylvan Lake
    • Friday – Bethany Calgary/Bethany Airdrie/Bethany Harvest Hills

    All mail to other sites goes out by 9:30 AM and all courier items for same day delivery for Calgary area need to go out by 1:00 PM.

    How can I protect myself in the Corporate Office?

    Maintain masking protocols.

    Social Distancing – Continue to maintain physical distancing – that means keeping at least two metres/6 feet distance from others.

    Hand Hygiene – Continue to wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or clean hands with hand sanitizer – particularly before and after eating.

    What if I’m feeling sick?

    If you have cold-like symptoms, you should do the following:

    • Call your medical provider or Health Link at 811
    • Stay home – avoid close contact with others
    • Practice hand hygiene (wash your hands often and thoroughly)
    • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands

    What if I’ve travelled or I’m planning to travel?

    Travelers outside of Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days. If you’re planning to travel, even within Canada, please notify your Leader/Manager.  Please consult the destination page on travel.gc.ca for the latest travel advice.

    What if I’m unable or not ready to return to the Corporate Office?

    If you feel you are unable or not ready to return to the Corporate Office, please get in touch with your manager and notify Jillian Palbom, Acting Director, Human Resources.

    If I have any other questions, who can I ask?

    Any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to your direct manager.

  • Celebrating 75 Years of Care

    This year marks Bethany’s 75th Anniversary! We would like to publicly acknowledge this significant milestone and extend our heartfelt thanks to our residents who call Bethany home, and to our employees for all your hard work. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, large gatherings are not permitted under the current public health orders to ensure the safety of our residents. Instead, we celebrated in small ways at the care sites and Bethany housing, with festive “75” balloon column decorations, receiving a site-wide blessing by our spiritual care practitioners, and handing out individually wrapped cookies to our residents and employees.

    For 75 years, Bethany has been a voice for seniors in Alberta. As the senior population grows, so have we, responding to the needs of the communities we are in. Seniors can age in the community as their care needs change. What began in 1945 as the Lutheran-based Riley Estate  has grown into a much broader community of independent living, supportive living, long-term care, specialized dementia and community services. Inspired by our legacy of faith, love and a passion to serve, we continue to create caring communities for seniors and adults with disabilities.

    Join us in a celebration of our past, present and future and explore a timeline of our most important milestones. Visit BethanyBetterWithAge.com!

  • ‘I Wear a Mask’ Campaign

    Bethany is launching a ‘I wear a mask’ campaign urging all employees and Albertans to show their concern for the health of others by wearing masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that anyone living in an area where virus transmission is widespread should wear a non-medical mask when they are in a situation where physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transit, in stores and at places of worship and other mass gatherings.

    Jennifer McCue, President and CEO, along with our entire Executive Leadership Team (ELT) are fully behind the idea of wearing a mask. Jennifer says, “I wear a mask because it’s the simplest act of human kindness and it’s the right thing to do!” COVID-19 is ongoing and everyone can play a role in stopping it – Now tell us why YOU wear a mask! Follow Bethany on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Send us your selfie or short video. We want to hear from you! Use the hashtag #BethanysMaskedHeroes in your posts and tag us!

  • Safety Bulletin September 2020

    Regular physical activity has many mental health benefits. The longer you maintain your exercise schedule and the more often you exercise, the more benefits you’ll see. Research shows that regular physical activity can help:

    • Reduce day-to-day stress
    • Reduce the risk of cognitive decline, measured as a slowing in attention, memory, and concentration
    • Increase self-reported happiness and lower levels of depression and loneliness
    • Reduce feelings of fatigue, improve sleep quality, and lower your risk of insomnia
    • Boost self-esteem, itself a key sign of good mental health and overall well-being

    There is no single reason why physical activity has mental health benefits. Instead, research suggests that benefits come from the combined physiological, psychological, social, and neurological effects of exercise.

    • Physiological: Physical activity both boosts your body’s production of chemicals that help you to relax, feel more pleasure, and feel less pain, and reduces the amount of cortisol (i.e., “stress hormone”) that your body produces
    • Psychological: Regular physical activity helps to increase feelings of self-esteem. Short bursts of exercise can also make you happier in the moment by interrupting negative trains of thought
    • Social: People who exercise regularly tend to have bigger social networks and stronger relationships with friends and family. The regular face-to-face interaction that comes from group exercise (e.g., fitness classes, team sports) boosts your mood and can help to prevent depression
    • Neurological: Physical activity helps your brain to use and produce more dopamine and serotonin – chemicals produced in your brain that make you feel happy. People who exercise regularly also have more blood flow to the brain, and better brain functioning

    For strategies to start an exercise routine and to stay motivated, please check out the tips below.

    HOW TO GET STARTED AND STAY MOTIVATED

    Before you get started, ask yourself why you want to exercise, and what types of exercise might be best for you based on your physical (dis)abilities, personality, and goals.

    Consult your family physician for help in developing a healthy and realistic exercise plan.

    • Schedule exercise in your day when you tend to have more energy
    • Find free or low-cost activities that you enjoy (e.g., walking, cycling, or pick-up sports)
    • Don’t push yourself too hard and strive to find an environment where you feel comfortable and motivated

    Once you’ve started your exercise program, there are many ways to help you stick with it.

    Excerpts taken from the “Psychology Works” Fact Sheet: Physical Activity, Mental Health and Motivation by the Canadian Psychological Association.

    For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety
    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

     

    Other helpful links:

    Alberta Health Services COVID19

    Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Update Newsletter — July/August 2020 Issue

    Stay up-to-date on Bethany’s progress with our Update newsletter!

    From our Blessing of the Hands ceremonies to our feature on Recreation Therapy, you’ll find it here in Bethany’s July/August Update!

    Click Here to view the PDF version.

  • Safety Bulletin August 2020

    Mindfulness—an awareness of the moment—can help you in many areas of life. When you’re aware of your experiences on a moment-by-moment basis, you can direct your focus away from negative thoughts like worry and self-doubt and be present in a calmer way. Research has found that mindfulness has helped people manage physical and mental health concerns that range from diabetes to stress to anxiety and depression.

    Mindfulness has a variety of physical and mental health benefits, including helping you sleep better, improving well-being, even helping ease chronic pain.

    Recent studies have suggested that regularly practicing mindfulness meditation creates physical changes to the brain. For example, doctors have long known that as we get older – we experience shrinkage in a specific region of the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain associated with working memory and certain types of decision-making. That’s why it’s harder to remember certain things as we get older – we have less “gray matter” there.

    According to a study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, after eight weeks of regular mindfulness meditation, 50-year-olds had the same amount of gray matter as 25-year-olds. Research has also found that participants in mindfulness programs showed changes in the amygdala—a part of the brain that affects fear, stress, and anxiety – which correlated with lower stress levels.

    How mindfulness can help you

    The more you practice mindfulness, the more you may gain from it. Experts generally recommend that you start by practicing mindfulness for five minutes per day, gradually working up to 15 to 20 minutes a day. This will give your mind time to “settle” into being fully present in the moment.

    Practicing mindfulness can help:

    • Have more satisfying relationships. Several studies have found the ability to be mindful can predict satisfaction in relationships, perhaps because greater self-awareness helps people communicate thoughts or feelings to others
    • Manage a health condition. Doctors may recommend mindfulness meditation, along with other treatments, for health concerns including diabetes, chronic pain, eating disorders, and some types of heart disease
    • Manage feelings of stress and anxiety. Therapists sometimes use mindfulness in combination with other treatments to help people cope with unwanted thoughts that interfere with work, relationships, or the ability to enjoy life

    For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety
    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

     

    Other helpful links:

    Alberta Health Services COVID19

    Public Health Agency of Canada

    • Simply take a moment to contemplate and reflect.
    • Pause to consider what you are going to say before speaking. Take a two- or three-ring pause before picking up the phone to think about your intention.
    • Deliberately give your full attention to whatever it is you are doing. When you’re with your family and friends, focus on being fully present with them. When you’re at work, direct your focus and attention there.
    • Try not to dwell in the past or think about the future.
    • Slowly stretch each part of your body. Be aware of your breathing as you stretch
    • If you’re making a cup of tea, just make a cup of tea. If you’re spending time with your child, just be with your child.