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  • Financial Wellness Information Sessions

    Financial experts have indicated that speaking to retirement and investment specialists and regularly reviewing investment plans can impact your financial wellness, your financial resiliency and your overall well-being.  Finances and worry about future finances since COVID-19 is a common and real concern for a number of individuals.

    As part of your employment with Bethany Care Society, you are eligible to be a member of the pension plan. There are many advantages to the plan such as receiving an employer contribution and instant tax savings with every pay. Sun Life provides world-class investment choices with fees that are lower than retail to help you reach your financial goals. Bethany employees have access to Financial Advisors through our broker, The Leslie Group, who can help you choose the best plan that fits your long term savings and financial goals.Bethany Care Society has invited a Retirement & Investment Specialist to deliver online Zoom information sessions to help you better understand how the member plan works. In addition, Retirement Readiness sessions will be offered to provide insight to those who may be close to thinking of retirement within the next five to ten years.

    Information shared during these sessions include:MEMBER PLAN INFORMATION SESSIONS

    • How much can you save into the plan?
    • How do the tax savings work?
    • How do you choose your investments?
    • How do global markets affect investments?
    • Where can you find more support?

    RETIREMENT READINESS SESSIONS

    • Am I ready to retire?
    • How do I retire?
    • Retirement Readiness Checklist

    WEBINAR LOG IN INSTRUCTIONS

    You can log into the webinar from any computer with an internet connection.

    Simply go to zoom.us/j/6478240067 and follow the instructions.

    You will be able to see the presenter’s screen and hear their voice.

    If you do not have sound on your computer, you can dial-in to listen while you follow along on the screen: 1-855 703 8985 (toll free)

    You will be asked to enter a meeting ID: 647-824-0067

    Separate sessions and times are being offered to your specific plan type. Retirement Readiness sessions are open to all members. You may invite your spouses or even your parents to the webinars!August 11:
    12:00pm – 1:00pm

    August 24:
    7:00pm – 8:00pm    August 11:
    7:00pm – 8:00pmAugust 12:
    7:00pm – 8:00pm

    August 24:
    12:00pm – 1:00pmAugust 12:
    12:00pm – 1:00pm

    August 20:
    7:00pm – 8:00pmFor more information, please contact HR Services.

  • 2020 Founders’ Bursary Awards

    Last Week To Apply!

    Do you have children going into post-secondary education?

    Do they display leadership and are involved in the community?

    Then you should apply for Bethany’s 2020 Founders’ Bursary Award!

    Bethany awards two scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each school year to the children of Bethany employees attending post-secondary education. The bursaries recognize excellence in scholastic achievement, outstanding leadership, and a commitment to the community.

    Recipients will be announced in the Fall 2020.

    Apply NOW: the Deadline for applications is July 31, 2020

    Click on the link below for more information and an application form.

    Founders’ Bursary Information Poster

    Founders’ Bursary Application Form

  • 2020 Service Excellence Nominees

    Nominations Announced!
    The following is a compiled list of our 2020 nominees for the Service Excellence Awards Program.

    Finalists for each category will be announced at a later date.Board of Trustee Mission

    Carrie Cooke ─ Social Worker ─ Airdrie

    Jacqueline Chaisson ─ Care Services Manager ─ CollegeSide

    Jemila Abdulkadier ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Riverview

    Marilou Paguibitan ─ Health Care Aide ─ Sylvan Lake

    Nadine Buchart ─ Manager Volunteer Services ─ Corporate

    Peggy Andrews ─ Health Care Aide ─ Didsbury

    Stacey Edmunds ─ Occupational Therapist ─ Calgary

    Steven Friesen ─ ­Director, Quality, Best Practices and Research, Quality Care and Service Development ─ Corporate

    Trudy Gryschuk ─ Chaplain ─ Cochrane/Harvest Hills

     

    Excellence in Family &/or Community Engagement

    Carrie Cooke ─ Social Worker ─ Airdrie

    Cheryl Yaciuk ─ Senior Administrative Assistant ─ Sylvan Lake

    Nicola Devoe ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ CollegeSide

     

    Excellence in Health and Safety

    Allison Woods ─ Learning & Development Advisor ─ Calgary

    Ana Julian ─ Physical Therapist ─ Riverview

    Darlene Grasdal ─ Site Manager ─ CollegeSide Gardens

    Fiona Kwong ─ Health Care Aide ─ Calgary

    Frances Buchanan ─ Health Care Aide ─ Harvest Hills

    Hilary Balderston and Rachael Watson ─ Clinical Educator ─ Riverview

    Joanna Boone ─ Rehabilitation Aide ─ CollegeSide

    Lesley MacKinnon ─ Manager Safety ─ Corporate

    Nadine Buchart ─ Manager Volunteer Services

    Paula Buckley ─ Occupational Therapist ─ Calgary

    Pennie Brennan ─ Clinical Educator ─ Didsbury

    Robert Gauthier ─ Maintenance Worker ─ Cochrane

    Sakkara White ─ Health Care Aide ─ Sylvan Lake

    Sandra Hinz ─ Recreation Coordinator ─ Harvest Hills

    Tara Pederson ─ Care Services Manager ─ Riverview

     

    Excellence in Innovation

    Emily Thomson ─ Recreation Therapist ─ Riverview

    Janet Fadugba ─ Care Services Manager ─ Calgary

    Julian Austin ─ Business Solutions Manager ─ Corporate

    Peggy Andrews ─ Health Care Aide ─ Didsbury

    Ruth Allmer ─ Registered Nurse ─ Calgary

    Sriya Arachchilage ─ Registered Nurse ─ Riverview

    Veronica Cook ─ Recreation Therapy Aide ─ Didsbury

    Zahra Garshasbpour ─ Disability and Benefits Coordinator ─ Corporate

     

    Leadership

    Bayou Wolde-Mikael ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Riverview

    Cathy Croeze ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Cochrane

    Chantai Paris ─ Health Care Aide ─ CollegeSide

    Elise Dockstader ─ Social Worker ─ Riverview

    Fiel Ferdinand ─ Care Services Manager ─ Calgary

    Jacqueline Chaisson – Care Services Manager – CollegeSide

    Jibin George ─ Registered Nurse ─ Sylvan Lake

    Jillian Palbom ─ Interim Executive Director Human Resources ─ Corporate

    Joan Smyth ─ Site Manager ─ Didsbury

    Jordanna Haub ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Riverview

    Julian Austin ─ Business Solutions Manager ─ Corporate

    Larina Tremblay ─ Site Administrator ─ CollegeSide

    Lyanne Limbona-Gange ─ Registered Nurse ─ CollegeSide

    Mary Balabas ─ Sr. Administrative Assistant ─ Harvest Hills

    Marzieh Kamali ─ Care Services Manager ─ Calgary

    Melody Gillespie ─ Health Care Aide ─ Sylvan Lake

    Peter Czepuryk ─ Administrator ─ Riverview

    Sharlene Madarang ─ Registered Nurse ─ Riverview

    Sriya Arachchilage ─ Registered Nurse ─ Riverview

    Stephanie Bitango ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Riverview

    Stephanie Schwartz ─ Recreation Therapist ─ Sylvan Lake

    Tara Pederson ─ Care Services Manager ─ Riverview

    Teusdae Johnston ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Didsbury

     

    New Employee Mentor

    Ashley Beazley ─ Health Care Aide ─ Didsbury

    Cherry Ballena ─ Health Care Aide ─ Didsbury

    GP Singh ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Didsbury

    Lisa Beaucage ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Didsbury

    MaryAnne Harder ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Didsbury

    Sriya Arachchilage ─ Registered Nurse ─ Riverview

    Stephanie Schwartz ─ Recreation Therapist ─ Sylvan Lake

     

    Rising Star

    Cassidy Nielsen ─ Recreation Therapist ─ Calgary

    Darren Dressler ─ Chaplain Didsbury/Housing

    Jacqueline Reinholz ─ Occupational Therapy Attendant ─ Riverview

    Jacqueline Shier ─ Volunteer Services Coordinator ─ Cochrane

    Joanne Ysmael ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Didsbury

    Laarni Impang ─ Recreation Therapist ─ Airdrie

    Lynn Curry ─ Clinical Specialist Palliative Care ─ Corporate

    Michelle Orr ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ Didsbury

    Monica C. Johnston ─ Labour Relations Manager ─ Corporate

    Randi Sailer ─ Care Services Manager ─ Calgary

    Stephanie Burke ─ Health Care Aide ─ Sylvan Lake

    Tatiana Quiroz ─ Human Resources Assistant ─ Corporate

     

    Service Excellence

    Alicia Alvarez ─ Recreation Therapy Attendant ─ Riverview

    Aliway Cabalbag ─ Registered Nurse ─ CollegeSide

    Andrea Wright ─ Resident Assessment Instrument Assessor ─ Riverview

    Chris Simon ─ Maintenance Worker ─ Calgary

    Daisy Yabut ─ Health Care Aide ─ Sylvan Lake

    Darlene Lovell ─ Health Care Aide ─ Didsbury

    Dayna Plante ─ Registered Nurse ─ CollegeSide

    Eleonor Cabia-an ─ Health Care Aide ─ Riverview

    Elise Dockstader ─ Social Worker ─ Riverview

    Elizabeth Chacko ─ Health Care Aide ─ CollegeSide

    Emily Thomson ─ Recreation Therapist ─ Riverview

    Erika Malabed ─ Registered Nurse ─ Riverview

    Frances Buchanan ─ Health Care Aide ─ Harvest Hills

    Herbert Pagcu ─ Health Care Aide ─ Riverview

    Jacqueline Chaisson ─ Care Services Manager ─ CollegeSide

    Joel Rodeadilla ─ Health Care Aide ─ Riverview

    Johanevie Ruando ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ CollegeSide

    Julian Austin ─ Business Solutions Manager ─ Corporate

    Karen Watson ─ Licensed Practical Nurse ─ CollegeSide

    Karin Van Goudoever ─ Care Services Manager ─ Harvest Hills

    Kina Bart ─ Recreation Assistant ─ Riverview

    Krystal-Lynn Laforest ─ Scheduling Clerk ─ Calgary

    Lisa Rattray ─ Health Care Aide ─ Didsbury

    Lorne Stengler ─ Maintenance Worker ─ Calgary

    Luisa Parente ─ Manager Bethany Village

    Lynda Bauer ─ Office Assistant ─ Riverview Village

    Maria Peralta ─ Registered Nurse ─ Riverview

    Marilyn Ironstand ─ Health Care Aide ─ CollegeSide

    Theinmozhi (Tanya) Subramanian ─ Scheduling Clerk ─ Calgary

    Thank you to everyone who nominated a fellow coworker and recognizing their hard work and commitment to creating caring communities at Bethany.

  • Blessing of Hands July 13-17, 2020

    The virtual ‘Blessing of Hands’ initiative for employees will take place this week during July 13-17.

    The Blessing of Hands is:

    • A way to recognize the commitment and service of employees
    • Referred to as a ‘Blessing of Hands’ because we bless others when we use our hands to do our work
    • A symbolic practice/ritual because it is our hands which we use the most in our work
    • A beautiful ritual to help people feel connected – to each other and to their work

    When/Where/How:

    Posters have been distributed with an invitation to: “Celebrate and renew the power of your hands through a Blessing of Hands Ceremony.” All Bethany Heroes are invited to participate.  Each of the chaplains will organize and perform the Blessing of Hands ceremony at the dates and times that work best for each of the sites – please see details at the site you work at.

    Normally, the ceremony would involve pouring water over the hands as a ‘spiritual’ blessing is offered. However, in times of social distancing and hand hygiene protocols, this ceremony will offer the choice of a spritzer of distilled water and essential oils or a spritzer of distilled water infused with crystals that will be sprayed into the palms of the hands. The blessing will be offered as employees are rubbing their hands together. Participation is voluntary.

    Click the link to view a virtual Blessing of the Hands prayer from our chaplain Trudy Gryschuk.

  • Safety Bulletin July 2020

    July 24 is International Self-Care Day—and this provides an opportunity to raise awareness about this topic and the important role it plays in leading a healthy lifestyle.

    Self-care is about making choices that help your physical and mental health, such as eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercising. The date chosen for International Self-Care Day (24/7) is a reminder that self-care is important to lifelong health, and its benefits are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    What is self-care?

    Self-care is any intentional act that takes care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood, reduced anxiety and better relationships with oneself and others.

    What isn’t self-care?

    Self-care is not something that we force ourselves to do, or something we don’t enjoy doing. Self-care should be things we do to recharge our batteries rather than things that drain us. Self-care isn’t selfish, in fact it helps us better take care of others!

    Although self-care means different things to different people, see this basic checklist below that can help you find what it means to you:

    • Create a “no” list, with unhealthy habits, such as too much screen time at night. Eat a nutritious, healthy diet
    • Get enough sleep. Adults usually need 7-8 hours of sleep each night
    • Exercise. In contrast to what many people think, exercise is as good for our emotional health as it is for our physical health. It increases serotonin levels, leading to improved mood and energy. Choose a form of exercise that you like!
    • Follow-up with medical care. It is common to put off checkups or visits to the doctor
    • Use relaxation exercises and/or practice meditation
    • Spend enough time with your loved ones
    • Do at least one relaxing activity every day, whether it’s taking a walk or spending 30 minutes unwinding
    • Do at least one pleasurable activity every day; from going to the cinema, to cooking or meeting with friend – socially distancing of course!
    • Look for opportunities to laugh!

    Finally, remember to add self-care to your mental fitness plan that we explored last month to boost your overall health and wellness.

    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

  • Health Care Aide Directory – Time to Renew

    Deadline June 30!

    All Health Care Aides (HCAs) must renew and have an active status in the Alberta HCA Directory. If you have not renewed by June 30, you will be ineligible to work at Bethany.

  • Update Newsletter — May/June 2020 Issue

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

    From stories about our Heroes of Bethany to the latest HCA Directory Renewal you’ll find it here in Bethany’s May/June Update!

    Click Here to view the PDF version.

  • Safety Bulletin June 2020

    Do you have a Mental Fitness Plan?

    Thinking about your emotional well-beingand assessing your mental health regularly has never been more relevant. Dedicating a short time weekly to your mental fitness will reap significant benefits to help you feel rejuvenated and more confident.
    Here some simple ways to practice daily:

    • “Collect” positive emotional moments -Recall times when you have experienced pleasure, comfort, calmness, confidence, or other positive emotions
    • Exercise–Regular physical activity improves psychological well-being and can reduce depression and anxiety. Joining an exercise group or a gym can also reduce loneliness, since it connects you with a new set of people sharing a common goal
    • Enjoy hobbies–Bring balance to your life by exploring something you enjoy free of the pressure of everyday tasks. It also keeps your brain active
    • Keep a journal–Jotting down your thoughts can help you gain perspective, release tension and even boost your immune system
    • Share humour–Laughing can go a long way to keeping us mentally fit
    • Treat yourself well–Cook a good meal or have a bubble bath. Call a friend or relative you haven’t talked to in ages. Whatever it is, do it just for you
    • Enjoy Nature –Go for a walk in the woods or at a park. Plant flowers and vegetables and set up a bird feeder to draw nature to your surroundings
    • Social Connection –Plan virtual visits with family and friends using Zoom, GoTo, or FaceTime

    Click here to download a template for committing to a weekly or monthly mental health plan. Take time to write down your goals and stick with it!

    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

  • National Nursing Week 2020 is May 11-17

    The theme this year Nurses: A Voice to Lead — Nursing the World to Health has never been more relevant as it is today. The theme was developed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to showcase how nurses are central to addressing a wide range of health challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

    Nurses have always been a vital part of Bethany Care Society. They are often the ones with whom patients and their family members have strong personal relationships, working tirelessly to provide day-to-day and even minute-by-minute care. And now more than ever, our nurses on the front lines to provide care to our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    So, while we feel that National Nurses Week is important every year, this year, we want say an extra thank you to this special group of healthcare providers.

    Please look out for reminders about National Nurses Week at our sites and on social media.

  • NAOSH (North American Occupational Safety and Health) Week and Mental Health Week

    The North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week is a continent-wide event spanning Canada, United States and Mexico. The goal during NAOSH Week is to focus the attention of employers, employees, partners, and the public on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community.

    With the unprecedented global pandemic at the forefront of our daily lives, we will be recognizing Mental Health Week alongside NAOSH to help our community cope and thrive during these stressful times. It is important to remember that mental illness can affect anyone regardless of age, education, income or culture. Mental health is the state of your psychological and emotional well-being. It is a necessary resource for living a healthy life and a major factor in overall health.

    During this week we want to extend our gratitude and appreciation to all employees and thank you for your dedication to caring in a safe and healthy way so we can protect our residents and each other during these challenging times.