Category: Executive Team

Expressing thanks may be one of the simplest ways to feel better

Did you know that the word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness? Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives, and people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships.

People feel and express gratitude in multiple ways. They can apply it to the past (retrieving positive memories and being thankful for elements of childhood or past blessings), the present (not taking good fortune for granted as it comes) and the future (maintaining a hopeful and optimistic attitude). Gratitude is a quality that individuals can successfully cultivate further.

Ways to cultivate gratitude
Gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have instead of always reaching for something new in the hopes it will make them happier, or thinking they can’t feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met. Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. Although it may feel uncomfortable at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice.

Here are some ways to cultivate gratitude on a regular basis:

Write a thank-you note — You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself.

Practice Gratitude — Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the gifts you’ve received each day. Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number — such as three to five things — that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you.

“…practice gratitude to honour what’s ordinary about our lives, because that is what’s truly extraordinary.”
— Brene BrownIf you have any questions, or would simply like to share your ideas, please contact me directly at lisa.watson@bethanyseniors.com.

Kind regards,
— Lisa

A Matter of Perspective

The importance of perspective is becoming clearer to me all the time. Over the last few weeks, I have encountered challenges in moving some organizational initiatives forward. I have been met with resistance and disagreement and it has caused me to pause and reflect on why this is happening and why others do not see my point of view. The conclusion that I have come to is that it is all a matter of perspective.

I am a fan of the work of Wayne Dyer, a self-help author and motivational speaker. One of my favourite quotes is:

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” – Wayne Dyer

The above quote encourages us to see things from a different perspective. By doing so, we can raise our own awareness and potentially find better solutions and ways of doing things. The more diverse perspectives you have in addressing a particular challenge or problem, the more likely you will land on a very creative solution. A multitude of perspectives can have a great impact on an organization’s ability to be innovative and creative.

As individuals, we filter everything by our personal history, our beliefs, motivations and concepts that we hold true. That said, it is important that we understand that they are not necessarily true for other people. By considering the perspectives of others, we bring compassion and empathy to our relationships. As Dyer states, “the true value of another perspective lies within seeing more of a situation and therefore being able to make a better judgement for ourselves and for the other person(s) too”. If we don’t pay attention to perspective, we can often misinterpret what is going on around us.

It can take courage to see the perspective of others, to acknowledge it and potentially move forward in a different direction. I would also argue it requires discipline to approach situations this way. However, if we do so we may often find a better way to move forward and have more positive relationships with others.

I would encourage you to think about this as you encounter challenges in your own lives. Try and understand where the other person is coming from. In doing so, we all benefit.As always, I welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have. Please send them to me at Nancy.Hughes@bethanyseniors.com

Regards,
— Nancy

Remembrance

Many of us will be wearing a poppy on our left lapel this week, close to our heart, as Remembrance Day approaches on Monday, November 11.

Some of us will help porter residents to Remembrance Day ceremonies at our sites, where we’ll gather together to pay tribute to those who have served to protect our freedoms  – in times of war, conflict and peace. We’ll pause for a moment of silence to pay respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives to preserve the way of life we all enjoy today.

Our Bethany communities are home to a number of veterans, and we owe them a particular debt of gratitude for their service.  On November 11^th, I hope you’ll join me in taking a bit of time to reflect on the great privilege we have at Bethany – because now we get to serve them.Wishing you a great week of Service Excellence,
— Gail

“How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time” — Unknown

Regards,
— Doreen

Self Care through Healthy Eating

October is Healthy Workplace Month – an annual celebration designed to promote workplace health. As a mother of two teenagers, I have always been talking to them about the benefits of eating a healthy well-balanced diet, exercising and getting enough sleep. However, I realized that I often didn’t listen to my own advice. So, over the past six months, I have been intentionally focusing on my own self-care and feeling so much better as a result – both physically and mentally.

Diet, exercise and sleep are directly related to how we feel throughout the day and how we interact with those people around us. They can also help to relieve some of the stress we are feeling. Good food is fuel for energy and immunity, but eating healthy is hard work. It takes planning and preparation! Here are a few hints that may help you eat nutritious foods.

Eat Breakfast – Breakfast kick starts the metabolism and stops us from being so hungry we grab whatever is available-doughnuts, muffins, chips. Breakfast should include protein, carbohydrate and some fat. Add some protein powder to a frozen fruit and almond milk smoothie. Hard boil some eggs in the evening and you have a few for the week, add a piece of fresh fruit and you are on your way.

Stock up on Healthier Snacks – Have a stash of non-perishable snacks for guilt-free snacking or to round out your lunch. Dried fruit, nuts, canned fruit in water or unsweetened applesauce, whole wheat crackers, mini boxes of whole-grain cereal, rice cakes, peanut butter, granola, protein bars and tuna.

Don’t skip Lunch – Eating regularly helps to stabilize your blood sugar and will help you from being tired and cranky and will keep you away from the vending machine.

Drink Water – Fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration.

Keep in Mind!

• Consider the supermarket as your fast food restaurant-many have pre-washed fruits and veggies as well as yogurt, low-fat cheese, sushi, wraps and salads.
• Chicken and fish from the drive thru are not always healthy! Breaded, fried and on white bread, some chicken or fish sandwiches have as many or more calories and fat than the “burger”.
• Order a sub or sandwich on whole wheat bread and skip the sauces.
• Order a side salad instead of fries and use a small amount of the dressing.

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

Intergenerational Programming

Guided by Vision 2020 and our commitment to working with partners to advance our Mission, Bethany has partnered with Summit Kids to operate a daycare facility at our Bethany Riverview location. The daycare, known as Summit Start, is scheduled to open on September 30, 2019 and will serve up to 84 children ranging in age from 1 – 5 years. Not only is this a wonderful amenity to have on site, it also provides our respective organizations with an opportunity to provide intergenerational programming; a unique approach that allows for people of all ages and backgrounds to socialize, learn and grow together. At Bethany, this intergenerational approach will allow children and seniors to come together to share and engage with each other. This can take a variety of shapes and forms – from a single event to weekly scheduled activities.

Intergenerational programs have been shown to yield many benefits to participants such as learning opportunities and collaboration. These programs give children the opportunity to form solid relationships with older individuals and receive the benefit of their wisdom and insight and they tend to foster a happier, healthier environment for everyone – children, seniors and staff alike! Studies show that seniors who participate in these programs often get more activity and exercise; even residents with cognitive or mobility issues benefit from the added activity and stimulation.

While intergenerational programs have clear benefits for children and seniors, they also have a strong benefit for society-at-large as cultural traditions and values are passed down and preserved for future generations. They can also help dispel negative stereotypes and help promote tolerance and understanding.

Summit Kids and Bethany will work in partnership to prepare an initial assessment of need and then identify programming opportunities based on mutual goals and objectives. We are looking forward to getting this important work underway and believe it will create positive and meaningful relationships that not only improve quality of life for our residents but support our campus of care model allowing residents to age in community.

As always, I welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have.  Please send them to me at nancy.hughes@bethanyseniors.com.

Regards,
Nancy

Connections That Last

A few days ago, someone came to reception at Bethany Corporate and asked for me. It was a former fundraising campaign committee member that I worked within the early 2000s. He had seen my name on something around Bethany and I’m so glad he stopped by to say hello.

We worked together on a small fundraising campaign in Calgary and lost touch after that. I asked him how he was doing these days and I learned that his wife is now a resident at Bethany Riverview. He talked to me about how difficult it was for him to make the decision to move her into care. Her dementia just became too difficult to manage on his own.

His eyes sparkled as he told me how wonderful the care team at Bethany has been to both of them, and how much that has eased his mind. His wife was an accomplished writer. Having her words and language, that have been so important to her, slip away during the course of the disease was incredibly difficult. She was angry a lot of the time. These days when my friend comes to visit her, she’s often smiling and interacting with her caregivers. They make her feel special.

Relationships can slip away, too, during the busy-ness of our lives. His visit was a good reminder to me to take the time to stay connected. Whether it’s old friends, new friends or work colleagues…we never really know what people are going through until we take the time to pause, connect, and ask “How are you doing these days?”

Hope you’re having a great week. Thanks for all you do.

— Gail

Recently, we received news that there was an opening for my parents to be admitted into a long-term care facility where they reside in BC. Although we have been preparing for this moment for some time, it did not happen without anxiety felt by both my parents and the rest of my family. The one thing that stands out to me is how much the staff have impacted my parents’ view of being in their new home. They have felt so welcomed and cared for that it has really helped with their transition. When I face time them, I can see their smiles and I am reassured that they are treated with kindness.

Due to this personal experience, I have a greater appreciation for what we do here at Bethany and wanted to extend my gratitude to all of our staff that go out of their way to make Bethany home for our residents.

It’s hard to believe, but it has been just over a year since the Corporate team moved to our beautiful new home in Bethany Riverview. Last August, the team excitedly arrived at the Riverview Campus, toured the care centre and settled into our new space. As I reflect on the past year, I am so proud to have seen our mission come to life for our Corporate team – we truly have been creating caring communities at Riverview.

Being connected to Bethany Riverview’s care centre and sharing a campus with our Housing colleagues and tenants has allowed the Corporate team to be immersed into the lives of our tenants, residents and their families. It has provided us all with the ability to connect in a meaningful way with those we serve.

For me, it has been the simple everyday life experiences that have impacted me the most: seeing the smiles on the faces of tenants, residents and families as they enjoy a meal together at the Original Food Company Bistro, connecting with care staff as we wait in line for the microwaves at lunch, and observing one of our residents enjoying the new outdoor furniture on the patio reading a great book every afternoon.

My office overlooks one of the courtyards and this summer I have loved seeing our staff, residents and families enjoying the beautiful gardens and walking paths. My favourite day this summer has been Thursdays when the Bethany Riverview’s rec team hosts a summer party for our residents in the courtyard. Fun decorations are put up everywhere, ice cream floats are made, and volunteers from both care and corporate staff come together to ensure our residents enjoy a fun afternoon in the sunshine, often with family members participating in the festivities.

Creating caring communities happens every day at Bethany Riverview and across Bethany. What a privilege it is to be a part of this great community!

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

Sensory Integration

As part of our commitment to Vision 2020 and our pillar of Organizational Excellence, we have included an initiative in this year’s Business Plan that focuses on Sensory Integration and the development of an organization-wide Sensory Program Framework. This work is important in promoting innovation and improving the quality of care and experience for those that we serve.

The literature shows that the integration of sensory stimulation in day to day care is particularly effective in stimulating emotional wellbeing and promoting engagement of those living with dementia. It is well known that as we age, we often experience deterioration in our senses. For those living with dementia, there are additional challenges as networks within the brain change and senses are altered so an individual may feel some things less and some things more.

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 offered across the organization that provide sensory stimulation for residents with dementia. These programs are supported by our recreation departments at each site. These include, but are not limited to, music programs, art programs, pet therapy programs, doll therapy, gardening and baking programs. One program offering that is more recent is equine therapy which is currently offered at three of our Bethany locations. Equine therapy involves a trained facilitator working with residents and leading them through interactions with the horses that range from grooming/brushing them, observing them and leading/handling them.

Equine therapy has many therapeutic benefits for those with dementia. Studies show that the interactions with the horses contribute to an improvement in mood and a decrease in agitation and anxiety. This is consistent with the feedback from our Bethany teams that offer this program. In fact, the feedback about the impact on our residents is heartwarming – the joy on the faces of our residents is amazing and the opportunity for residents to be “hands-on” is wonderful.

I am honoured to be a part of the work in this area and extend my gratitude to those who make this possible for our residents. These programs do so much to enhance the experience and quality of life of those that we serve and in creating caring communities.

As always, I welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have. Please send them to me at nancy.hughes@bethanyseniors.com.

Regards,
— Nancy