Category: Executive Team

A WAVE of Recognition

Have you noticed the new Recognition boards installed across Bethany? These boards and newly designed cards provide a great opportunity for each of us to recognize the great work being done across Bethany.

Recognizing your coworkers for good work starts with having good base phrases to say or write on a recognition card. Here are some examples of compliments you can use to express gratitude, appreciation, and encouragement for their hard work:

• Having you on the team makes a huge difference.
• You always find a way to get it done – and done well!
• It’s really admirable how you always see projects through from conception to completion.
• Thank you for always speaking up in team meetings and providing a unique perspective.
• Your efforts at strengthening our culture are noticed.
• Fantastic work!
• Even when the going gets tough, you continue to have the best attitude!
• It’s amazing how you always help new employees get up to speed.
• Thanks for always being willing to lend a hand.
• The pride you take in your work is truly inspiring.
• You’re so great to work with.

Recognizing each other is part of our Service Excellence journey. I encourage each of you to take the time and express gratitude to each other. Let’s thank people frequently and cultivate a culture of appreciation and gratitude.

– Lisa

Recently I’ve spent a considerable amount of time focusing on one of my Bethany responsibilities – The Bethany Care Foundation. Much of my time is spent addressing the more formal needs of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and its committees. As a result, my thoughts have been on the Foundation and its staff’s primary role of raising funds for the needs of all of Bethany’s facilities and programs.

At this time of year many charities, including our Foundation, are entering into a very important giving period. You may know that the kick off for this period starts tomorrow (November 28) with Giving Tuesday, when many of us reflect on how we can ‘give back’ in a way that is personally meaningful. I particularly like this short video that I think captures what Giving Tuesday is all about. Giving Tuesday, following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is a day that invites our broader communities to think about what they can do to help others, whether by keeping informed about the great work done by voluntary organizations, by giving their time as a volunteer, or by making a charitable donation to their favourite causes.

As voluntary and charitable organizations, both Bethany Care Society and Bethany Care Foundation hope to benefit from the goodwill that is created from Giving Tuesday. Thank you for all the great work that you, the People of Bethany, do on a daily basis for both organizations throughout the whole year. Your excellent service to our residents and tenants is what makes people think of Bethany when they have an opportunity to show their support on days like Giving Tuesday.

As always, I welcome ideas, suggestions and any questions that you may have. Please feel free to send them to me at alasdair.smith@bethanyseniors.com.

Take care,

– Alasdair

PS: If you are interested in finding out more about the Foundation, please visit: http://bethanycarefoundation.com.

Last week I participated in a two-day session with other leaders at Bethany exploring two domains of the LEADS Canada framework for leadership development. We delved into “Achieving Results” and “Developing Coalitions”. I am encouraged by the incredible passion many of our leaders have for their work. They care deeply about creating a home where our residents will thrive and their families feel supported, along what can be a difficult journey. I know this passion is shared by many people at all levels of the organization, for I see it when I encounter you while visiting a unit, or hear of it from a colleague.

It is my hope that you are channeling your passion into daily care, and also into how you imagine your daily routines might be. What could you do differently to create a better resident experience? Please share that with your leader and your team. Your ideas and insights are valuable. For no one in our community, whether they are a formal leader or an informal leader (that’s everyone), can do it alone.  When we work together our care can be so much more meaningful for everyone involved. Our shared expertise and partnerships with other organizations, when grounded in our mission, are invaluable. Thank you for being a part of this.

Blessings,

– Daranne

Bethany Care Society is celebrating yet another significant step forward in the redevelopment of Bethany Cochrane project. The groundbreaking of Phase 1A of this project is eagerly anticipated for spring 2018.

In October 2016, Bethany announced the proposed three-phase redevelopment for a new Bethany Cochrane “Campus of Care for Seniors” which envisions market and affordable housing for seniors, as well as supportive living options and long-term care.

Recognizing the imminent needs of the Town of Cochrane’s aging population, Bethany has received approval from the Board of Directors to proceed with 32 market rate Lodge Housing units, deemed Phase 1A. This milestone marks the beginning of construction of the Bethany Cochrane redevelopment.

Bethany is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the government funding applications to determine next steps in terms of future project phasing. As a non-profit Society, funding from the Government of Alberta is a critical component of any major project.

Since the late 1980’s, Bethany has had the privilege of being the only provider of long-term care in the Cochrane community. This redevelopment project supports the Town’s overall goal of providing a diversity of housing for its citizens. Bethany remains committed to evolving to meet the housing needs of all seniors in Cochrane.

Progress updates will be shared as the “Campus of Care for Seniors” redevelopment project continues to evolve. Open dialogue is a valuable commodity at Bethany. Those with questions are encouraged to contact: askBethanyCochrane@bethanyseniors.com

This weekend we remembered the sacrifice made by the women and men who served in Canada’s military. Growing up, this day was an important one for my family. I remember every year from the age of 6 onward attending two services on November 11; laying wreaths in memory of my grandfather and father who served in the First World War and Second World War respectively.

As a child I loved to hear the stories about my father and his service. My dad enlisted at age 16 and when he arrived at basic training he was sent home for being underage. At 18 he was back and spent his career serving his country. At his funeral we were surrounded by all things military. As a six year old I was in awe of the ceremony and how he was honored for his service. I cherish the buttons from his dress uniform; mementos that are important reminders of his call to serve his country.

Since moving from rural PEI to Alberta I have always paused at 11 a.m. to remember the service of my family but also of all those who served and continue to serve. Last year I was privileged to once again lay a wreath in memory of my father in my hometown.

I am a proud daughter and a proud Canadian…Lest We Forget.

As always I welcome your comments.

– Jennifer

Moving Forward with Resident and Family Engagement

Over the last few years there has been a significant shift in Continuing Care towards greater engagement of residents and families in the delivery of care. This shift is reflected in the current Accreditation Standards, Continuing Care Health Services Standards and the Health Quality Council of Alberta surveys. All of these speak to the importance of involving residents and families in the development of care goals so that they are customized and reflect the needs, values and choices of the resident. An emerging person-centered approach in health care is engaging residents and families beyond individual care decisions and partnering with them in planning and design decisions that contribute to the development of programs and services within Supportive Living and Continuing Care. This fall, Bethany was given an opportunity to participate in a collaborative program with the University of Calgary that supports this work.

Bethany is partnering with the University of Calgary’s Scholars Academy Cohort Program which provides students across faculties to choose voluntary work within the community that supports their learning. Students from Medicine, Social Sciences and Business will come together to contribute their perspectives and skills in the design and development of a resident and family engagement strategy for Bethany. This strategy will be used to help align Bethany’s programs, service planning and delivery with national standards. Their work will contribute to improving and enhancing resident and family engagement approaches and opportunities over the next year.

This work is timely and aligned with Bill 22 (The Resident and Family Councils Act) which the NDP government tabled in the Alberta legislature on October 31, 2017. This Bill acknowledges the crucial role that resident and family councils play in creating caring and supportive environments and ensures that their voice is heard on issues including food, care services, programs and activities.

This is very important work and all of us have an important role to play in engaging our residents and families as we move forward. I look forward to working with you on this exciting journey.

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

Regards,

– Nancy

When I talk to people outside of the People of Bethany team, I often find myself explaining to them all of the different types of services we perform in meeting our mission of Creating Caring Communities. I sometimes wonder, however, if this is something I should be sharing, as well, with all of you – the Bethany team.

Many of you will remember that, back in February, Bethany was reviewed in detail by a team of surveyors from Accreditation Canada. This review was conducted in all of our care centres and was intended to evaluate how Bethany, as a care provider, was performing in that role. As you know, Bethany received its award of ‘Accredited with Exemplary Standing’ – a result of which we are all justifiably proud, especially those of us who contribute to the continuing care parts of Bethany’s work.

It is important as well that we all have an understanding and appreciation of the other parts of Bethany’s work. One of these other parts is Bethany’s role as a housing management body. This is the part of Bethany that is recognized by the provincial government (under a Ministerial order) to manage several affordable housing projects on behalf of the Alberta Social Housing Corporation. It is also the mechanism by which the government oversees the operations of Bethany’s affordable supportive living programs. This week, it is the turn of the People of Bethany working in this area to be reviewed. A small team of reviewers will be on site at Bethany (in Corporate Services and at some of our sites) to review our records and processes to ensure we are meeting the high standards that the government expects of all housing management bodies in the province.

I hope you will join me in providing a warm welcome to the review team as they go about their work. I feel confident that Bethany will again be held in high regard by the reviewers who visit us.

As always, I welcome ideas, suggestions and any questions that you may have.  Please feel free to send them to me at alasdair.smith@bethanyseniors.com.

Take care,

– Alasdair

This week in Canada, health care communities are celebrating Spiritual and Religious Care Awareness Week as they recognize the value of spiritual well-being for patients and residents in care. As a faith-based organization we have prioritized this aspect of care since our beginning. In recent decades, studies in neuroscience and psychology have affirmed the value of this priority through evidence-based research and practice.

Chaplains at each of our sites offer a specialized body of knowledge and practice that uniquely supports our residents, tenants and often their families in the journey of aging. However, every staff member plays a role in Bethany’s holistic approach to care that includes spiritual well-being. Being attentive to a person’s story, what gives them joy, hope or alternately causes them distress allows you to create a meaningful, personalized moment in your provision of care.

I invite you this week to engage with your chaplain as you consider your mutual contribution to caring that creates space for the spiritual expression of each person who lives and works with us.

Throughout the week chaplains at each site will be hosting “tea for your soul,” an expression of gratitude for your collaboration in spiritual nurture and an opportunity to bless the work you do if that is meaningful for you. We hope you might receive our special “cards of blessing” as a reminder of this appreciation.

Gratefully,

– Daranne

It’s official – Fall has arrived! Our long hot days of summer have been replaced with cool frosty mornings and the leaves quickly falling from the trees. I always love the Fall. Having lived in Australia for half of my life, I missed the changing seasons. For me, September and the change of season is a fresh start and refresh. Kids go back to school and we all settle back into our normal routines after the lazy days of summer. This provides us all with an opportunity to focus on safety in our personal and professional lives.

Every successful school year begins with safety. Did you know that by getting rid of school zones and setting straight forward and consistent playground zone hours across Calgary there has been a substantial reduction in vehicle related injuries to both pedestrians and motorists? Such an easy change, yet so effective in enhancing safety for everyone.

Bethany is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all. What simple changes can we do at work to enhance the safety for employees and residents? Improving safety performance and preventing workplace accidents is made easier when employees lend a hand. Consider these 5 simple steps that you can use every day at Bethany:

1. Identify hazards – think about the tasks you perform and what could go wrong and cause an accident.
2. Plan ahead – before starting a task, think about the PPE, equipment and materials you will be working with and what you would need to do in the event of an emergency.
3. Stay alert – pay attention while you work and give each task your full attention and avoid distractions.
4. Ask questions – ensure you understand a safety rule or procedure and ask your supervisor if you are dealing with a new procedure or piece of equipment.
5. Take near misses seriously – all near misses should be reported and taken as a warning that something’s wrong and needs to be corrected. According to the National Safety Council, 70% of all accidents are preceded by one or more near misses.

Please look out for each other and be safe!

– Lisa

Over the past two weeks I have been visiting some of my immediate family in Scotland, including spending time with friends and relatives around this small country. As I haven’t been to Scotland for more than three years, in my eyes, some of these people have aged a lot, and far more than I think or hope I have aged in the same period. Some of the aging process has been in how they look or move about, but mostly it has been in their changes in attitudes to certain things around them. This may be a well known fact to many of you at Bethany who work more directly with our residents and their families than I generally do. It has however been a bit of a revelation to me and I hope that those recent first hand personal experiences will help to give me a better understanding of those working and living at Bethany.

There are also many things that we, as individuals from many different professional backgrounds, bring to our work in caring for our residents and tenants. These are the professional and technical skills that we all have learned and continue to practice as team members at Bethany and which are of utmost importance in creating the caring communities that we all want Bethany to be recognized for. As part of the performance management process, all of us will be having discussions with our supervisors about our own work and how our own individual performance of that work, through our own eyes and in the eyes of others, contributes to the lives of our residents and tenants. This is an important step in the process of self reflection and understanding that enables us to live our lives, both personally and at work, with greater satisfaction. My hope is that we all embrace our new performance management process with open minds and make it successful.

As always, I value your comments and suggestions.

Take care,

– Alasdair