Category: News

Congratulations to Bethany Cochrane’s Adult Day Program (ADP) for being recognized by Continuing Care Health Services Standards (CCHSS) for their excellent work during a recent audit, achieving 100 per cent compliance. Prior to an audit, Sue Morgan, supervisor of the ADP, prepares by meeting with the Alberta Health Services (AHS) home care manager, Bethany’s quality and resident safety manager and the site administrator of Bethany Cochrane to discuss each standard. Sue says audits are an excellent time for continuous improvement, to reflect on our practices and review the client’s records to ensure all the information required is current. ADP is often the first opportunity for Bethany to showcase its services and care to potential clients and make a great first impression. Sue strives to have our clients and their caregivers feel supported and that their needs are being met at Bethany.

Before clients join the program, Sue meets each prospective client and their caregiver in their own home to discuss the program, their needs and what their goals and expectations are which forms the basis for their care plan. Sue ensures that she understands each client’s individual needs, likes and dislikes. Continuous improvement is exemplified through the adult day program, by trying new approaches to innovate, grow and improve services. Programs are based on reflection surveys and clients are encouraged to review their activities at the end of each day and comment on what they enjoyed, disliked or how they might change it moving forward. The group is very active and the programs reflect that, with trips to car showrooms and other exciting outings.

The adult day program touches on many aspects of service excellence beyond a sense of ownership and pride and continuous improvement. Sue says that without communications and teamwork between Bethany and the AHS case managers, the program would not be as successful. Sue meets quarterly with all the home care case managers to discuss clients and touch base on how clients are managing in their group in addition to how their caregivers are doing. Sue feels there is nothing more rewarding than knowing she made someone’s day a little easier and brought some comfort to them. Bethany employees provide high levels of service excellence on a daily basis, and Sue recommends recognizing and acknowledging this to inspire others to get involved.

Thank you to Sue and team for going above and beyond to achieve 100 per cent compliance, while embracing clients and focusing on resident and family-centred care at Bethany. The adult day program is a great example of service excellence at Bethany.

By: Val Trotter, Director of Service Excellence & Resident Experience

I was recently reflecting on our Service Excellence standard: “We respect and nurture spirit and spirituality as part of our holistic approach to care.” It reminded me of an article I read that spoke to purpose and meaning in your work. As an employee, I share the responsibility in the creation of purpose of work with the organization that I work for. Employees that feel that their work has meaning and purpose actively take on the responsibility for creating how they experience their work. In turn, the organization helps employees connect the work they do to the impact that it has.

There is a story about President Kennedy who, while visiting NASA, saw a man in the hallway with a mop and bucket. The President walked over, shook his hand and introduced himself and then asked the man what he did at NASA. To which the man replied, “Sir, I help put a man on the moon.”

Purpose may seem like a mysterious thing. When we have many responsibilities all seemingly happening at once, it can seem short-lived and perhaps even obscure because it becomes easier to focus on all the tasks that we have to do and harder to focus on the big picture. But, when you hear the outcomes of that work, the stories of successes and the smiles of happy residents, tenants, families and staff, purpose suddenly becomes obvious and even invigorating. We can all make the choice to engage with all you’ve got and make the connection between the work that you do and its impact. We may not be sending the man to the moon, but no matter what job we have within Bethany, each one of us has an impact on the experience of the residents and tenants that we serve. Most importantly, each one of us is, “Creating Caring Communities”.

Please see the list below for Christmas service dates.

On November 20th, Bethany Calgary opened the doors to its newest care unit, the Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Unit on level 4. Through Bethany’s partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS), the Alternate Level of Care Unit provides 42 beds for transitional care for residents who no longer require acute care services, are medically stable and are being assessed for a designated living option or returning home.

This program helps meet a critical need in the Calgary area. Bethany will provide transitional care needs in a more appropriate setting than an acute care environment when residents no longer require this level of care. After
several months of planning, we look forward to welcoming residents. Thank you to our dedicated staff for making this change possible and contributing to a successful opening of the ALC Unit. If you have any questions about our new unit, please contact Peter Czepuryk, site Administrator or Cynthia Slatcher, Care Services Manager.

Stay on your feet and stay active

Let’s face it, falls can happen to anyone at any time, but the reality is, that as people get older our risk of falling increases. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults (over the age of 65). One in three Alberta seniors will fall once a year. With or without an injury, seniors who experience a fall may develop a fear of falling. This can lead to restricting activity which can increase their risk for another fall.

“It is important to encourage seniors to get out and stay active in their communities,” says Emily Post, Provincial Continuing Care. “It is easy to think that restricting activity may reduce your risk of falling, but it can negatively affect your quality of life, contribute to physical inactivity and decreased muscle mass and lead to social isolation.”

November is Falls Prevention Month. This year’s theme is “Finding Balance – Stay Independent. Prevent Falls”.

“Falls risk management and prevention is everyone’s responsibility. I challenge you to look around your environment and find something that could increase someone’s risk of falling – this might be in your home, at work or in your community – and make a change. We all have a role to play to help prevent a fall before it happens.”

While Fall Prevention Month is geared toward seniors, it’s a good opportunity to remind all Albertans about the risk of falling. As temperatures drop, the risk of snow and ice increases. Every year, thousands of Albertans are hurt falling on icy roads and walkways. Injury prevention experts say the best way to avoid falls on ice and snow is to walk like a penguin.

• Stay low
• Feet pointed out
• Walk flat footed
• Use your arms for balance

It’s not the fastest or most graceful way to walk, but it will help keep you on your feet.

To learn more about Finding Balance – Stay Independent. Prevent Falls. Visit www.findingbalancealberta.ca/2017-campaign/.

Article by: Alberta Health Services

In early 2017, Bethany Care Society and Alberta Health Services (AHS) undertook the challenge of developing the first Alternative Level of Care (ALC) unit in the Calgary Zone. Working in close collaboration, Bethany and AHS have turned this challenge into a reality. Yesterday marked the official unveiling of Bethany Calgary’s repurposed 42-bed Level 4 Heartland unit in the city’s northwest quadrant.

Designed to address the community-based needs of Calgary Zone’s aging population, the new ALC unit will enable Bethany staff to provide services tailored to seniors currently in acute care hospitals who no longer need acute care support, but do require a subacute level of care.

ALC staff are highly trained to assess a resident’s function, cognition and health. The overarching goal of this program is to determine the most appropriate designated living options for these seniors (home, lodge, supportive living or long term care).

Residents of the former Level 4 Heartland unit have chosen alternate neighbourhoods within the Bethany Calgary community.

Bethany will continue to work closely with AHS over the coming weeks to determine specialized roles within the ALC unit, and to provide education and training for staff. Those with questions are encouraged to contact: Peter Czepuryk, Site Administrator of Bethany Calgary, at 403.284.6013 or askBethanyALC@bethanyseniors.com.

– Jennifer McCue, President and Chief Executive Officer
Nancy Hughes, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer