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Category: News

  • A Message from the President and CEO

    Reaching New Heights!

    Over the course of my career I have been privileged to learn, grow and experience many things. This week I was able to raise awareness about dementia and the wonderful care that the People of Bethany provide everyday and check something off my bucket list. I don’t remember when I decided that I wanted to climb a construction crane but I have been talking about it for several years. To finally be able to do this at Bethany Riverview was thrilling.

    I was humbled by the support I received and so appreciative for everyone who showed up to cheer me on. It was especially exciting for me that my son could come and watch his mom do something that is somewhat out of her norm! I love what I do and when I reached the top of the crane and looked down at our new building, I was excited to see our vision coming to life.

    I have reflected on the experience and I am so happy that I pushed past my fears and allowed myself to experience the excitement of the climb, the beautiful view from the top and a once in a life time opportunity to operate the crane for a few moments (supervised, of course)!

    Thank you to each of you for supporting me by making a donation, cheering me on and for the words of encouragement. Every day I am inspired by the work that you do. I’m honored to serve the People of Bethany.

    – Jennifer

  • Bethany Chaplain Wins Award

    Congratulations to Chaplain Jennifer Hauck (Bethany Calgary) who was honoured with an Excellence in Institutional Ministry award from the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC). The accolade recognizes a person who has made a significant contribution to and demonstrated excellence in professional practice as exemplified by the CASC Standards of Practice. Jennifer has a depth of knowledge and dedicated presence with residents and family members that makes her a welcome companion on the aging journey. She is also instrumental in cultivating the next generation of chaplains by mentoring students as a preceptor in the Clinical Pastoral Education program.

  • A Message from the CFO

    In the corporate world, companies are monitored and analyzed based on how well they do financially from one period to the next. This is done for each fiscal year and, on an interim basis, for each fiscal quarter. You may have noticed in the media last week that the major Canadian banks, for example, issued their second quarter results, which came with a variety of comments about how well they were performing against their financial plans and in relation to the other banks.

    Although Bethany operates in the ‘not-for-profit’ world – both Bethany Care Society and The Bethany Care Foundation are registered Canadian charities – we also have our financial results reviewed by an independent auditor. Both organizations have a fiscal year that starts on April 1 and ends on March 31. As a result, for the past couple of months, the focus of work for the Finance department has been on closing out the financial records for last year, preparing for the audit team’s arrival at the beginning of May, and responding to their questions about our financial results, the values of our assets and liabilities, and how the information and numbers were determined. I am very pleased to say that this work is now complete and that, once again, the staff met the high standards that the auditors expected.

    For some people, the thought of having their work monitored, reviewed and perhaps even challenged, is not very pleasant. Thankfully, the team is accustomed to this level of scrutiny, and we use this process as one of the ways we monitor the quality of work the Finance department, and the many others who support the department, do for Bethany.

    No matter where people work at Bethany – whether working as a frontline care giver, or as a maintenance or support worker at any of our care centres or housing apartments, or in a Corporate Office position (such as in Finance), or as one of our managers or other leaders in the organization – it is important we celebrate the importance of teamwork. We all have the opportunity to contribute our special skills and experiences in the best ways we can.

    I want to congratulate the employees who were involved in Bethany’s 2016-2017 financial audits, and to thank them all for the pride they take in their work. This is just one of the important ways these People of Bethany contribute to our residents and families in Creating Caring Communities.

    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

  • Bethany Staff Profile: Janine Ollenberger

    National Nurses Week was held May 8-14. Thank you to all of our caring nurses at Bethany for helping to improve the lives of residents every day.Janine Ollenberger
    Care Services Manager, Bethany Calgary

    How did you start your career?
    I went to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and got my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Ever since high school I knew that I wanted to care for others and be of service. I believe we were put on this earth to serve others and that’s why I chose nursing.

    How has your career progressed over the years? When did you start at Bethany?
    Long-term care has always been my passion. I always worked in geriatrics and had another nursing job on the side. I worked in acute care, private nursing, palliative nursing, and I worked with Canadian Blood Services. I am the best nurse I can be when I’m with the seniors. Out of 70 graduates from my university only two of us chose Geriatrics. It’s not a common choice when you’re a new grad. I’ve been at Bethany for over three years.

    What is your favourite part about being a nurse?
    Sometimes, you’re the only smiling face a resident may see that day. Some residents don’t have visitors, and you can be the person that can make them feel loved and cared for and you can bring a smile to their face. We are here as much for the families as we are for the residents. The care I can offer is very fulfilling, providing them with some sense of support.

    What is the best part about working at Bethany?
    Being a part of the Bethany family. Bethany attracts passionate and compassionate people. I feel like I belong here because we have the same sense of values and really care about residents. I work with a great team. We work hard and have fun.

    What does your role encompass? What’s a typical day for you?
    I work as the Care Services Manager on the MDE unit at Bethany Calgary and started three years ago. Every day is different. This is the most fulfilling job I’ve had to date. I feel like I am truly making a difference. Every day I walk around the unit and ensure the wellbeing of residents, family and staff. I attend clinical rounds, facilitate ID team meetings, as well as resident care conferences. I provide ongoing support to residents, families and staff.

    What’s the MDE/SCU unit?
    It is a 49-bed specialized complex dementia program that serves all of Southern Alberta. It is a transition unit for complex dementia residents to come to be stabilized and live a more fulfilling life. Starting on this unit was the first time I worked on a specialized dementia unit. We are a multidisciplinary team, we work together and are supportive of each other. I feel very honoured to be on this team, all the staff are here because they want to be here. I see miracles happen every day because of the expertise used by staff with this population. We are a very cohesive team, everyone works well together and it is actually quite calm and happy – it’s a great place to work.

    What are your favourite hobbies/interesting facts about yourself?
    I love to waterski, snowboard, golf and be outside. I enjoy gardening and running and find it stress relieving to be outside and recharge.

  • Founders’ Bursary Awards

    Every year, Bethany presents the Founders’ Bursary Awards to two very deserving children of Bethany employees. The Board of Trustees established the Founders’ Bursary Awards in 1995 during the 50th Anniversary of Bethany to honour the Founders of Bethany Care Society. Through the program, two $1,500 bursaries are awarded each year to the children of Bethany employees who are pursuing post-secondary education. The awards are an expression of Bethany living its mission of creating caring communities by recognizing staff through the achievements of their children.

    The criteria for the awards include scholastic achievement, outstanding leadership, clear and compelling career goals and a commitment to the community. Bethany has awarded 40 individuals over the years, totaling $60,000. The Bethany Care Foundation provides the financial support for the Founders’ Bursary Awards through the generosity of donors.

    All Bethany staff are encouraged to have their children apply for the Award. Application forms are available on Connections (under “News”) or from Human Resources, and the deadline for applying this year is July 31, 2017.

  • Bethany Staff Profile: Nancy Hughes

    National Nurses Week was held May 8-14. Thank you to all of our caring nurses at Bethany for helping to improve the lives of residents every day.Nancy Hughes
    Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

    How did you start your career?
    I did my Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Calgary. After I completed my degree, I began my clinical practice at the Foothills Medical Centre. I was fortunate to work in many different areas but most of my clinical work was in Nephrology. I graduated at a time when there was a shortage of nurses so there were lots of opportunities.

    How has your career progressed over the years? When did you start at Bethany?
    I have been very fortunate to have had a lot of opportunities in my career. As a result, I have done a lot of different things over the years. I started my career working in clinical practice and then decided to do a Graduate program at the University of Alberta. After graduating with my Masters in Health Services Administration, I worked in quality improvement and then moved into a more operational role. I worked in Admitting and Transition Services and then lead an initiative on Outpatient Services and Planning with the Calgary Health Region. In 2007, I was recruited to the planning team for the South Health Campus. I started being part of the concept visioning for the project and then moved through planning, commissioning and operations on the site for a period of seven years. It is a career accomplishment I am particularly proud of. I joined Bethany in September of 2014.

    What is your favourite part about being a nurse?
    For me, I’ve always had a passion for service. It’s very rewarding to be of service to others, and patients, residents and families are at the core of what I do and think about. Nursing is a versatile profession, there are many things you can do from clinical work, to teaching, research and administration.

    What is the best part about working at Bethany?
    Bethany is a very caring organization and I really enjoy the people I work with. They are very committed and aligned with our mission, vision and values. In the role I have, I have the opportunity to be involved in many
    different things that make the job interesting and exciting. No two days are the same.

    What does your role encompass? What’s a typical day for you?
    As the VP and Chief Operating Officer, I have responsibility for the care sites, housing sites, clinical education, quality and maintenance. I am also involved in the design and operational planning for Bethany Riverview (our newest care centre). While there really isn’t a “typical” day, I generally start my day by checking in with the team and following up on any outstanding issues. During the course of a day, I attend a lot of meetings. In Operations, there are always issues that need attention – it is the nature of what we do. This requires me to juggle a lot and keep very focused on priorities.

    What are your favourite hobbies/interesting facts about yourself?
    I am an avid gardener, I find it very relaxing. I live in Cochrane and enjoy walking and bike riding. I’m an animal lover and have done a lot of work with the Cochrane & Area Humane Society.

  • Bethany Staff Profile: Lyanne Limbona-Gange

    National Nurses Week was held May 8-14. Thank you to all of our caring nurses at Bethany for helping to improve the lives of residents every day.Lyanne Limbona-Gange
    Registered Nurse, Bethany CollegeSide

    How did you start your career?
    I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines. I couldn’t practice here in Canada right away because we had a different curriculum, so I had to do a Nursing refresher program for 18 months.

    How has your career progressed over the years? When did you start at Bethany?
    I started as an HCA in Bethany Collegeside in September of 2006 in B2 (where I work now as an RN) until 2009, then as a full time RN up to the present. So a total of 10 years now.

    What is your favourite part about being a nurse?
    My favourite part about being a nurse is when I get a smile from the most difficult resident or from a resident who is having a bad day and wouldn’t allow anybody to get near them but will give me a positive response. It just makes everything worth it, especially if you’re having a bad day.

    What is the best part about working at Bethany?
    The best part would be having the support system. Not feeling alone, you know you can always count on somebody to help you. Especially in my unit I can always count on the people who I work with. They are competent, hardworking and really care for the residents. We work as a team and that makes a huge difference.

    What does your role encompass? What’s a typical day for you?
    My role is to be in charge of the unit. A typical day would be checking the calendar for any appointments, ID rounds or care conferences, reading up on RN/LPN shift reports so the rest of the team will be aware of what’s in store for the day or any changes in the residents, med pass and dealing with different behaviours in the dementia unit, redirecting to calm them down. I also inform staff of the resident’s behaviours or their whereabouts and vice versa. Answering calls, assessing residents of any concerns and informing doctors if need be, processing orders, faxing them to the pharmacy and following up on any pending matters. Visiting with families and informing them of any changes regarding their loved ones, dealing with concerns too. Charting and triggers to the other ID team if needed. I also inform the CSM of any concerns.

    What are your favourite hobbies or interesting factsabout yourself?
    I’m married and have two wonderful kids, Lincoln and Layla, and love spending time with them. I love watching movies, cooking, shopping (especially when I’m stressed), travelling and sleeping (when I have time)!

  • Make Safety a Habit

    North American Occupational Health and Safety (NAOSH) Week was held May 7-13, 2017. It marks the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace and is recognized in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

    Make Safety a Habit was this year’s theme. Safe work habits are important for every individual. We also have a responsibility to encourage safe work habits in our work teams. Safe work habits include understanding and following established safe work procedures but also anticipating what might go wrong and taking actions to avoid potential hazards.

    Creating a safe work environment also means learning from our mistakes. That is why reporting incidents and injuries are important. Accurate reporting allows us to investigate the cause of incidents and to take action
    to prevent them from reoccurring. This is not about laying blame but ensuring that we make adjustments to reduce risk.

    You are in the best position to create a safe work environment. If you think there is a safer way of performing a task or a new procedure that would address a potential risk then we want to hear from you. Working together we can create safer work habits and a safer workplace.

    I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to each of you who serve or have served as a member of an Occupational Health and Safety Committee and particularly those who Chair these committees. Our OHS Committees are comprised of staff volunteers who take on these roles over and above their regular duties. If you’ve never served on the OHS committee at your site, I encourage you to think about doing so and to discuss it with your supervisor. Your contribution will make a difference.

    Let’s always remember to make safety a habit at Bethany. With appreciation for all that you do every day to create safe workplaces and caring communities at Bethany.

    – Jennifer McCue, President & CEO

  • “Vertical Ascent” – You are invited!

    On Tuesday, June 6, I will be fulfilling a personal goal of climbing the construction crane currently on site of our brand new Bethany Riverview. My other intention is to also raise awareness of the important role caregivers provide to those living with the various forms of Dementia.

    Will you support me as I make this climb? Please consider making a pledge. Attached you will find all the official information you need to make your pledge decision.

    I want to ensure everyone who makes a pledge has the opportunity to see how I do as I climb the crane. A few days after the event, our Bethany Care Society Communications Team will release a multi-media presentation on Bethany Connect. Photos and maybe a few video clips will be available for you to enjoy the experience of the event.

    I appreciate all you do and thank you for considering to support this climb by making a pledge. All funds raised will go towards the Bethany Care Foundation’s Capital Campaign, to be launched this fall, in support of our newest care centre, Bethany Riverview.

     

    Kind Regards,

    – Jennifer McCue, President & CEO

  • Healthy Eating at Work

    With spring in full bloom, it is important to remember healthy eating habits to keep you energized throughout the day. Below are some tips to help you stay healthy and motivated at work.

    Keep Hydrated

    Staying hydrated will help you stay alert. Fluids are needed for the body to digest food, cool down, move nutrients and waste. Adults typically need 9-12 cups of fluid per day.
    Choose water:

    • Take a water break instead of a coffee break
    • Carry your own water bottle
    • Find water “boring”? – add mint, lemon, lime, cucumber or berries to add flavour

    Grab and Go Meal Ideas

    A healthy meal can help you maintain your energy levels and memory. Below are a list of meals to eat along the way to work.

    • Smoothie with frozen fruit, milk, plain yogurt, and a handful of spinach
    • Scrambled eggs and sliced tomato on whole grain toast
    • Oats with plain yogurt topped with fruit
    • Nut butter in a whole grain pita with sliced bananas

    Healthy Foods to Make a Meal

    Start off your workday right with a healthy meal to help improve energy, memory and manage weight. Keep healthy foods at home to put together a healthy meal to bring to work.

    • Piece of fruit
    • Hard boiled egg
    • Small whole grain bagel
    • Lower fat cheese
    • Whole grain cereal
    • Tomato
    • Lower fat milk or fortified soy beverage
    • Fruit or nut bar
    • Lower fat yogurt
    • Unsalted nuts
    • Nut butterUnsweetened applesauce
    • Oat, barley or quinoa porridge

    Source: Alberta Health Services