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  • Music Therapy Winners Announced!

    Congratulations to the following winners of the JB Music Therapy contest!

    Catherine van Tol – Bethany Riverview
    Lorraine Weisgarber – Bethany Cochrane
    Suzanne Eckstadt – Bethany Calgary
    Melanie McNalley – Bethany Sylvan Lake
    Delray Dempsey – Bethany Didsbury
    Jaclyn Bell – Bethany CollegeSide

    You have been notified by email and will be contacted by JB Music Therapy with details on how to claim your prize.

    Winners were selected at random. Thank you to everyone who entered!

    For Bethany Frontline Healthcare Employees!

    WIN SIX FREE, PRIVATE MUSIC THERAPY SESSIONS

    Music Therapy supports individuals going through difficult life transitions. Music therapy can decrease anxiety, improve focus, increase motivation, and improve your mood. Treat yourself to the gift of music therapy from JB Music Therapy. This contest is open to every Bethany frontline employee at all our sites. Six individuals will receive six free, private music therapy sessions.

    Deadline is: March 1, 2021. – CONTEST NOW CLOSED

    To enter this draw email write JB Music Therapy Contest in the subject line of your email along with your name and daytime phone number to:

    marketing.communication@bethanyseniors.com

    Winners will be randomly selected.

    For more information, click here.

  • Safety Bulletin March 2021

    In our busy, fast paced world, myths and misinformation make nutrition and healthy eating confusing. There is no one-size fits all approach to healthy eating. (Dieticians of Canada – nutritionmonth2021.ca)

    What we put into our body is a vital part of our energy management and overall mental health and wellbeing. According to Dr. Carolyn C. Ross, making a few simple dietary changes may boost cognitive function and help maintain a good mood.

    So how do you feed your brain? Here are 5 foods that can help boost your mental energy and mood.

    1. Green, leafy vegetables. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. Research suggests these plant-based foods may help slow cognitive decline.
    2. Fatty fish. Fatty fish are abundant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy unsaturated fats that have been linked to lower blood levels of beta-amyloid—the protein that forms damaging clumps in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Try to eat fish at least twice a week, but choose varieties that are low in mercury, such as salmon, cod, canned light tuna, and pollack. If you’re not a fan of fish, you can take an omega-3 supplement, or choose omega-3 sources such as flaxseeds, avocados, and walnuts.
    3. Berries. Flavonoids, the natural plant pigments that give berries their brilliant hues, also help improve memory. In a 2012 study published in Annals of Neurology, researchers at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that women who consumed two or more servings of strawberries and blueberries each week delayed memory decline by up to two and a half years.
    4. Tea and coffee. The caffeine in your morning cup of coffee or tea might offer more than just a short-term concentration boost. Investigators at Johns Hopkins University asked participants to study a series of images and then take either a placebo or a 200-milligram caffeine tablet. More members of the caffeine group were able to correctly identify the images on the following day.
    5. Walnuts. Nuts are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats, and one type of nut in particular might also improve memory. A 2015 study from UCLA linked higher walnut consumption to improved cognitive test scores. Walnuts are high in a type of omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which helps lower blood pressure and protects arteries. That’s good for both the heart and brain.

    (Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. ‘Foods Linked to Better Brainpower’, (Nov 2018), online: https://www.health.harvard.edu)For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety
    Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com

    Or

    Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeThe best way to feed your brain and stay in a good mood is by choosing healthy foods that represent the colour of a rainbow. For example, yellow/ bananas, orange/carrots, green/broccoli and so on. For more information, check out the links below:Additional resources:

    VIDEO: How to Manage Your Mood with Food

    Healthy Eating Starts Here, Healthy Eating at Work

    There is a Day for That

    Mentally Healthy Workplaces – Managing your mental health while working remotely

    Fueling Productivity Through Nutrition

    If you are still struggling to boost your mood, there are supports available through LifeWorks EAP and Bethany Spiritual Care Support line.

    LifeWorks: 1-877-207-8833

    Bethany Spiritual Care Support Line: 587-390-7600LifeWorks 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

  • Update Newsletter — January February 2021 Issue

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

    From our Alberta’s Top Employer Award to the site-wide COVID-19 vaccination clinics you’ll find it here in Bethany’s January/February Update!

    Click Here to view the PDF version.

  • Office 365 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Office 365 Accounts

    In an effort to continue strengthening Bethany’s IT security posture and better protect data and assets from cyber threats and phishing attacks, the IT department will be enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your Office 365 accounts. MFA adds an additional layer of security to your account by requiring an additional piece of information along with your username and password. MFA technology usage is very widespread and is used by most online services like banks, social media services and online shopping retailers like Amazon.

    Starting at 8 AM on February 24th, you will be required to enroll in MFA before gaining access to your Office 365 data. This change will take effect immediately and you will be unable to access your email, Teams, OneDrive or other Office applications until the enrollment process is completed.

    During the enrollment process, you will be required to select 1 of the 2 available methods for MFA authentication:

    1. The Microsoft Authenticator app – You open an app on your smartphone, it shows you a dynamically created 6-digit number, which is unique to your phone
    2. SMS Text – a dynamically created 6-digit number will be texted to your mobile device, which is unique to your phone

    The process should take about 3-5 minutes and needs to be completed before you start your workday.

    Setup guides for both authentication methods are attached. Make sure to save the attached guides to your computer PRIOR to Wednesday as you wont have access to your email until after the MFA configuration process is done.

    For more information on MFA, please click here

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.  Feel free to contact the helpdesk with any questions or concerns.

    HelpDesk

    Phone: 403-210-4646

    Email: helpdesk@bethanyseniors.com

  • Pink Shirt Day 2021, Kindness – It’s Who We Are

    On February 24, 2021, organizations around the world will be celebrating Pink Shirt Day.

    At Bethany, our key values focus on being caring, showing respect, acting responsibly and embracing diversity. Pink Shirt Day is a great reminder about our organizational values and how we act on them.

    Make the focus of Pink Shirt Day about kindness. Small acts of kindness not only benefit the receiver, but also the giver and the whole organization, thereby creating a positive workplace culture.

    Kindness should be something we practice every day. If we perform one act of kindness every day, our workforce will be a healthier place for us and those we serve and care for. Remember to practice social distancing and follow PPE procedures when showing your acts of kindness this year.

    Don’t forget to practice self kindness and recharge your batteries. Exercise and eat a healthy diet. Find ways to relax, such as meditation, yoga, listening to music or practicing deep-breathing exercises. Do these regularly!

    So on February 24th what will you do to practice kindness? Will you do something for someone in your life, someone you care for, or yourself? Let’s show our support by wearing pink shirts.

    And always remember, if you or someone you know needs assistance, check out our Employee Assistance Program, LifeWorks or our current list of helpful resources.

    For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety & Disability Management
    Lesley.Mackinnon@Bethanyseniors.com

    Or

    Site OHS Committee Chair or Representative

  • Q3 Survey Results – Employee Pulse Survey FY2021

    Bethany conducts a quarterly employee Pulse Survey to capture a snapshot of employee engagement throughout our organization. 658 employees were randomly selected to participate in anonymously. The Q3 Survey for FY2021 took place October 1 — December 31, 2021.

    Highlights from the Q3 Survey:If you have any thoughts or comments on the Q3 Survey results, I welcome you to share them with me.

    Please contact me directly at michelle.dulmadge@bethanyseniors.com

    Thanks for helping us to ensure that Bethany is a great place to work!

    Michelle Dulmadge
    Executive Director, Human Resources 

  • Safety Bulletin February 2021

    Just like some batteries, we too, need recharging. It has been a year since the first COVID-19 cases were identified. If we knew we would still be navigating through this pandemic a year later, perhaps we would have paced ourselves more, practiced more self-care, or even celebrated more. For some of us, the pandemic may have stretched our capacity and resilience to the breaking point.

    Nancy Hughes, COO and Vice President at Bethany Care Society said early on that, “This will be a ultra marathon, not a sprint.”

    If you Google “how to train for a marathon” you can find a lot of advice on how to deal with a pandemic. Here are a few tips

    1. Don’t get hung up on your finish time. I think we can all relate.
    2. Hydrate properly beforehand. Wearing PPE for an entire shift. Sweating under a face mask can lead to dehydration and headaches. Stay hydrated before and during your shifts.
    3. Prepare your mind as well as your body. Focus on Psychological PPE. Practice mindfulness and create space between work and home. Self-care is just as important as physical care.
    4. Don’t fear walk breaks. Enjoy the moments of calm or normalcy. Don’t fear them, or miss taking advantage of them to recharge.
    5. Pace yourself. It’s okay to take pause and find quiet in the chaos. Make sleep a priority; it is so important.
    6. Don’t miss your long runs. Life is not without its challenges, so expecting the good with the bad is part of life’s journey.
    7. “I loved every mile. Make a joy list. What brings you joy? Celebrate this!
    8. Know the course in advance. We’ve learnt a lot about this virus over the last year and are wiser for it. You know how to keep yourself safe.

    Our emotional battery may be limitless, but it isn’t bottomless. It will deplete to dangerous levels if we aren’t careful. It’s critical for each of us to decompress and recalibrate. By learning to emotionally re-charge, we can get back on track and back to the core of who we are.

    Emotional resilience is a crucial part of building a life that is happy and secure. No matter how hard you work to get things right in this life, life is going to challenge you and throw hardships and setbacks in your way. The only way to overcome these difficulties is to get through them with our emotional resilience and strength — a limitless, but not bottomless source of replenishing strength in our lives.For more information, please contact:

    Lesley MacKinnon
    Manager, Safety
    Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com

    Or

    Site OHS Committee Chair or Representative“We need to keep in mind that the Covid-19 pandemic is an ultra marathon, not a sprint, so we need to ensure we keep everyone healthy and support one another – we are just getting started. These are long and stressful days for all of us and we need to be mindful of this so we can sustain this effort. Resources are available for those who need support and I would encourage you to make use of them.”
    – Nancy Hughes, COO and Vice PresidentLifeWorks 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 WorkAngelAdditional resources:

    January’s Safety Bulletin “Going Home” Checklist

    Huddle on “Optimism

    The Continuum Self-Check

  • Bell Let’s Talk 2021

    Let’s Talk is Bell’s campaign to raise awareness around mental illness. https://letstalk.bell.ca/

     

    With the impact of the pandemic, mental health awareness is more important than ever before. Throughout 2020 and into 2021, we’ve put together a list of resources for our employees and they are often updated. Please use them as often as you need to.

    At Bethany, we care for others every day. We must not forget to take care of ourselves and our families. If you or someone you know needs assistance with mental health issues, Bethany has a free and confidential Employee Assistance Program called Lifeworks. Please contact Lifeworks at 1-877-207-8833. We encourage you to use this amazing free resource to help you be even healthier! The website contains resources such as articles and podcasts on five main topics: Family, Health, Life, Money and Work.Website: https://login.lifeworks.com/

    Username: bcs

    Password: eap

    Phone App: LifeWorks WorkAngel

  • Bethany Recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 70 Employers 2021

    Bethany Care Society has once again been recognized as one of Alberta’s Top Employers! This marks the 14th consecutive year that we have been awarded this designation that acknowledges Bethany as a truly exceptional place to work. This acknowledgement is always special, however this year carries extra meaning because of your courage and resilience in the face of adversity. The togetherness, leadership, camaraderie, and team spirit will live long in the memory.

    Top Employer is an accolade given to only 70 organizations across Alberta this year. It is an endorsement of our organization’s efforts to attract, retain and develop the very best talent. It also acknowledges the dedicated professionals within Bethany who show that anyone can make a difference. This award is for you, our Heroes of Bethany.

    Here are just a few of the reasons why we were selected as one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2021:

    • Bethany recognizes the hard work and dedication of its employees through annual service excellence awards in various categories such as engagement, innovation, and mentoring — and launched a special “Heroes of Bethany” campaign to highlight the courage and bravery of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Bethany invests in the education of current and future generations, offering tuition subsidies of up to $1,000 for employees and academic scholarships of up to $1,500 for children of employees
    • Bethany helps employees plan for the longer term with retirement planning assistance and employer contributions to savings plans such as defined benefit, defined contribution and matching RSPs

    Press release 

    Reasons for selection

  • The Workforce Central mobile app is getting a new name and logo!

    Beginning January 21, the Kronos Mobile app will now be called UKG Workforce Central. The app is used at Bethany so Employees can view their schedules, banks, and timecards from their smart phones. Kronos recently merged with Ultimate Payroll and have changed their name to UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group). With the name change, they will also be introducing a new logo on their products.

    Kronos Rebranding – Youtube

    Important Reminder: The app logo won’t change until after you have opened the app on your phone.

    The change to the mobile app is only the name and logo. There are no changes to functionality. With the Kronos Mobile app you can view your schedule, banks, and timecard.

    Do I need to do download the mobile app again? No, if you already have the app installed on your phone, you don’t need to do anything. The App name and logo will update automatically once you open the app on your phone.

    Do I enter the same User Name and Password? Yes – Continue to use your Bethany Network User Name and Password.

    What if I have never downloaded the app? The app can be downloaded, free of charge, from your phone’s app store at any time. Please contact the Help Desk for additional details.

     If you have any questions, please contact the IT Help Desk (helpdesk@bethanyseniors.com ) or (403) 210-4646.