Blog

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