Founded in 2003, Bethany Care Foundation is a registered charity serving donors who are passionate about innovating care and enhancing quality of life for seniors and adults with disabilities living in Bethany Care Society communities.
Established in 1945, Bethany Care Society is one of Western Canada’s largest not-for-profit providers of care, services and affordable housing for over 2,000 seniors and adults with disabilities in central and southern Alberta. Bethany provides a full spectrum of housing and care options, including independent and supportive living, long-term care, affordable housing and community services. We are dedicated to building caring relationship with the residents and clients we serve and meaningful partnerships that support and celebrate aging within the communities we operate – fulfilling our mission of Creating Caring Communities.
At Bethany, we believe in holistic care. Our care model is shaped by this belief and we respond to each person’s changing physical, emotional and spiritual needs. This philosophy, rooted in the same passion to serve that inspired Bethany’s founders, has become the hallmark of our mission. Bethany has an inclusive approach to caring for all people, regardless of their faith, beliefs or circumstances.
The Foundation’s goal is to make a difference, every day, in supporting Bethany Care Society as caring innovators in health, housing and lifestyle services for seniors and people with disabilities.
Donors are vital to Bethany. Through your generosity, we provide:
Recreational Therapies – music, art, horticulture and other therapies to help residents improve, maintain or slow the loss of physical and intellectual abilities as well as enjoy social time together and maintain a sense of purpose. Our music therapy uses its elements as an intervention with Bethany residents and their families, staff and volunteers to improve their wellbeing and enhance their quality of life.
Spiritual and Emotional Care – Bethany’s spiritual and emotional care programming has evolved in response to diverse community needs and takes an evidence-informed approach to supporting mental, emotional and spiritual health in aging populations. The spiritual care program supports residents’ self-worth, encourages healing and builds resilience. The program offers visiting, counselling, connections to other aids and supports, and helps residents to develop realistic and sustainable strategies to accommodate change. Spiritual Care Providers aid residents during key moments in life that cause mental, emotional or spiritual distress, meeting residents where they are at in life and taking their lead on what is needed in the moment.
Comforts of Home – new furnishings, décor and outdoor spaces/gardens help Bethany feel a little more like home.
Innovative Care – whether in its resident-focused use of technology to support care or its purpose-built care-centres, as a leader in seniors’ care, Bethany continuously evolves its quality care.
A resident living with dementia would routinely try to leave his secured living area mid-afternoon. His ingrained memories of needing to feed his cattle drove his urge to get outside. He would grow increasingly agitated as he found he could not leave. Thanks to the availability of donor supported technology, we were able to redirect him to engage with farming content on the iN2L (large, interactive computer screens) and share his experiences as a lifelong dairy farmer. After a short time, the resident relaxed, having “seen the cows” and was ready to go for coffee in the dining room.
Bethany Care Society is transforming the way Albertans are aging and we welcome the opportunity to discuss any of our programs and services with you to help determine your area of support.