About the Bethany Foundation

Examples of ways we use funds to help improve the life of our residents can include:

• Televisions for communal areas

• Field Trips - taking residents out to areas of interest

• Bringing in professional entertainment

• Additional support for recreation therapy activities, such as:

• growing vegetables and cooking meals

• holding dances and parties

• purchasing equipment and resources for activities

• Supporting the Chaplaincy program

• Community awareness activities - connecting the community to our residents and programs

• Garden furniture & plants.

• Christmas gifts for residents without families

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The Bethany Foundation is the organization’s charitable giving arm. As more demands are placed on the organization to provide care with fewer resources, the Bethany Foundation becomes ever more important for donations as a means to realize the organization’s mission.

One focus of the foundation is to ensure the continuation of the chaplaincy program. As a faith-based provider, The Bethany Group has a commitment to giving clients holistic care – the person’s need for reconciliation of body, mind, spirit and relationship with God, self and others. Spiritual and religious care provides a core element of healing and caring for people who are vulnerable.

Donations to the Bethany Group Foundation are managed under an Endowment Fund approach and the priorities of the Foundation are:

• To support special projects and programs,• To support the work of the Chaplaincy Program,• To support community education on seniors care, and

• To provide scholarship funds.

To donate to the Bethany Foundation, please visit our website at www.thebethanygroup.ca/donate where you can give through “ATB Cares.”

For more information or to discuss ways to give, please email info@bethanygrp.ca or call The Bethany Group’s Stakeholder Relations Advisor at 403-786-2426.

Relaunched in 2017, the Faith & Aging Conference brings together members of the community, organizations, and The Bethany Group for a day of inspiration and connection.

The first conference featured keynote speaker Jann Arden who related her personal story of caring for her mother who was living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Rounding out the day was Dan Levitt and Rachel Foster. Dan is an acclaimed international speaker, writer and gerontologist who specializes in helping others to create better lives for seniors. Rachel closed the day with an interactive discussion focusing on what everyone heard and learned.

In 2018, keynote speaker, Amanda Lindhout, spoke about our theme Resilience. Author of A House in the Sky, Amanda spoke about her abduction and being held hostage for 460 days. Following Amanda was Kari Berit, author and caregiver expert who presented two sessions on helping people and institutions manage transition and embrace the familiar as we get older or become caregivers.

The conference is an important way for The Bethany Group to connect with the community and open up a dialogue about issues and concerns affecting everyone. Our belief is that together we can support healthy and vibrant communties that embrace all ages, faiths, and races.

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A m a n d a L i n d h o u t s p e a k s to a f u l l h o u s e a t t h e 2 0 1 8 Fa i t h & A g i n g Co nfe re n c e

Faith & Aging Conference

Spiritual care was at the core of The Bethany Group’s earliest beginnings, and it is still part of the mission and daily operations of our organization. Our chaplains serve as a safe and supportive presence in residents’ lives. They listen to their stories, accompany them through their grief and loss, and extend to them the love and grace of God. This spiritual care is offered to all who are in need regardless of race, sex, creed, or economic status.

As human beings, our sense of meaning and purpose are part of our spiritual selves. Often our residents and clients have experienced multiple age-related losses, losses that may cause them to question their meaning and purpose. Spiritual care assists residents in grieving these losses, encourages them to reinvest in life, and has a renewing effect on spiritual well-being. This in turn gives hope for the future and helps our residents moderate painful feelings that accompany illness such as anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness, and isolation.

Research shows that there are health-related benefits of religious and spiritual beliefs and practices. In a study of nearly 600 older and severely ill patients, those who sought a connection with a benevolent God, as well as support from clergy and faith group members, were less depressed and rated the quality of their life as being enhanced as a result of their faith.

The chaplaincy program is part of what makes The Bethany Group unique in Alberta. We are one of just a few organizations that include chaplaincy as a core service. Although there is a demonstrable benefit to spiritual care it is no longer funded directly by government. The Bethany Foundation, therefore, is important to our organization as it helps by providing some of the funding for our chaplaincy program. It has also extended our chaplaincy program with the addition of a regional Chaplain.

Chapl ainc y

Rev. David Eriksson, C haplaincy Coordinator/C haplain - Louise JensenGrowing up in Camrose David could see all that was Bethany from his bedroom window. Aging family members lived there, relatives worked there, as did his own mother for a while. After exploring other fields, David was called to the Church and to helping those in need. While attending seminary in Saskatoon he met his wife, Barbara. In the third parish that he served, here in Camrose, ministry took him frequently to Bethany facilities, visiting parishioners, bringing communion, or leading services. After resigning from the parish David began to work for The Bethany Group.

Today, Pastor David provides spiritual care to the residents, families, and staff at Louise Jensen Center and serves as Chaplaincy Coordinator. He finds satisfaction in enhancing the quality of residents’ lives by providing spiritual care, singing, visiting, and sometimes juggling.

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Rev. Brian K r ushel, C haplain - Rosehaven Provincial ProgramBrian hails from Morden, Manitoba, the youngest of three boys, all of whom grew up with aviation in their blood, thanks to their father who was also a pilot. Brian met Valerie in college in Camrose and the two of them were engaged at 4,000’ over the MB/SK border.

Perhaps the altitudes gained in leisure flying caused him to explore matters of the Spirit. He has three ministry-related degrees, and entered parish ministry in 1985. In 2017 he joined the Bethany Group chaplaincy team to serve the Rosehaven Provincial Program.

Rev. Kevin Schwar tz, Regional C haplainKevin in his second term of employment with the Bethany Group, in the late 1990’s he worked as a Health Care Aide. He brings over twenty-five years of pastoral ministry experience in a variety of locations. One highlight in those years was when he served as a chaplain with Holland America Cruise Lines. As the Regional Chaplain, Pastor Kevin provides pastoral care within Camrose, specifically to Faith House, Viewpoint and the Rosealta Lodge. Outside of Camrose he offers regular ministry to the Bethany facilities within the communities of Bashaw, Eckville, Forestburg, Wetaskiwin and Winfield. Pastor Kevin’s activities include leading devotions, hymn sings, one on one conversations and memorial services. Additionally, he meets regularly residents, their families, Bethany staff and local area pastors. Kevin is honored to be able to walk alongside residents, families, and staff through the stages of their life journey.

Rev. Dean Eisner, C haplain - Bethany MeadowsIn December 2018, Dean had coffee with Pastor Brian, Chaplain for The Bethany Group’s Rosehaven Provincial Program, who suggested that Dean apply for one of the available Chaplain positions. Pastor Dean now serves as Chaplain with Bethany Meadows and looks forward to getting to know the residents, staff and various people connected to the Meadows.Previous to this, Pastor Dean’s ministry experience began in 1984, serving three church families in western Canada. Family health circumstances precipitated a change in direction and Camrose became home base. In 2010, Dean began the role of transitional consultant (interim) to churches who were ‘between pastors.’ Camrose has afforded us the privilege of being close to family while being affirmed in knowing that no event is so commonplace but that God is present within it.

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Thank you to our DonorsRandall and Rose Abele

Judy AdamsLaura AndersonMerry ArchibaldTerry and Debbie Ball

Benevity Community Impact FundLeo and Wilma BjornsonRaymond and Norma BlacklockGlen and Marcia BlatzBryan and Jean Braim

Ruth BrockoffConstance Roper BrookGreg and Heather BroughtonSharon Burkard

Marion CameronGreg Christianson

Christopher and Cheryl ClarksonHarold and Barbara ConquestDonald and Barbara Cox

John CrossWally Davidson

Marion De JonghKen and Sheralyn DobosEva and Kenneth Dodds

Dawn and R Dowbush

Gladys DrummondVanita EglauerDavid and Barb ErikssonMerle Fadum

Mary-Carol FarquharsonLarry and Linda FarynaAnna Mae FeddemaJanet ForthDonna and Dave Fox

Carol GagneGerald and Sandra GalenzaGarth Wehrfritz-HansonSharon and Denis Girard

William GloverAllan and Elouise Gordeyko

Margaret, Benjamin and Joshua HaagConnie & Les HarrisonLoretta Haugen

Moyra HeislerAllan and Lorraine Hellekson

Helen HelleksonNorman and Irma HendersonWanda Hihn

Hazel Hoff

Hopfe Family Beulah HopfeErnest and Margaret Doreen HoymeEric and Sherri Ingle

Peter and Marie IngleSheila JoyceHelen KarstadReg and Connie KastelanLorraine Kiel

Myron and Mariann KozackSylvia KozakValerie and Brian KrushelMarjorie Lafleur

Gus and Elfriede LangeMichael Leathwood

Selina LeggeBrian and Heather LeibelLilly H Lewis

Robert and Patricia LewisSharron Lewis

Bob and Sherri LindsayLuella LindsethLeona Lorenz

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Hazel Hoff

Hopfe Family Beulah HopfeErnest and Margaret Doreen HoymeEric and Sherri Ingle

Peter and Marie IngleSheila JoyceHelen KarstadReg and Connie KastelanLorraine Kiel

Myron and Mariann KozackSylvia KozakValerie and Brian KrushelMarjorie Lafleur

Gus and Elfriede LangeMichael Leathwood

Selina LeggeBrian and Heather LeibelLilly H Lewis

Robert and Patricia LewisSharron Lewis

Bob and Sherri LindsayLuella LindsethLeona Lorenz

Linda Lowe Ken A Lucki

Ben and Betty Lutz

Elizabeth and Allan LynnWilbert and Ashild Lyseng

Gordon and Adeline MacDonaldKaren Macdonald

Arnie Mackowosky

Lila J MajeskiDarcy Martz

Therese MazureVictor and Marilyn McCarroll

Albert and Cindy McCruden

Ian and Val McNayLarry and Nancy Meyer

Cheryl and Colin MillerKen and Jennie MillerDiane Murphy

Donald and Jane NelsonMarilyn and Ole Nielsen

Diane OrtweinJudith O’ShaughnessyVickie Pasnack

CW Patterson

Ronald and Linda PedersonShirley Petiot

Eliza Pettersen

Plan It Consulting IncMargaret Prestage

Wilf PuddicombeDon and Christina Rebus

Eric Reutter

Rexall Pharmacy Group LtdElsie Richardson

Richard and Judy RiexingerWalt and Doris Ritter

Colleen Rombough

Ed and Pat RostaingKatherine Royer

Kaye RudBonnie Rude-WeismanAlice Sandahl

Carole and Ivar SaugenPamela and Allan Schoenknecht

Horst and Maureen SchreiberPatty SchulteElsie Shihinski

Greg and Karen Shimko

Anna Alex ShuteBonnie and Stan Skotniczny

Linda Slater

Michael and Joan SolversonFlorence Sommer

Kathy StablesTeresa, Edna and Abele Stauffer

Jerry and Theresa Steil

Merle StoverEdna Stuart

Rod and Crystal TateThe Brenda Strafford Foundation Ltd.

Ellen Thirsk

Debbie ThompsonJoseph and Florence Voegtlin

Roy WallaceWatkins Diesel Ltd. Truck Sales AccountJohn Weder

Val WolbeckRobert John Woods

Wusyk Financial GroupOsanna YaremkoDenise Zimmel

Laverne Zimmer

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The Bethany Group4612 - 53 StreetCamrose, AB Canada T4V 1Y6

Telephone: 780-679-2000Facsimile: 780-679-2001Email: info@bethanygrp.ca

www.thebethanygroup.ca