Who We Are
The Bethany Care Foundation, a registered charity, engages community donors in support of Bethany Care Society’s mission through fundraising activities and the disbursement of carefully stewarded funds. We match donors’ giving to areas of Bethany’s mission that are meaningful to them including: furnishings and equipment at specific sites; recreational and entertainment activities; programs like music , pet, horticulture, rehabilitation and physical therapies; spiritual support; and capital improvements or new developments in our Bethany communities.
Our Story
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 Calgary and southern Alberta. Bethany provides a full spectrum of housing and care options, from independent living, supportive living, long term care, affordable housing and community services. We are dedicated to building caring relationships with the residents and clients we serve and meaningful partnerships that support and celebrate aging within the communities we operate – fulfilling our vision of Creating Caring Communities. As the senior population grows, so do we, responding to the evolving needs of our residents, their families and the communities they call home. We work closely with Alberta Health Services (“AHS”) to offer the only complex dementia care program in the Calgary Zone. Bethany has established itself as a leader in dementia care, with specialized programming, highly qualified and experienced leaders and caregivers, and strong partnerships with clinical researchers and specialists working in this field.
At Bethany, we believe in holistic care. Our care model is shaped by this belief, and we monitor and 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.
Our supportive model extends to the family and friends of our residents; when a loved one is experiencing the complex changes of aging, especially where dementia is involved, everyone close to them is impacted in some way too. Often, the toll on informal caregivers (family, friends and neighbours) can be profound. Stress, depression and other mental health effects are common. With rates of dementia rising, Bethany recognizes that its specialized work in this field is increasingly essential, and that community partnerships hold the key to the creation and success of new models of care and support for our aging population.
