NEWSLETTER

BETHANY'S ANNUAL JUNE FEST CELEBRATION DELIVERS BIG SMILES!

The weather turned out "picture perfect" for Bethany Retirement Community's annual June Fest celebration on Saturday, June 26. Residents, families and locals alike enjoyed delicious ice cream sundaes, a petting zoo, a 10-foot clown and great outdoor entertainment provided by the popular musician "Edison."

Attendees were also able to enjoy great works of art created by Bethany’s very own residents! The beautiful creations were made under the direction of Bethany's own art instructor, Julie Molter, who conducts classes three times a week.

Adding to the fun, five residents showcased personal photographs from their lives in a "Resident Profiles: Looking Back" display. The collages included images from childhood through the present, with wonderful scenes from their personal travels, careers, and family lives.

"Every year, June Fest is a time to celebrate not only the arrival of summer, but also the friendships and families within Bethany," said Jim Brady, administrator for Bethany Retirement Community. "It's something we all look forward to, and this year was one of our best yet."

Praise for this year’s event wasn’t hard to find from residents, either. Helen stated, "The weather was wonderful...and I loved feeding the animals!"

"It was so much fun. I even won a raffle prize!" beamed Frieda.

For more information about Bethany Retirement Community, please call (773) 989-1501. Appointments are available daytime, evening and weekends.

MEET CEIL OLSON: VOLUNTEERING 27 YEARS AT BETHANY!

Cecelia "Ceil" Olson says her goal in life has always been to volunteer her time, and for 27 years, she’s done just that at Bethany Retirement Community!

Wearing many important hats, Ceil arrives most days at 5:00 a.m. to turn on lights, answer phones, sort mail, distribute groceries, and even help residents with writing checks.

"I still enjoy taking residents each month to their favorite local restaurants," says Ceil. "At Bethany, everyone is treated with kindness and respect…I can't even imagine what I would be doing if I wasn't here volunteering. This is like my second home!"

Even in childhood, one of her favorite memories was visiting her cousins’ farm in Minnesota and helping out with chores. To Ceil, lending a hand has always been one word: "fun."

During her teenage years, she enjoyed "sock hops" at church and taking her sister to the Chicago Theater to hear the big bands. Ceil also loves retelling the story of how she met her husband: "I was dating someone, and it didn't work out. He introduced me to his best friend, and we got married!”

Ceil's journey within Bethany began in the 1970's when she came to Methodist Hospital for surgery. When her husband passed away a few years later, her physician, Dr. John Sylvester, suggested she become a volunteer at Bethany...and the rest is history.

For many years, she even worked the night shift at Sears just to be able to spend her days at the retirement community. Simply put, the impression she has made has been profound.

"I was maid of honor at the wedding of Bill and Lorraine Degan, who were Bethany residents," Ceil fondly recalls. "They got married on Valentine's Day!"

Bethany Retirement Community is forever grateful for all the years Ceil has dedicated to our cause, and we look forward to her continued energetic presence within the Bethany Family!

CHAPLAIN TED DURST JOINS BETHANY METHODIST

Chaplain Ted Durst recently joined the Bethany Family as chaplain for Methodist Hospital of Chicago in April of 2010. Conveniently located next to Bethany Retirement Community, Methodist Hospital offers Bethany residents comfortable access to advanced medical care, should the need ever arise.

"Ted has a wealth of experience and a commitment to holistic care," said Rev. Sunny Lopez, corporate director for Bethany's Mission and Spiritual Care Department. "We are thrilled that he has joined Methodist Hospital of Chicago."

Ted graduated from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, and has worked in a variety of parish and clinical settings in Rockford, Northern Michigan and Chicago. His career includes 11 years experience working in a residential facility for persons with developmental disabilities.

Most recently, he served as the Chaplain/Director of Spiritual Care for Norwegian American Hospital.

"I am so excited to be joining the Bethany Family," Chaplain Durst explains. "I look forward to contributing to our 120 year old mission of providing comprehensive healthcare services with dignity and compassion."

RESIDENTS REVEAL TOP FIVE REASONS FOR COMMUNITY LIFE

A recent survey of Bethany Methodist residents revealed the top five reasons for moving to a retirement community:

1. Being near family. As we age, the desire to be near our children and other loved ones increases.
2. Home maintenance. Homes need upkeep and repairs, which can grow costly. In a retirement community, maintenance and housekeeping are covered on-site!
3. Socialization. The neighbors are getting younger and younger! In a retirement community, your neighbors are of similar age and cultural and leisure activities abound!
4. Transportation. Once you stop driving, it becomes difficult to find adequate transportation (and don't forget about Chicago's snow and rain). At Bethany Retirement Community, there is convenient transportation to shopping, banks, doctors and more!
5. Dining. Who wants to eat alone? At Bethany, a delicious meal plan allows residents to partake in a variety of cuisines, all while in the company of friends.

Why wait another year to secure a vibrant, rewarding lifestyle? For more information about Bethany Retirement Community, please call (773) 989-1501.

A PARTNERSHIP IN PILL BOTTLES

Recently, Partners in Healthcare asked the residents of Chestnut Square at The Glen to donate their empty prescription bottles to the Matthew 25 Project, a cause which supplies third world countries with the basic medical item that most of us take for granted.

To date, Partners in Healthcare has collected hundreds of bottles, and because of this great success, the program is now expanding to include Bethany Retirement Community!

Residents, family members and staff are all encouraged to donate their used pill bottles at the Partners Chicago office located within Bethany Retirement Community! For more information about flexible homecare or the Matthew 25 Project, please call (847) 904-5113.

BETHANY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN A GROWTH SPURT ONCE AGAIN!

Bethany Retirement Community has frequently been called "Chicago's best kept secret" by its residents and families.

With its beautiful Andersonville setting, traditional furnishings, lovely courtyard gardens and comprehensive services, the community offers comfort and serenity to older adults of all faiths.

And, with the arrival of warm weather and the spring moving season, Bethany Retirement Community is abuzz with activity and renovations!

Newly-remodeled apartments will feature stylish kitchens and elegant bathrooms. Community gathering spaces, including the grand entrance, will also receive a fresh makeover with beautiful floral arrangements that say "Welcome home!"

Current and future residents are also looking forward to an exciting lineup of upcoming programs, including "Saturday in the Park" and "June Fest" celebrations, and an acclaimed "Polynesian Review" performance.

The community offers spacious studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, independent and assisted living options, restaurant-style dining and advanced medical care next door at Methodist Hospital of Chicago-all in a park-like setting in the city.

Located at 4950 N. Ashland Avenue in Chicago, Bethany Retirement Community continues to grow from both the inside and out!

For more information and to schedule a tour, please call (773) 989-1501.

MEET MILLIE "THE DILLIE" RING

Millie "The Dillie" Ring, a resident of Bethany Retirement Community, makes an indelible impression in the hearts of everyone she meets.

Always eager to provide a personal testimonial for the things she believes in, Millie shared the following about life at her new home:

"So now I am in my 'Golden Years' and enjoying every minute of it. We only go around once, so each of us has to make the most of it. I have lived my life to the fullest, and God has been good to me. My cup runneth over."

"I have been blessed with a great husband, Norman (deceased), two wonderful children, five beautiful grandchildren and two great-grandchildren."

"Since moving to Bethany Retirement Community, I have made so many nice friends. I am involved in many of the doings, especially the art class. And now I am an artist! I've drawn and painted many pictures, and they even have some of them in the display case where other residents can enjoy them."

"I am even on the same street where I lived all those years in my youth! I have a beautiful two-bedroom apartment which I love, and most of my friends are nearby."

A MISSION & SPIRITUAL CARE APPROACH TO HEALTHY LIVING

In a healthcare system steeped in the spiritual mission of "Called to Care," Bethany Methodist Communities has never compromised personalized compassion for impersonal technology-they are peacefully coexisting in the heart of Chicago and the northern suburbs.

"With healthcare becoming a much more complicated business, spirituality has never been segregated as a separate discipline at Bethany Methodist," said Rev. Sunny Lopez, corporate director for the Department of Mission and Spiritual Care. "Rather, it is at the heart of our care and patient recovery that includes body, mind and spirit!"

This spiritual focus transcends all locations of the corporationMethodist Hospital of Chicago, Bethany Retirement Community, The Bethany Terrace, Chestnut Square at The Glen and Partners in Healthcare. Each site team ensures that patient/resident values, beliefs and traditions are incorporated at all levels of care.

Bethany Methodist Communities is celebrating 120 years as a non-profit, faith-based healthcare system reaching out to seniors and the community as a whole.

While its roots are in the Judeo-Christian tradition, their non-sectarian mission of "Called to Care" reaches people of all faiths and backgrounds.

Reverend Lopez supervises professional chaplains, volunteers and seminary interns of all faiths that can be a support to patients, residents and employees 24/7. Studies have recognized that spirituality plays an important factor in improving and influencing health outcomes.

"In the modern world of medical technology and an industry focused on curing everyone, we cannot lose sight of caring for everyone," said Lopez. "It is, after all, an industry of people taking care of people. Whether a healthcare system is faith-based or not, every healthcare worker is 'Called to Care' in their small way and can help their patient or resident with their journey in healing."

Rev. Lopez has been director of the Mission and Spiritual Care Department of Bethany Methodist Communities since 1992. She and her husband, Frank, have two sons and live on the North Side of Chicago.

A member of the Mission and Spiritual Care Team can be reached at the following Bethany campuses:
Chicago: (773) 989-1349
Morton Grove: (847) 965-8100
Glenview: (847) 998-1118