What makes Bethesda come alive is the vibrant community of caring staff, friendly residents, warm-hearted family members and dedicated volunteers, as well as the variety of wellness-focused activities and programs we offer.
Such is the case at Bethesda, where there’s a new normal settling in, as a result of the pandemic. Even though indoor visits from loved ones are limited, that doesn’t mean residents and tenants are alone. They are interacting and engaging with loved ones during outdoor visits, with other residents and staff indoors on a daily basis, and they’re still experiencing joy and laughter.
When they’re not visiting at our daily group interactions, residents go for walks or wheel themselves in their wheelchairs up and down the hallways, stopping along the way to say, ‘hello,’ and visit with their friends and neighbors from the doorway.
Bethesda team members from various departments, including activity staff, visit every resident daily. Activity staff provide needs and activities throughout the day. Nursing staff visit while providing cares. Dietary staff visit while delivering meal trays and assisting with menus. As the housekeepers clean residents’ rooms, they chat with them. Therapy, social workers, nurse supervisors, and in-house pastors provide visits, as well. Socialization is evident throughout the day.
Group activity is provided daily, with residents and tenants wearing masks and properly distancing from one another. Together, they play bingo and other games, enjoy Bible study, exercise, do crafts, reminisce, tell jokes, discuss current events, and bake.
Working and living through the pandemic has brought everyone at Bethesda closer together, as we keep our tenants safe, healthy, entertained and engaged.
Family connections are provided through Skype, FaceTime, mail, phone calls, window visits and outdoor visits with family, friends and pets.
Residents are spending their time in ways that they weren’t always doing in the past. They embrace their independent ability to fill their down time – with prayer, devotions, listening to their own music, talking on their phone, organizing their rooms, watching TV, visiting each other more, writing letters, doing word puzzles, paying more attention to current events, reading, and attempting past hobbies such as knitting, painting and adult coloring. Their creative juices have reopened to help fill their time, and they gained back more independence.
To learn more about Bethesda, contact our Welcome Center at 320-214-5643 for information or to request a tour.