As the only nonprofit, faith-based, certified Assisted Living and Independent Living Community in Statesboro since 2016, Bethany has a history of over 100 years of serving seniors in Vidalia, Millen, Statesboro, and surrounding areas.
At Bethany, we continue to provide the highest quality of healthcare available to Seniors in the Statesboro-Bulloch County Community and beyond.
This did not happen overnight, though, nor did it come without sacrifice and determination on the part of the Board of Trustees and the Staff of Bethany.
A Faithful and Joyous Community of Care
The Mission of Bethany that started in 1923 remains the Mission today: An invitation to engage in a faithful and joyous community of care.
To achieve this Mission and to continue to extend the invitation of Bethany, now well into its 102nd year of operations, we should share how Bethany continues the good work that started in 1923.
Regina M. Bell, RN, BSN, has been an employee of the organization in various capacities for a total of 25 years and is currently serving as Executive Director.
Regina describes the most significant reasons for her return to the Bethany family, which clearly sheds light on what makes Bethany unique.
“Bethany is a family of caring individuals, starting with the Board of Trustees, who are committed to continuing the Mission of Bethany in caring for others as a reflection of God’s generosity, and includes the staff members who are committed to their responsibilities as a calling of service, not just a job with a paycheck,” Regina shared.
She continued, “The cost of doing business as an assisted living community is high. Taking care of our seniors in a manner where we treat their stay at Bethany as their home environment and attempt to care for them in the best possible manner requires a financial commitment from the Board of Directors for supplementary support.”
State-of-the-Art Facilities, Resident Engagement, and Best Practices
God’s generosity through faithful givers who contribute to the Bethany Foundation continues to allow this community of care to stretch its dollars in its many efforts of welcoming facilities, resident engagement, and up-to-date technology.
The goal is to make all residents’ stay at Bethany the peaceful sanctuary that they deserve in the last era of their lives.
Bethany offers a beautiful state-of-the-art building that welcomes individuals to live as they would live within their own single family homes. The environment has amenities that are welcoming and enjoyable.
Events such as the recent Luau/Water Day – complete with a giant water slide for the residents and staff to enjoy! – or many of the decade parties, including a disco party, are perfect examples of the level of engagement residents will find at Bethany.
In addition, Bethany has always made efforts to be on the cutting edge of all technology and best practices in the provision of senior living, with training and programming that seeks to offer the staff needed educational materials, ensuring the residents are being cared for in the best manner possible.
The Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT), for example, is a unique, hands-on teaching tool that allows participants to enter the world of one struggling with the effects of Dementia to better support and care for that individual.
Since its first offering in 2016, over 770 first responders, family members, staff, and other community members have completed this training at no cost. It has been Bethany’s gift to the community and has been an invaluable service. It continues to be offered at the Community Commons Building at least once per month.
Blessings and Generosity for The Bethany Way
Wade McElveen, one of the longest serving board members of Bethany, having served for over 27 years, reflects on the reasons that he feels that Bethany has enjoyed the blessings and generosity of God.
“Our commitment has been to honor God in all that we do. We have acted on faith in believing that He would provide a way for us to live out the testament of ‘caring for the widows’ as taught in the book of James, and we have done so by creating a distinctively different environment for our Residents,” he said. “My own Mother-in-law is a resident of Bethany and considers it her home. We believe that our Board and Staff continue to make every attempt to live faithfully into the Mission of Bethany by being Christ-like in our offer of care to everyone who lives there.”
There is no way to know how many lives Bethany has touched over the years – in residents, families, staff, volunteers, board members, and community members. But in all instances, The Bethany Way of offering healthcare to seniors is unique because it is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Continued support through contributions to the Foundation at Bethany are always appreciated and utilized as investments in the residents that we serve to ensure that The Bethany Way continues to be the premiere way of engaging and caring for our Seniors.
Anyone wishing to ensure the continued commitment by Bethany to our Seniors in Statesboro and surrounding areas can make a tax-free contribution to The Foundation at Bethany by sending a check to The Foundation at Bethany, 77 Bethany Way, Statesboro, Georgia 30458.
For more information, visit bethanyway.org.
