At Bethesda, we strive every day to foster successful aging through compassion and innovation. It’s our Vision Statement, and it exemplifies the commitment of our employees and our volunteers toward our residents, their families and the St. Louis community.
We pride ourselves in engaging in partnerships and activities that benefit the St. Louis community. Whether we’re participating or sponsoring a community activity, or providing counseling and support, we at Bethesda take our role as a community leader seriously.
Bethesda Health Group Foundation – Our Charitable Commitment
Bethesda began as an organization serving sick and vulnerable individuals who could not afford care or housing. Today, the Bethesda Health Group Foundation carries on the ideals of our founders by providing nearly 1 million dollars every year in humanitarian care to keep Bethesda seniors who have outlived their financial means in our communities.
Bethesda Health Group Foundation provides a variety of charitable programs designed to further our employees’ educational opportunities, honor the veterans in Bethesda’s care, and help keep our residents in their beloved Bethesda homes. Thank you to our donors, volunteers, and corporate partners whose support helps maintain these important programs.
Veterans Recognition and Community Support
Bethesda Hospice Care is one of only a handful of hospice programs in Missouri to achieve a We Honor Veterans Level Five rating — the highest rating possible. Bethesda recognizes the sacrifices and courage of our nation’s veterans by providing specialized care and services centered around honor and dignity for those who served.
Candle lighting and pinning ceremonies, as well as Veterans Day celebrations are coordinated for veterans who live in our own Bethesda communities. Representatives from Bethesda Hospice Care attend Hospice Day at the Capitol to campaign for the unique hospice care needs of veterans. Additionally, Bethesda offers the unique Veteran Escort Ceremony to every veteran who dies in one of our communities. For the ceremony, our veteran patients are draped with an American flag and escorted in a dignified procession as they exit one of Bethesda’s skilled nursing communities, other long-term care communities, or their own home. A ceremonial flag folding bids our veterans a final and dignified farewell.
Why Community Partnerships Matters
Since 1889, Bethesda has prioritized meeting the needs of those in our community. The greater St. Louis area is home to numerous organizations who also share this goal. Through community partnerships, Bethesda seeks to provide additional resources and services to our residents and patients, as well as opportunities for our employees to advance their careers and get involved in causes that are important to them.
Our Partners
- ALS (St. Louis chapter)
- American Heart Association
- American Parkinson Disease Association (St. Louis chapter)
- Better Business Bureau
- Huntington’s Disease Society (St. Louis chapter)
- Jewish Community Center (Senior Olympics)
- LeadingAge (national professional organization)
- LeadingAge Missouri (professional organization)
- Lindbergh School District
- Local Chambers of Commerce
- Local Municipalities
- Meals on Wheels of Greater St. Louis
- Minority Advocacy Coalition
- National Kidney Foundation
- SAGE Metro St. Louis (LGBT older adults)
- St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE)
- St. Louis Community College
- St. Louis Regional Chamber
- St. Louis Senior Fund
- St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Shepherd’s Center
- Special School District of St. Louis County
- United Way of Greater St. Louis
- VOYCE (formerly the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program)