Edmonton Journal

Shepherd’s Care Foundation Kensington Village

- GERALD VANDER PYL

It really comes down to being all about the people.

Fifty years ago the German Pentecosta­l Benevolent Foundation was founded to address a need for senior housing.

Since then its name has changed to Shepherd’s Care Foundation, and its role has expanded greatly, offering a variety of living arrangemen­ts and services for those wishing to age in a loving, Christian atmosphere.

“Shepherd’s Care was started over coffee by some individual­s who said ‘we have to do something about housing,’” says Shawn Terlson, President & CEO.

Now Shepherd’s Care has six locations in Edmonton, and one in Barrhead serving 1,800 seniors with independen­t living, designated supportive living, supportive living with dementia, and long-term and complex care.

That includes Kensington Village, which is the Gold Winner in the Edmonton Journal’s Readers’ Choice Awards for best Seniors’ Residence for the third time in a row – fifth in a row for a Shepherd’s Care facility.

Shepherd’s Care has always distinguis­hed itself with a pastoral care program providing spiritual guidance and emotional support to its residents and their families.

Terlson says the success of the organizati­on and its facilities reflects how the staff treats residents.

“It really comes down to being all about the people. We hire the best people who align with our Christian mission,” he says.

Over the past half century, Shepherd’s Care has built its reputation for a caring, Christian environmen­t, leading to word-of-mouth recommenda­tions by members of its four sponsoring churches: Hope City Church, Southside Pentecosta­l Assembly, Bethel Pentecosta­l Assembly, and Eaglemont Christian Church.

The result is that many people in Edmonton and area say: ‘We would really love to have our parents in a Shepherd’s Care facility,” says Terlson.

For more informatio­n go to Shepherdsc­are.org

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