Cindy Scheublein – the new CEO at Bethany Home – grew up with a grandmother who taught her first and foremost the importance of seeing into the hearts and souls of seniors citizens and recognizing their depression.

Most are suffering from loneliness, adding that they can be in a room of 150 people and still be lonely – showing they need a personal connection in their lives.  

Scheublein first took over the interim point man position at the 92-bed skilled nursing facility during the transitional period replacing Barbara Camping in May of last year – being recently appointed to lead the entire facility as its CEO.

Scheublein began serving elders while still in elementary school when her mom asked her help with her grandmother who was mourning the loss of her grandfather.

“Mom asked if I would stay with grandma (Mildred Spangler) a few nights a week and we quickly bonded and even watched Jeopardy together,” she said. “ The ‘few nights’ turned into every night.  I was there when she was diagnosed with cancer – and being there for the whole aging process.  She would take me on her ‘rounds’ which included a visit to Mrs. Moses in her home who would peek down at me over the edge of her hospital bed and smile.  I would smile back and it felt good. Just being present and smiling at her ill friends in need felt good.”

Her grandmother died and entered into eternal life on Scheulbein’s 30th birthday with her granddaughter entering a new decade leading toward a career in service to other seniors in her path.

She and her dad were very close on the dairy farm as a young girl.  He showed her how to enjoy labor, seeing it as a gift.  

“I always knew where my dad was,” she said, “either out in the dairy or out in the field.”

She said her dad developed stage four lung cancer and was told by his doctor that he would never be able to get back on the tractor as he sought treatment in the Mayo Clinic in Missouri.  

Scheulbein prayed, the whole family prayed, while one day she saw a message as she glanced down at her open Bible and read several lines in John 11-4 right,  It was right in front of her eyes telling her that healing was at hand. Her dad was scheduled for further testing to see if the medical treatments had done any good.  Doctors didn’t expect good news to come for the family but they faced with a new exciting find.

She said they waited for hours in the waiting room for word on his condition from the staff.  Finally the lead surgeon walked up to her saying they couldn’t find any sign of the cancer.  Only scar tissue remained and the cancer had been eliminated surely by the grace of God.

“Everything I learned in the two year journey with my dad prepared me for what I am doing here today,” she said from her new office at Bethany Home.

Scheulbein went to work at the University of the Pacific library for seven years after her graduation. She then found an internship at a skilled nursing facility – and the rest is current history.

“The position of Executive Director is not just a job to me.  It is a mission, a privilege, a calling to serve God’s people whether that person is a resident, a family member or an employee,” she said.  “We have a very supportive mission-focused Christian board of directors for which I am very grateful.  I am surrounded by a strong team of individuals who have been gifted by God to do the work He has called them to do here at Bethany Home,” she said.

They have a heart for Bethany Home’s mission and residents – they know what to do and they do it well, she added.  

“Aging is not easy and it is different for each person,” she explained.  “I want us to do what we are able to do to make it the best possible experience for our residents.”

To contact Glenn Kahl email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3539.