VNA Today Volume 26 No.1

8/7/2019 VNA Today Volume 26 No.1

1/12

Volume 26 No. 1 2011

Te Newsletter o te Visiting Nurse Association

o te Treasure Coast

VNAToday

VNA 20102011 Annual AppealNow Under Way

You may have received a mailer from the VNA during the past

few months entitled A Community of Caring. This booklet is the

cornerstone of the VNA & Hospice Foundations 20102011 Annual

Appeal. If you have already pledged your support to this years

appeal, we offer our sincere thanks. If you have yet to respond, below

are a few frequently asked questions we receive regarding our annualfundraising appeal and how your support helps to make a difference

in the lives of area residents.

Annual appealdoes that mean the VNA is a not-for-

profit organization?

Yes. The VNA and all of its subsidiaries, including Nightingale

Private Duty Nursing, are 501(c)3 organizations as defined

by IRS regulations. Our annual fundraising drive is conducted by

the VNA & Hospice Foundation, the philanthropic branch of our

Support your VNA

todAy!

If you have already chosen t

support the VNA & Hospice

Foundations 20102011

Annual Appeal, we thank yo

If you have not yet made you

contribution, please considedoing so today. You can give

online quickly, easily, and

securely by visiting

www.vnatc.com/foundatio

Simply click on the red,

Donate Now box to make

your contribution to our

20102011 Annual Appeal.

On behalf of those less

fortunate in our communitywe say Thank You.

100 percent of contributions received areretained by the Visiting Nurse Association andHospice Foundation. A COPY OF THE OFFICIALREGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATIONMAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OFCONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800)435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE.REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSMEN

APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THESTATE. Please write us at our address if you wishto have your name removed from the mailing list toreceive fundraising requests to support the VisitingNurse Association and Hospice Foundation, Inc. infuture. CH3553

Q.

A.

www.vnatc.com 1110 35th Lane Vero Beach, FL 32960 772.567.5551 800.749.5760

WHAtS INSIdE

2011 VNA o te Treasure Coast

4

6

8

Terapy Services

Answer Nurse

In Your Words

SeeAnnual Appealon page 3


2/12

Living the Dream is doing what you are most passionate about with people around you

who share the same motivation. That is what I am doing as President & CEO of the VNA. I

am awestruck by the amount of support the community and volunteers have given and

continue to provide our VNA patients and families. I am very proud to serve as this

organizationss leader.

In November, 2010, our board of directors and senior leadership team embarked on a

three year journey to become the highest quality patient care provider in the communities

we serve. We developed a strategic plan with a strong focus on clinical quality, patient

satisfaction, associate retention and education, and exceeding the needs of the

communities we serve. We plan to measure our progress toward becoming the B.E.S.T.,

literally.

stands forbudget and growth as an industry we need to strive to make

healthcare affordable and provide value to the patients and medical community.

The VNA will dene our current and future markets, develop a comprehensive growth plan

and align resources to ensure patient accessibility to health care services.

represents the experience we provide to our patients. We will continue to

provide patient-centered, efcient, and timely care involving families and friends

Surveys are sent to patients and/or families measuring their satisfaction with our services

is the core of what we provide safe clinical quality care. Our publicly

reported outcomes on quality will meet and at times exceed the national averages

Our newly implemented electronic medical record system will provide real-time clinical

information about our patients to ensure we have the most up-to-date information to

make the best clinical decision.

is for team we need highly satised associates to provide high quality service.

We care for those who care for our patients.

This balanced approach (B.E.S.T.) to strengthen our services will guide us as we are faced

with competing priorities. The board of directors and senior leadership team are excited

about our future direction.

Our rst major hurdle in our journey is the Medicare cuts to our home health and hospice

reimbursement, effective January 1, 2011. This impact will reduce VNA reimbursement

$100,000 per month. The federal government has been charged with funding Healthcare

Reform and the need to cover the 40,000,000 people who currently do not have insurance

In order to fund this endeavor, the federal program, Medicare, is being reduced for almost

all providersincluding home health and hospice. Support from the VNA & Hospice

Foundation will need to help us meet this challenge, and our leadership will continue to

assess and implement measures to reduce the cost of services in order to continue to

provide care.

The VNA has thrived and survived the past thirty-ve years and with your help and

ongoing support will be able to survive and thrive another thirty-ve years.

Thank you for your continued support,

Joyce Baldrica, President & CEO

CEOs Message

Joyce Baldrica,President and CEO

B

E

S

T

www.vnac.cm


3/12

organization. Through the annual appeal and other fundraising

activitiessuch as our annual Golf-A-Thon, memorial/honorary

donations, bequests, and other planned giftsthe VNA &

Hospice Foundation is able to provide more than $1 million

each year to help support the VNAs home health, hospice, andcommunity wellness programs.

But dont you charge for the services you provide?

How can you be a not-for-profit?

Not-for-profit means that any surpluses we generate

stay in our community to benefit local patients rather

than being returned to corporate shareholders elsewhere. In

fact, being a not-for-profit doesnt mean an organization

should be unprofitable. Quite the contrary, we must generate

surpluses if our agency is to continue providing the highest

quality care for our patients. For example, operational surplusesenable us to invest in specialized education and certification

for our clinical staff, purchase medical monitoring equipment

for use in patients homes, and maintain our technological

infrastructure so we can operate as effectively and efficiently as

possible. Operating efficiently is particularly important for our

organization due to inadequate reimbursement from Floridas

Medicaid program and ongoing reductions in the reimbursement

we receive from the Medicare program. We estimate that our

reimbursement from Medicare this year will be reduced by

approximately $1 million when compared with last year.

So, how does your annual appeal figure into all of

this?

Every day in our community, men, women, children, senior

citizens, and families are unable to afford the healthcare

they urgently need. Some have no insurance at all, while others

are under-insured or have coverage with prohibitively high

deductibles. Regardless of their specific situations, all share a

common challenge as they find themselves without adequate

resources to pay for their care.

The VNA & Hospice Foundations annual appeal raises funds to

provide critical support for home health and hospice programs

and services to meet the charitable healthcare needs in our

community. Annual appeal contributions make it possible for

our team of nurses, clinical specialists, therapists, and social

workers to provide compassionate care to patients and their

families. Without this support, we simply would not be able

to functionthe way we do todayas a lifeline for those who

have nowhere else to turn for in-home care because of limited

financial resources.

Annual Appeal Now Under WayContinued from page 1

The mission of

the American

Cancer Society

is to eliminatecancer as a ma

health problem. The American

Cancer Society provides program

services, resources, information,

community fundraising

opportunities, and support. They

are the largest non-governmental

funder of cancer research in

the United States, spending

approximately $130 million each

year to work to nd cures. The

American Cancer Society funds

groundbreaking research that hel

better understand cancers causes

determine how best to prevent

it, and discover new ways to cure

it. As a Relay for Life business,

the VNA is a proud supporter of

the American Cancer Society. For

more information, please visit the

website at www.cancer.org.

CommunityPartnersips

Q.

A.

Q.

A.

Make A GitMake a gift to the VNA &

Hospice Foundation now and

keep the income for life with a

charitable gift annuity!

This information is provided as an educationaservice only. Rates are subject to change. Forone-life or two-lives specic rate information,contact Richard Johnson at the VNA &Hospice Foundation at 772.978.5574 or [email protected]. For advice, contact youtax advisor.

Age ofAnnian

60 6970 7980 8990+

Single Life

Gift AnnuityPayment Rates

5.0 5.6%5.7 6.9%7.1 9.2%9.5%

VNA Tod


4/12

If you have ever received physical, speech, or occupational therapy,

then you clearly understand the benefits that rehabilitation therapy

offers. Therapy services are one of the major types of patient care

provided by the VNA in patients homes. In fact, approximately

40% of the patients we see receive physical therapy at some point

during their episode of care. To put this number into perspective,last year, VNA therapists made more than 22,000 home visits to

patients needing physical, speech, or occupational therapy services.

And while many of our patients are senior citizens, weve also

provided therapy services to patients as young as six months of age.

As with other in-home healthcare services, we provide therapy

services to patients based on a plan of care that is driven by each

patients personal goals and may include interventions designed to

manage pain, increase or recover functionality, improve balance,

prevent falls, and develop home exercise programs. One of the

VNAs newest therapy programs is intended to help patients withlow vision issues adapt safely to their home environment.

Patients are usually referred to the VNA by their physician, often

due to a change in their medical condition such as:

problems with walking or falling

a diagnosis of arthritis, Parkinsons disease, stroke, or head

injury

medical or surgical issues, or

an orthopedic procedure such as hip or knee replacement

Types of Therapy

In-home rehabilitation therapy can fall into one of three main

catagories:

Physical Therapy: Helps patients regain strength and

mobility, enabling them to manage in their environment safely,

gain independence in walking, climbing stairs, or transferring

in and out of a car.

Occupational Therapy: Allows patients to retain or regain

fine motor skills, enabling them to perform essential daily

living activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating.

Speech & Language Therapy: Treats disorders of speech,

language, and swallowing, including assisting family members

in effectively communicating with the patient.

If you believe that you or a loved one may be able to benefit from

in-home therapy please contact the VNA to learn more about how

we may be able to help.

Are you a physical, speech, oroccupational therapist, or do

you know someone who is? If

so, contact the VNA today! We

are currently seeking therapiststo join our home care teams

in Indian River and Brevard

Counties. We offer:

Competitive salaries

Relocation packages

Flexible hours and

minimal travel

No-cost health insurance

On-site wellness clinic for

associates

Company paid CEUs

To learn how you or someoneyou know can join the VNA

team, please visit us online at

www.vnatc.com and click on

Careers at the top right ofyour screen.

TerapistsWanted!

VNAs Terapy Services

www.vnac.cm


5/12

Medicare is a health insurance program for

seniors aged sixty-five or older and for people

with qualifying disabilities. Individuals who paid

Medicare payroll taxes while they worked are

eligible for Medicare coverage.

There are many different types of Medicare

coverage, but the four most common are

Medicare Parts A and B, which are government

administered, and Medicare Parts C and D, which

are administered through private health insurance

companies. There is also Medicare Supplemental

Insurance, sometimes called Medigap Insuarance,

which helps cover the gaps in cost not covered by

standard Medicare.

Medicare Part Ais standard Medicare, also

known as the Hospital Insurance Program. Part

A covers hospital costs including: inpatient care,

skilled nursing care, hospice care, and some

home health services. A premium payment is not

required for Medicare Part A.

Medicare Part B, also known as the Medical

Insurance Program, covers the following: doctors

services, outpatient care, some home health

services, physical and occupational therapy, and

some preventive services. A monthly premium

is deducted from your social security check,depending on your income.

Medicare Part C, also known as the Medicare

Advantage program, allows patients to choose

a health plan offered by a Medicare-approved

private insurance company. Most Medicare

Advantage plans offer coverage such as vision,

hearing, and dental. Part C may charge additional

monthly premiums and copayments on top

of monthly premiums. The cost of Medicare

Advantage programs varies by plan.

Medicare Part D offers prescription

drug benefits to Medicare recipients and is

administered by a Medicare-approved private

insurance company. Often, Medicare Advantage

plans already include drug coverage, so you may

not need to purchase a Part D plan. A monthly

premium is required in addition to paying a

copayment for medications. Cost of Medicare

prescription drug coverage varies by plan.

Medigap policies help pay for additional

costs not covered by standard Medicare such as

copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. There

are twelve different Medigap policies, which are

administered by private insurance companies.

Medigap insurance requires a monthly orquarterly premium in addition to your Medicare

Part B premium. You dont need a Medigap

Policy if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan and

Medigap policies do not cover health costs for

your spouse.

Choosing a Medicare plan and/or supplement

that is right for you can be confusing. Talk to your

physician to determine what coverage you need.

You can also contact your local SHINE (Serving

Health Insurance Needs of Elders) representativefor assistance and information. Visit their website

atwww.elderaffairs.state.fl.us/shine or call

1.800.963.5337.

The VNA accepts the following Medicare plans:

traditional Medicare, Medicare railroad benefits,

and TRICARE. Additional plans accepted are:

AARP Medicare Complete, Advantra Freedom,

Health First Health Plans, Humana, Secure

Horizons, United Healthcare, and Universal

Healthcare.

Medicare 101

VNA Tod


6/12

Millions of Americans lose some of their vision every year. An estimated

fourteen million Americans are visually impaired and this number is expected

to grow signicantly as our nation ages and age-related eye diseases become

more common. Anyone with reduced vision not corrected by eyeglasses or

contact lenses can be considered visually impaired. Vision loss is the thirdleading cause of disability among Americans and women have a signicantly

higher risk of being visually impaired than men.

QWhat is Low Vision?

ALow vision is the loss of sight that impairs everyday functioning that is not

correctable with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Low Vision

includes different degrees of sight loss, from blind spots, poor night vision, and

problems with glare, to an almost complete loss of sight.

QWho can be affected by Low Vision?

AAlthough low vision can occur at any stage in life, it primarily affects theelderly. Low vision is more common in adults over age forty-ve, and even

more common in adults over age seventy-ve. However, low vision is not a

natural part of aging. Most people develop low vision because of eye diseases.

Common causes of low vision include: macular degeneration, glaucoma,

diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts.

QWhat are some common symptoms of Low Vision?

AThe symptoms described below may not necessarily mean that you have low

vision. However, if you experience one of more of these symptoms, contact your

eye doctor for a complete exam.

Difculty recognizing objects at a distance (street signs or bus signs)

Difculty differentiating color (particularly in the green-blue-violet range)

Difculty seeing well up close (reading or cooking)

QWhat can I do if I have Low Vision?

AThere are many places you can go for help if you have low vision. Local low

vision programs may offer a variety of services, such as, low vision evaluations

and special training to use visual and adaptive devices. They may also offer

guidance for modifying your home as well as group support from others with

low vision.

QWhere can I get more information on local Low Vision Services?

AThe VNA offers a low vision program called HomeSight which can help

homebound patients become more independent. The program is covered by

Medicare. For more information on VNA Low Vision services, please call the

VNA at 772.410.4462.

Answer NurseLIVING WITh ThE ChALLENGES Of LOW VISION

healtScreeningSceduleAvailableOnlineDid you know that you

have access to the VNAs

blood pressure/blood

sugar screening schedule

with just a click of a

button? Visit

www.vnatc.com and

click on the Community

Wellness block in the

center of the screen to

view the latest schedule.

You may also call our

health screening hotline at

772.567.5760, Option 6.

The VNA Answer Nurse welcomes your questions. Please write or call: TheVNA Answer Nurse, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960, 772.978.5636,or [email protected]. This material is for general information. Todiagnose a specific illness or disorder, consult your doctor.

Glenda Grady is an Advanced

Registered Nurse Practitioner wit

te Visiting Nurse Association and

is certiied by te American Nurses

Credentialing Center in family

Practice.

www.vnac.cm


7/12

Mobile UnitSceduleThe VNA Mobile Unit providesbasic healthcare services free ocharge for Indian River Countyresidents who are without

health insurance. Our MobileUnits nurse practitioners canexamine patients, diagnosetheir illnesses, and prescribe

medications.

Sunday9 a.m. 3 p.m.

fellsmere Community Center

56 Nort Broadway Street, fellsmere

Monday8 a.m. 7 p.m.

Winn Dixie Sopping Plaza

2950 9t St. S.W., Vero Beac *

Tuesday8 a.m. 7 p.m.

Riverview Park

U.S. higway 1 and harrison St., Sebastian *

Wednesday8 a.m. 7 p.m.

VNA Parking Lot

1110 35t Lane, Vero Beac *

Thursday8 a.m. 7 p.m.

Giord Yout Activity Center

4875 43rd Avenue, Vero Beac *

Friday8 a.m. 7 p.m.

VNA Parking Lot

1110 35t Lane, Vero Beac *

Saturday9 a.m. 3 p.m.

CVS Parmacy

8495 U.S. higway 1, Wabasso

* Closed for lunch from noon 1 p.m.

As the rst home health agency in

the community offering in-home

telemonitoring in 2007, the VNA is

taking the service to the next level

with new technology that collects

more information, analyzes it better,and sends a patients daily vital signs

to the physician in an instant.

With three heart attacks within the last twenty-ve years, and

problems with retaining uid around his heart, Walter Comstock,

eighty-one, was the ideal candidate to be the VNAs rst telehealth

patient four years ago. Monitors kept daily track of his weight,

pulse, blood pressure, and other key indicators of good health. If his

vital signs were outside the normal range, he got an immediate call

or visit from a VNA nurse.

The new system has superior features to what we had previously,

explained Mary Jane Davis the VNAs Vice-President of Home

Health Professional Services. The new equipment also monitors

blood oxygen level and it can monitor the effectiveness of blood

thinning medicine. It is also wireless, making it available to the

growing number of people without land line telephones.

The idea behind in-home telemonitoring is to catch certain kinds

of health problems before they result in hospitalization. During

a six-month period from December 2009 through May 2010, the

VNA tracked forty-ve patients who had Congestive Heart Failure,

(CHF), common among older people. Twenty-ve had in-hometelemonitoring and twenty did not. Only twelve percent of patients

on VNA telemonitoring were readmitted to hospitals within thirty

days of being discharged while twenty-ve percent of those not

monitored were readmitted.

Mr. Comstock remembers the telehealth lessons he learned about

diet, exercise, and better medical awareness. He still follows the

same self-examination procedures he learned. I felt like I was

being watched when I needed it, said Mr. Comstock, still a big fan

of telemonitoring. His wife, Barbara, said the system helped her

condence that he was doing well.

Among other improvements in telemonitoring, the health status

questions a user answers are targeted to the patients specic

condition. The monitor is multi-lingual and easier for patients with

vision or motor skill impairment. In addition, the weight scales are

lighter and wireless, reducing the possibility that the patient might

trip over the wires.

Sadly as we went to press we learned that Mr. Comstock passed

away. Walter and his wife will continue to be in the VNAs thoughts

and memories.

A Big fan o Telemonitoring

VNA Tod


8/12

The following is a letter Nightingale received from a patients daughter regarding the

exceptional care Nightingale provided her father.

Dear Sally,

I am writing this letter to thank you, although there are no words that can adequately express

our thanks, for your excellent care of my father, during the past 1 years.

I remember when I first met you in March 2009. You were extremely knowledgeable and

professional but more than that, kind and understanding. I knew you and my Dad would click

and that you were the right nurse for the job. As the months went by, our family was more and

more impressed with your thoroughness, your useful suggestions, and your attention to every

detail relating to Dads care. Never once did I ask a question for which you did not have the

answer. Also, as Dads condition changed, your ability to adjust his care plan accordingly was

amazing.

Not only was your own care outstanding, but your ability to coordinate a small army of home

health aides and companions was incredible. Your success in managing Dad was remarkable,

in fact much better than we could have done! It never ceased to amaze us how well you could

handle our sometimes prickly and fiercely independent father. There is no way on earth he

could have lived independently in Florida without your support, and for that we will always be

extremely grateful. You made it possible for him to live his life on his terms for a very long time.

I must also thank you for keeping me updated and informed on Dad, his health, and his carefor all those months. You returned every phone call promptly, initiated calls when necessary,

and communicated with his doctors offices as well. I cant imagine the amount of behind-the-

scenes time you must have spent on the phone coordinating all his care. It was reassuring that

I could get detailed updates from you, while I was trying to manage his care from Connecticut.

You were my eyes and ears and I trusted that the information you gave me was accurate and

truthful. For this I can never thank you enough.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Jackie, Rick, Carlene and Claudette from

Nightingale as well for their dedication and care. They were part of the team that allowed Dad

to live on his own in Florida for so long. Every one of them treated Dad with respect and helped

him maintain his independence for longer than any of us had thought possible. They gave him

friendship, and companionship again with good humor, tact, and responsibility.

Sally, in this letter I have attempted to put into words that which cannot be put into words.

I hope that you and I might meet again so that I could give you a hug and again give you the

thanks you so richly deserve. I have been so impressed, and so grateful for all you have done

over the last year and a half. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of

all my family, for helping us during this daunting situation. God Bless you.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Aldrich

Nigtingale Provides Exceptional Care

www.vnac.cm


9/12

Nigtingale is home CarePulse CertiiedNightingale Private Duty

Nursing recently received its

Home Care Pulse Certification.

Home Care Pulse, a companywhich measures client

satisfaction, created the certification program to measure

key satisfaction aspects of an agencys in-home care

delivery. Home Care Pulse believes that certifying agencies

can both educate and help families to make better care

decisions for their aging loved ones.

We know that sometimes it is difficult to make care

decisions when you dont have specific experience with

an agency. It was our goal to provide families with the

ability to make an informed decision, have tangible waysto measure quality, and help them find a comfort level

when choosing an agency to work with, commented Aaron

Marcum, founder of Home Care Pulse.

The Home Care Pulse Certification requires an agency

to be reviewed monthly and includes the evaluation of

client satisfaction in areas such as: timeliness, knowledge,

and compassion of caregivers; effective communication;

problem resolution; and whether or not services are

delivered as promised. Clients are also asked if they

would recommend Nightingale Private Duty Nursing to

others and to rate the agencys overall quality of service.

In all, the Home Care Pulse evaluation includes thirteen

questions related to client satisfaction.

While this certification is not required in our private

duty industry, we chose to adopt the high standards it

requires because our clients deserve high quality, said

Joyce Baldrica, President & CEO of Nightingales parent

company, the VNA of the Treasure Coast. The initiative

demonstrates our commitment and relentless pursuit to

provide the best experience for our clients.

We want to congratulate Nightingale Private Duty

Nursing for becoming a Home Care Pulse Certified home

care agency and commend their commitment to placing

high priority on client and employee satisfaction,

concluded Marcum.

To find out more about the Home Care Pulse Certification,

please visit www.npdn.com and click on the Home Care

Pulse logo.

David brings to

the VNA more

than twelve

years of sales

and marketing

experience. In

his new role, he will be responsible for

enhancing and developing new and

existing service lines and conducting

one-on-one consulting with clients and

families.We are excited about Davidjoining our team here at Nightingale

and the VNA, said Joyce Baldrica,

President and CEO. His experience and

knowledge of private duty care will be

a great addition to our wonderful VNA

Nightingale program.

Prior to joining the VNA, David served

as an Account Executive with Gentiva

Home Health Services in Port St. Lucie,

Florida. In addition, his experiencealso includes serving as the Marketing

Director for Access Lab in Vero

Beach, Florida, where he recognized

and implemented additional facility

locations to help meet the demand for

doctors and their patients.

I am excited to be part of an

organization long recognized by the

medical and private community for

its excellent customer service andcompassionate patient care. Nightingale

is truly committed in offering the

highest level of private duty care. I look

forward to working with such a talented

team, said Griffin.

David earned his Bachelor of Science in

Liberal Arts from Neumann College in

Aston, Pennsylvania.

Please Join Us inWelcoming

DAVID GRIFFIN

SENIOR CARE

CONSULTANT

VNA Tod


10/12www.vnac.cm

VNAs first hustle or homehealt and hospice a Success!

The VNA held its first Hustle for Home Health and Hospiceon November 20, 2010 in celebration of the VNAs 35th

anniversary and in recognition of November as National Home

Care and Hospice Month. The event raised more than $7,000 for

charitable home health and hospice care in Indian River County!

At 7:35 a.m., 283 walkers and runners participated in the 3.5-

mile event, which started and ended at VNA headquarters (1110

35th Lane), and also incorporated the VNAs Hospice House

parking lot. Complimentary long sleeved t-shirts were awarded

to the first 235 registrants, all finishers received a specially

designed medal, and food, refreshments, entertainment, and aprize drawing were provided after the event.

The event was made possible by the support of Dyer Auto,

Millers HealthMart Pharmacy, Scripps Treasure Coast

Newspapers, Treasure and Space Coast Radio, JAS Fitness,

Oxygen Plus, Peace River Citrus, The Majestic Movie Theater,

DeRoyal, Social Kaboom, Vero Insurance,Heartbeat of the

Treasure Coast, and Bridgevine. The pre-event warm up

was provided by JAS Fitness, Advanced Motion Therapeutic

provided complimentary massages after the event, DJ David

Hoover rocked the audience by playing the number one songs

from the past thirty-five years, and timing and race guidance

were provided by Runners Depot of Vero Beach.

On behalf of our patients, the VNA would like to thank the

community, participants, sponsors, and the thirty volunteers

who helped make this event a success!

If you have any questions or wish to discuss sponsorship

opportunities for the 2011 Hustle, please contact Tracey

Kendrick, Communications Manager, at 978.5515 or

[email protected].

Let Us help YouTroug TryingTimes

The VNAs COPES program offerspractical training and support to

those caring for a sick loved one.

The program is free of charge, and

all are welcome to attend.

COPES Caregiver SupportGroup

Third Thursday of every month

10:00 11:00 a.m

First Presbyterian Church

1405 Louisiana Avenue, Sebastian

VNA bereavement counselors

offer guidance and support to

individuals and families who have

experienced the loss of a loved

one. Services are available free of

charge to all Indian River County

residents. All are welcome to

attend.

Bereavement Support GroupTuesdays6:30 7:30 p.m.

Crossroads Christian Fellowship Hall

10205 US higway 1, Sebastian

This is a general bereavement group

Wednesdays1:30 3:00 p.m.

Our Savior Lutheran Church

1850 6t Avenue, Vero Beac


Thursdays2:00 3:30 p.m.

Sebastian River Medical Center

13695 US higway 1, Sebastian


Thursdays7:00 8:30 p.m.

Community Church Library

1901 23rd Street, Vero Beac

This group is for parents who are coping

with the loss of a child

www.vnac.cm


11/12

Thanks to the VNA & Hospice Foundation and

generous community support, fifty-five-year-old

Carolyn Swanton, a Vero Beach resident, received

almost two-and-a-half years of care from VNA

Hospice.

Carolyn was first diagnosed with Non Hodgkins

Lymphoma in 2001. She began receiving hospice

care in July 2007 and was discharged and

readmitted to hospice several times between then

and December 2009. Carolyns condition seemed

to improve many times as the VNA hospice staff

provided supportive care. After gaining stability

and being discharged, her health would quickly

decline without VNA support and she would be

readmitted into hospice. Sadly in 2009, Carolyn

passed away peacefully in the VNA Hospice House.Carolyns entire experience with the VNA was

funded through charitable care. Because of her

age, Carolyn did not qualify for Medicare. She did

not have private insurance and could not afford

to pay out-of-pocket expenses for hospice care.

During the two-and-a half years she was on VNA

Hospice services, Carolyn received care in her

home, in the hospital, and in the VNA Hospice

House. While in the Hospice House, her room and

board, her daily medications, and additional costs

were all covered.

According to a close friend, Carolyn was very

grateful to the VNA for services they provided to

her. Since she was in the care of the VNA for so

long, she established a close relationship with

some of her caregivers and looked forward to their

visits.

It was very difficult for Carolyns friend to watch

her health gradually decline. The VNA caregivers

helped me understand the different stages she

was going through and provided comfort and

understanding in a very professional manner.

The genuine care and compassion that was given

to Carolyn throughout her journey cannot be

measured and will never be forgotten by her familand friends.

The VNA Hospice House is the only hospice facilit

in Indian River County, providing patients the

highest quality end-of-life care. Last year, more

than 200 patients were cared for in the house. For

more information or to schedule a tour, please cal

772.567.5551.

VNA Toda

Wat Your Donations Accomplis

how your contribution elps:

$15 covers a patients medication, durable

medical equipment, and additional supplies

like gloves, diapers, and materials used to treat

wounds for one day at the VNA Hospice House

$141 pays for the weekly oxygen costs for allpatients at the VNA Hospice House

$500 covers the weekly cost for linen service for

all patients at the VNA Hospice House

$1,200 is the monthly amount needed for all

patients meals and snacks at the VNA Hospice

House


12/12

*VNA accepts payment rom Medicare/

Medicaid, Private Pay, Private

Insurance, Workers Compensation

and Veterans Assistance.

Mailing Informationyou receive multiple mailings, would like

o update your address, or would like to be

emoved rom our mailing list, please call

72.978.5546 or e-mail [email protected]

NON PROfITORGANIZATIOU.S. POSTAG

VERO BEACh,

PERMIT #42

pAId

1110 35th Lane Vero Beach, FL 32960

www.vnac.cm

VNA Makes Best Places toWork List!

We are pleased to

announce that the VNA

of the Treasure Coast

was recently selectedas one of Indian River

Countys 2010 Best Places

to Work by Workforce

Solutions. The VNA also

received this recognition

in 2009. The VNA was

awarded the honor for its

outstanding educational programs, benefits, and associate wellness

initiatives. To be considered for the award, the VNA completed a

forty-question survey that cataloged turnover; growth; employeetraining and development; promotion rates; employee evaluations

and feedback; percentage of employee injuries; diversity of

management; benefits offered; and average pay increases.

The VNA cares for those that care for others. Higher associate

satisfaction leads to higher patient satisfaction, which is the core of

our business, said Joyce Baldrica, VNAs President and CEO.

For information about how you can join our team, please visit the

Careers page of our website.

Support teVNA Gol-A-Ton!The VNAs twenty-first annual

Golf-A-Thon will be held onMonday, May 2, 2011 at Riomar

Country Club. Twelve golf pros

from local clubs play 135 holes

of golf to help raise funds for

charitable healthcare.

Last year, the VNAs generous

donors contributed more than

$200,000 to the Golf-A-Thon.

This support provided charitabl

health services to people in ourcommunity who did not have

the resources to pay for the

quality home health and hospic

care they deserved.

For more information on how

to become a sponsor or make a

donation, visit www.vnatc.com/

foundaion or contact Beverly

Smith at 772.978.5573

Follow Us On Facebook: facebook.com/vnatc

VNA Today Volume 26 No.1

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