HOUSE CALLS

Star Ratings Reveal Quality Home Care

WINTER VOL. 26, NO.2

VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATIONHEALTH & HOSPICE

• Cape Visiting Nurse Association • Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses • Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey

• Visiting Nurse Association of Englewood • Visiting Physician Services

Barnabas Health and VNAHG Form Home Care and Hospice Partnership

Need An Extra Hand? Private Care Can HelpPictured:(L) Maria Vaz, RN, VNA Health Group Home Care, (R) Debra Clark, RN, BSN, Barnabas Health Hospice Care

Prevent the Flu This Winter

2015-2016

A Message from Our CEODear Friends of Visiting Nurse Association Health Group,

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful fall season in New Jersey and is getting ready for the upcoming holidays. In the spirit of the season, we ask that you pause during this busy time of year to ensure the well-being of yourself and others. Visiting elderly neighbors to help them prepare for the winter, checking smoke alarms and planning your annual physical exam are just some ways to keep yourself and the ones around you healthy and safe.

In this issue of House Calls, you will learn more about VNA Health Group’s exciting new joint-venture partnership with Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice. We are working around the clock to align our clinical and administrative support teams for the launch on January 1, 2016.

You will read about the Star Ratings for home care announced this summer by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). VNA Health Group and its joint-venture agencies – Cape VNA, RWJ Visiting Nurses, VNA of Central Jersey and VNA of Englewood - received some of the highest ratings in the state! The goal of the ratings is to give you and your doctor, at-a-glance, reliable information about the quality outcomes of any home care and hospice agency.

In this issue, you will meet Mary Remhoff, MSN, APN, who was recently appointed director of the Center for Early Childhood Development and Family Support in the newly formed Children and Family Health Institute at

VNA Health Group. Her warm, gentle personality and expertise is a perfect match for expanding our services in special child health and early intervention.

Do not miss out participating in our “Seasons of Hope” program for children and families we serve. This program brings home the true meaning of the season and the mission of VNA Health Group, to care for those in need. You’ll read more about how you can help.

Finally, we are pleased to share information about estate planning and to honor the memory of Dorothy Caspar and Frank Duffy, who left generous gifts in their estates to ensure that others, regardless of their circumstances, have access to home health, hospice and community-based care.

I continued to be humbled by the outpouring of support from our community. As a not-for-profit organization, the work of VNA Health Group would not be possible without all of your support and generosity. Thank you!

Sincerely yours,

Steven Landers, MD, MPH

President and CEO

New Jersey's Largest Not-for-profit Provider of Home Health, Palliative,

Hospice and Community-based Care

IN-HOME SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGHOUT

NEW JERSEY

Cape VNA Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses

VNA of Central Jersey • VNA of Englewood Visiting Physician Services

800.862.3330 • vnahg.org

Care at Home Personal CareNursing VisitsTherapy VisitsSocial ServicesSymptom ReliefEnd-of-life CareInfusion ServicesTelehealth

Care in the CommunityCommunity Health CentersHealth ScreeningsCare CoordinationCase ManagementDisease ManagementAIDS/HIV ServicesPublic HealthServices for Children

VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATIONHEALTH & HOSPICE

HOUSE CALLS

Starting on January 1, 2016, VNA Health Group and Barnabas Health will launch its new “joint-venture” not-for-profit partnership to offer patients and their families the highest quality home health, palliative and hospice care right in their homes.

The partnership, announced earlier this year, joins two organizations that are considered among the best in the state for providing high-quality home and hospice care. In July 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new star ratings to measure how home heath agencies are performing, and both VNA Health Group and Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice exceeded the national average.

“Hospitals and home care providers must find new ways to collaborate and coordinate care to provide a more seamless patient experience, reduce unnecessary re-hospitalizations, and improve health outcomes for the patients and populations we serve,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, Barnabas Health. “This partnership will position our organizations to meet these emerging challenges, while maintaining focus on delivering the highest quality post-acute services.”

When the joint-venture takes effect in January 2016, patients of VNA Health Group or Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice will not experience many changes except perhaps with some of the materials or forms they receive from their nurses or other clinicians.

Home and hospice care is often seen as a more effective and gentle way to provide health care for New Jerseyans

who have acute illnesses, long-term health conditions, a permanent disability or a terminal illness, and can help patients recover more quickly after a surgery or hospitalization.

In addition, CMS sees home and hospice care as a more cost-effective way to provide health care for patients with multiple chronic illnesses and help them avoid frequent trips to the emergency room.

Under the new not-for-profit partnership, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ) Home Care and Hospice will operate in Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean and Burlington counties while Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice will operate in Essex and Hudson counties.

VNA Health Group will continue to independently and proudly operate its other “joint-venture” partnerships with other health systems: Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, Visiting Nurse Association of Englewood and Cape Regional Home Care and Hospice, along with its programs and services for children and families through Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey.

“This partnership with Barnabas Health is an opportunity to grow as an independent community agency while closely collaborating with a leading health system,” said Steven Landers, MD, MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer, VNA Health Group. “The focus of this partnership, as with all of our programs and services, is to provide excellent, coordinated care for our patients so they may achieve their highest level of health and quality of life at home and where they are most comfortable.”

VNA Health Group and Barnabas Health Form Home Care and Hospice Partnership

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Who do I call starting January 1, 2016? A. Patients and their providers should continue to contact their primary representative or call VNA Health Group at 800.862.3330.

Q. Will my nurse change? A. No, your nurse or other trusted clinician is expected to remain the same.

Q. Who do I contact to make a referral?A. Contact VNA Health Group at 800.862.3330. Physicians who referred to Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice prior to January 1, 2016 will now have access to the secure VNA Health Group Physician Portal to initial referrals and manage patient records.

Q. What is a joint-venture?A. A joint-venture is a business term to describe a new enterprise undertaken by two or more parties. Like our other joint-venture partnerships with health systems, VNA Health Group and BarnabasHealthformedanew,not-for-profitentitytocombine their home care and hospice services in Burlington, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Q. Why does the new entity have two different names?A. We elected to keep the names that were most recognized bypatientsandprovidersinspecificareas(BarnabasHealth Home Care and Hospice in Essex and Hudson counties and VNACJ Home Care and Hospice in Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties).

Longtime VNA and community volunteer Daren Hutchinson was to be the Show House Gala honoree.

Immediatelyfollowingthefire,neighborhood children, Jack Hall and Peter O’Connor, opened a lemonade stand to raise funds for the VNA.

View of the cozy sitting area in the Guest Bedroom at Blithewald created by Valerie Grant of Valerie Grant Interiors, Summit, NJ. PhotocourtesyofDesignNJ. 

The Sun Porch, designed by Sandra John Interiors, Basking Ridge, NJ, for what was to be VNA’s 2015 Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House. Photo courtesy of Design NJ.

On April 20, 2015, a mere five days before the highly anticipated 2015 Stately Homes-by-the-Sea Designer Show House was to be previewed with a festive Great Gatsby Gala, the majestic Blithewald estate in Rumson was heavily damaged by an accidental fire.

The Designer Show House event, which had been held every other year since 2007 and had grown in popularity, had become an important fundraising event for VNA Health Group’s programs for hospice, children and young mothers.

The event took months of planning, countless hours of work by a dedicated committee of volunteers, interior and landscape designers, and staff. Many individuals and businesses in the community also were supporting the event with generous sponsorships, contributions and ads in a beautiful Designer Show House Journal. The preview gala was to honor longtime VNA and community volunteer Daren Hutchinson, who has served as a member of the Show House Committee since its inception.

Designers lost thousands of dollars in time and materials and the public missed out on enjoying the beautifully transformed rooms and outdoor spaces. Fortunately, a number of the completed rooms were photographed just prior to the fire and these photos appeared in the

Asbury Park Press and Design NJ magazine, where they can be viewed in perpetuity.

VNA Health Group Foundation is incredibly grateful to the first responders and firefighters from several area municipalities who extinguished the blaze, as well as homeowner Tom Widener, his fiancée Janet Mindur, and Tom’s four children for their grace and cooperation in the aftermath of the tragedy. The response of the community, especially the sponsors and gala ticket holders who permitted VNA to keep their contributions, is truly inspiriting.

Tragic Fire Cancels Designer Show House Major Fundraiser, Rallies Community

“The resilience of our volunteers and the generous outpouring of support in response to the fire have been nothing short of remarkable. In the face of this unfortunate incident, we have been inspired and humbled by the community’s commitment to the mission of the VNA.” – Steven Landers, MD, MPH, President and CEO, VNA Health Group

HOUSE CALLS

VNA Health Group Shines in New Star Ratings

Longtime VNA and community volunteer Daren Hutchinson was to be the Show House Gala honoree.

Flu-proof Yourself This Winter

A new ranking system of home health care agencies found VNA Health Group and its partner agencies to be among the best in the state.

In July 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced that they would be issuing a five-star rating system evaluating the quality of care at-home patients receive from nursing teams.

VNA Health Group’s not-for-profit home and hospice care partnerships exceeded national and state averages in the rigorous assessment. Cape Regional Home Care and Hospice, RWJ Visiting Nurses, and VNA of Englewood were among only four other agencies in the state to receive a 4.5 rating, the highest in the state. VNA of Central Jersey received a rating of 4 stars and was among only 11 other agencies to receive this rating.

The star ratings, which will be issued every six months, give doctors, patients and caregivers another smart and handy tool to make informed choices about who should

take care of them. The ratings sum up the results of nine of 29 publicly available “Home Health Compare” measures, and include outcomes such as how often patients have improved at walking or getting in and out of bed, and the timeliness of treatment and hospital admissions.

CMS also selected VNA Health Group to participate in the Medicare Care Choices Model, a new initiative that will launch in January 2016.The Medicare Care Choices program to be phased in over two years, will give Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive palliative care services while concurrently receiving curative treatment. For patients with life-threatening illnesses, this flexibility in coverage could greatly enhance their quality of life

VNA Health Group is honored and proud to be recognized by CMS. Our clinical teams work hard to deliver the highest quality of home health care to nearly 30,000 patients each year.

Did You Know? There is more than one type of vaccination for the seasonal flu including egg/ allergy-free and preservative-free as well as nasal spray vaccines for those who are needle shy.

If you can do only one thing to stay healthy this winter, get a flu shot.

Flu viruses thrive in cold air. They also circulate more in the winter as people stay indoors more. You can even catch flu from someone who seems healthy but might be carrying the virus.

The smartest way to defend yourself is by getting a flu shot. Every season, the flu viruses are different and so the vaccine gets updated to protect against the three or four viruses that will be most common. About two weeks after you get the shot, your body will develop the antibodies that can protect you against infection from the viruses that are in the vaccine.

When you get a flu shot, you are not only protecting yourself, you are also less likely to carry the disease to others.

What else can you do to take care of yourself? Wash your hands often, with soap and water, or an alcohol-basedsanitizer. Avoid contact with individuals who are ill with the cold or flu. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you do get sick, stay home so that the virus doesn’t spread.

Through preventative measures like washing your hands thoroughly and often and getting your annual flu shot you and your loved ones can stay healthy this winter!

For more information about our influenza vaccination program, please call 800.862.3330.

HOUSE CALLS

In 1994, Mary Remhoff was a nurse working with children with disabilities in the Middletown School District when she heard that VNA Health Group was looking for a case manager for special needs children. “I wanted to work with families,” she said about that moment. “The health of children is directly connected to the health of families.”

Twenty-one years later, she is the director of the Center for Early Childhood Development & Family Support within the Children and Family Health Institute (CFHI) at VNA Health Group, where she coordinates care for all the different families who come to VNA with a variety of health needs.

A big part of Mary’s day is listening to parents. With decades of experience as a pediatric nurse and manager of early intervention programs, Mary knows where to find information. In New Jersey, programs for children are administered by Department of Health, Department of Education, and Department of Children and Families. Mary helps families navigate bureaucracy and advocate for their child.

It takes a village to raise a child, and Mary envisions the Center as that village. Under her leadership, the Center for

Early Childhood Development & Family Support will develop models of collaboration between medical and community services.

“There are families who don’t realize how much more is available to them through the Affordable Care Act.” Mary talks parents through their options and untangles the paperwork. No child should fall through the cracks in the system.

Mary also works with the Children’s Auxiliary, a group of volunteers who conduct the annual Halloween Fest and other fundraising programs to raise money for VNA’s community-based care for families and children.

Then there’s the job that is not in the job description – persuading parents to take care of themselves. “If you don’t eat right, how will you take care of your child?” she has asked many an overworked mother. The health of a family is an enormous responsibility. Mary and the Center for Early Childhood Development & Family Support are there to share that responsibility, every step of the way.

For more information about Special Child Health and Early Intervention programs, please visit www.vnahg.org/child-health or call 800.862.3330.

Mary Remhoff, MSN, APN: Advancing Children's Health

Mary Remhoff, MSN, APN was appointed recently as director of the new Center for Early Childhood Development & Family Support at the Children and Family Health Institute at VNA Health Group.

A community that takes care of its elders is a community that takes care of itself.

The senior wellness program at VNA Health Group is a targeted and holistic approach to healthcare for adults over the age of 50. Our experienced and caring

nurses visit seniors to conduct consultations, seminars and health screenings, and unravel confusion over medications, concerns about blood pressure, chronic nagging pains and other aging dilemmas. Working with

individuals and groups, our program identifies individuals at risk of serious illness and teaches seniors to manage their own health.

Currently more than 50 senior living facilities host this program. If your workplace, club or place of worship would like to organize informative and fun healthcare events for seniors, we can help you.

Our services are free for eligible residents in select locations in New Jersey. Contact us for more information and rates at 732-720-3841.

An Extra Hand at Home – Could It Help Someone You Know?

Senior Wellness Is a Community Approach to Health and Aging

Jennifer Sharp, director of Private Care, answers questions about this VNA program that provides a broad range of services, from nursing care to transportation services, with the goal of helping New Jerseyans live independently at home. Jennifer leads a team of more than 80 nurses, home health aides and support staff.

1. Why choose Private Care?Sometimes you or a loved one needs a helping hand with caregiving. If you want services that are not covered under insurance, or more hours than Medicare offers, consider Private Care. All our nurses and aides are thoroughly screened, licensed and insured. Our registered nurses will create a plan of care unique to your needs.

2. Is Private Care affordable? Private Care is typically less expensive than assisted living or a nursing home. Long-term care insurance and benefits from Veterans Affairs cover most Private Care expenses. Some community-based programs cover Private Care expenses for individuals with specific health conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

3. What is the time commitment?You can hire Private Care for as little as two hours. We can assist with errands, accompany a patient to an appointment or relieve caregivers. We offer one-time services and live-in care.

4. Is it only for aging adults? VNA can customize Private Care for patients of all ages and medical needs, from pediatric patients to those with dementia-related illnesses.

To learn more, visit http://www.vnahg.org/ private-care.aspx or call 732.292.2121

To learn more, visit www.vnahg.org/ senior-wellness.aspx

VNA Health Group Senior Wellness nurse, Laura Dugan, RN conducts "wellness" screenings at a local shopping mall that hosted a Brain Fitness Health Fair.

HOUSE CALLS

Leaving a Tax-free Legacy Gift Ask Mary PatMary Pat Magee, Esq. represents individuals, beneficia-ries, executors, trustees and guardians in all areas of trust and estate law. She advises individuals regarding their planning needs and counsels individuals and professionals in fulfilling their duties when administering estates, trusts, custodial and other fiduciary accounts. She has a wealth of experience in federal estate and gift taxes, as well as New Jersey estate and inheritance taxes.

1. What is a bequest?A charitable bequest is a powerful way to leave a lasting impact. You can name VNA Health Group Foundation in your will or estate plan as the beneficiary of a portion of your estate, or of particular assets in your estate. Giving by bequest costs nothing now, but your legacy will endure beyond your lifetime.

2. What are the benefits of a bequest?An outright gift to VNA Health Group from your estate is entirely free from federal estate taxes, and usually not subject to state inheritance or estate taxes. This means VNA can use the full amount of the bequest.

You can create a special fund in your name or that of a loved one. Named funds are highly visible because of the activities they support.

3.How do I put a bequest in place?After you decide what amount or percentage you want to give, advise your estate planning attorney to add VNA Health Group to your will or trust. Let us know so we can acknowledge you as a member of the Geraldine L. Thompson Legacy Society. We can also help provide bequest language.

Mary Pat Magee, Esq.Member, Neff Aguilar Trustee, VNA Health Group Foundation Chair, Planned Giving Committee

For more than 15 years, with your help, VNA Health Group has been providing essential items and holiday gifts for patients and their families in need throughout New Jersey. As the organi-zation has grown statewide, the number of recipients has grown, with more than 700

families benefiting last year!

These families include infants, children, single mothers, patients at end of life, isolated seniors, and children and adults with special needs. Many of these families need

assistance with basic essentials such as food, clothing and toys, especially during the holidays.

You can embrace the holiday spirit and support our Seasons of Hope program. An outright contribution or the donation of a gift card from a popular chain store such as Kohl’s, ShopRite, Target or Walmart would be appreciated. Monetary contributions can be mailed to Seasons of Hope, VNA Health Group, 176 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701 or made online at www.vnahg.org (click on “Donate Now” and select “Seasons of Hope”). Or you may call the foundation office at 732-224-6780.

With the generous support of the community, we can truly create a “Season of Hope” for our patient families.

The Season of Giving Brings Hope and Smiles

Staff and volunteers wrap gifts that will be delivered by VNA Health Group to more than 700 families.

Geraldine Thompson Legacy Society

Two Philanthropists Leave Lasting Legacies Francis B. Duffy (1926-2014), known as “Frank,” was a World War II veteran and self-made man. In 1990, after a rewarding financial career in Manhattan, he retired to Spring Lake Heights and became active in the Jersey Shore community. A resident at Fairway Mews, he served on the board of directors while also finding the time to enjoy a round of golf. Frank remembered VNA Health Group with a legacy gift of $260,000 after learning about the care a relative received from us.

Scottish immigrant Dorothy Caspar (1932-2014) took night classes to become a schoolteacher. In her late 40s, she married Richard Caspar, and they made their home in Avon-By-Sea, New Jersey, where they threw legendary backyard barbecues. Dorothy fell and broke her hip in her 70s and had an extended hospital stay, but through the VNA Health Group, she rehabilitated at home, where she was happier. In her estate plans, Dorothy remembered VNA with a bequest of $160,000.

A gift that honors your legacy will have an enduring impact on the mission of VNA Health Group. The lasting effect of bequests—both large and small—has helped shape VNA Health Group today. By including a bequest to VNA Health Group Foundation in your will or living trust, you are ensuring that we will be here to transform the lives of the communities we serve for generations to come.

To learn more about the Geraldine Thompson Legacy Society, please contact Karen Rafiqi, director of Major Gifts, at 732-224-6780 or karen.rafiqi@vnahg.org.

Dorothy and Richard Caspar

On June 24, 1912, a small group of extraordinary volunteers led by social reformer and philanthropist Geraldine L. Thompson gathered at Brookdale Farm in Lincroft, New Jersey, to create a more humane approach to delivering health care and public assistance.

Today, the Geraldine L. Thompson Legacy Society recognizes and honors those friends and donors of VNA Health Group who have made a commitment to the future of the organization by including the organization in their estate plans.

With their permission, Geraldine L. Thompson Legacy Society members’ names will be listed in the Annual Report and newsletters. Members will also receive special invitations and updates on VNA Health Group.

If it is your wish to create an eternal legacy for yourself that will benefit the work of the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, please contact Karen Rafiqi, director of Major Gifts at the VNA Health Group Foundation, by calling 732-224-6780 or via email at karen.rafiqi@vnahg.org. We recommend that you consult your own professional advisor to maximize the impact and benefit of your gift.

Congratulations to Mindy Minerva, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group Foundation, who was named the 2015 Visiting Nurse Association of America (VNAA) Volunteer of the Year.

The award, which was announced at a ceremony in New Orleans, honored her leadership, dedication and valuable contributions to VNA Health Group. Ms. Minverva was selected from nominations submitted by home care organizations throughout the United States. VNAA is a national member organization that supports, promotes and advocates for home health, hospice and palliative care providers.

Ms. Minerva has been Chairman of the VNA Health Group Foundation since 2011, a Foundation Trustee since 2007 and an exemplary volunteer for many years prior. Among her many accomplishments are growth of philanthropy and overseeing enhancements in board governance best practices.

Visiting Nurse Association of America Named Mindy Minerva Volunteer of the Year

The VNACJ Thrift and Consignment Shop, located at 69 Main Street in Manasquan, is a gem of a shop! You can find unexpected treasures and collectibles for your wardrobe while shopping for a great cause. The shop is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can also make tax-deductible donations of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing in good condition on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The adjacent Furniture Annex features an ever-changing selection of high-quality used furniture, decorative

accents and rugs. The annex is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers local pickup and delivery of furniture. Donations are also accepted.

And if you are looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity, you can serve at the shop. Come visit us or call the shop at 732.223.1923 to volunteer, donate or simply to find out what’s on sale!

Like our new VNACJ Thrift Shop page atwww.facebook.com/VNAThriftshop.

Shopping for a Cause

Mindy Minerva, chairman of the board of trustees of the Visiting NurseAssociation(VNA)Health Group Foundation.

VNA HEALTH GROUP

EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS Children’s Auxiliary Committee had a “frightfully” good time at the Halloween Fest at Scothigh Farm, Rumson to support our programs and services for children.

Nikie Sourlis, chairman of the Children’s Auxiliary, enjoys Halloween Fest with one of the numerous costumed characters that entertained the record crowd.

Pictured left to right: Katherine Durante, Executive Director, OceanFirst Foundation; BridgetMurphy,ChiefPhilanthropyOfficer,VNAHealthGroup;StevenLanders,MD,MPH, President & CEO, VNA Health Group; Craig Spengeman, Executive Vice President & Director of Wealth Management, OceanFirst Bank and VNA Health Group Foundation Board Trustee; Mindy Minerva, Chairman of the VNA Health Group Foundation; and Christopher Maher, President and CEO of OceanFirst Bank.

Pictured: Steven Landers, MD, MPH, President and CEO of VNA Health Group with NJ Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande

From left to right: Jeff Warshauer, Mark DelPriore, Casey Sullivan and Chris Miller.Pictured: The Sullivan Family

The winning foursome at VNA Health Group’s 29th annual Golf Classic display the Robert C. Stanley Memorial Cup. The event raised money to support our home health and hospice programs.

At the VNA Health Group Annual Meeting, we also recognized OceanFirst with our "Philanthropic Partner Award" in appreciation of their support in building healthier communities.

At the VNA Health Group Annual Meeting, we recognized NJ Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande with our Community Partner Award for her work and commitment to improving the lives of women and children across Monmouth County.

Pat and Greg Sullivan and the Sullivan Family were honored at the Golf Classic and Post-Golf Party in August for their longstanding commitment and generous support of VNA Health Group.

VNA Health Group's 104th Annual Meeting

29th Annual Golf Classic

Halloween Fest

There Are Many Ways YOU CAN HELP VNA Health Group

If you are receiving House Calls for the first timeand wish to continue, please call 800.862.3330, orsign up at www.vnahg.org/signup.

176 Riverside AvenueRed Bank, NJ 07701

Volunteer Your Time and EnergyVNA Health Group is always looking for volunteers to assist with clerical and administrative tasks, visit patients and families, make comfort calls to bereaved hospice families, help with special events, or work in our Thrift and Consignment Shop in Manasquan, NJ. For more information, please call Pauline DePalma, Manager of Volunteers at 732.224.6933.

VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATIONHEALTH & HOSPICE

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Family members of hospice patients joined friends, donors, board of trustees and staff of Visiting Nurse Association(VNA)HealthGrouplastmonthtoobservetheilluminationofthe“HospiceTreeofLights”and to light candles in the memory of a loved one.

A community of support is the most effective therapy to the isolation that often accompanies grief, particularly during the holiday season. The annual tree lighting event helps to support VNA Health Group’s bereavement program that provides touch points of support throughout the year.

From the VNA Health Group Family to yours, best wishes for a peaceful, healthy and happy holiday season with every good wish for the New Year!