Call to Care Magazine 2022

Call to Care

For our generous donors and supporters

IN THIS ISSUE

4 Celebrating Our Mission The Grace Campaign Results

7 Above All, Love The Hospice Journey

16 Insights from our Team Enthusiasm and Innovation

18 Advancing Caregiving Skill

Philanthropy Funds Education

22 Continuing a Legacy New Board Chair Announced

28 Gathering to Remember Families Honor their Loved Ones

30 Philanthropy in Action People Who Make it Happen

Pictured on the cover:

S ahadia Bleus

K. Douglas Briggs

Emily Cooper

Karl Hoffman, RN

Kevin Schiller

Jill Tallman

Production Editors: Liz Silvia and Deanna Tavares

Photographers: Scott Eisen, Len Rubenstein, Tracy Shankle and Barrie Smith

Graphic Design and Printing: Jack Dean, ColorMax Graphics, Inc.

All photos and content

© 2022 NVNA and Hospice

781.659.2342

nvna.org

Call to Care 2022 Magazine is a special edition of the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund’s Call to Care Newsletter. 12

Recognizing a Decade of Support

Faces of Our Dedicated Community

Over a nursing career, you see thousands of patients. And while it would be impossible to remember all the names, it is the faces that always stand out. Sometimes it is the complexity of the case, but often it's a funny story from the patient or a complicated conversation that most resonate.

O ur annual magazine is a celebration of the faces of NVNA and Hospice. In the course of a week, I have the privilege of interacting with so many incredible people who drive our mission in such critical ways. Each individual is advancing our focus on patient care, but their reasons and roles are as diverse as the faces across this publication. We are only as strong as the people around us, and my tenure as CEO has solidified that belief. Whether considering a volunteer, board member, front line clinical colleague or a donor, our successful story of high-level clinical care in the home stalls when we are down in just one of these key roles.

Renee McInnes

Home care, both nationally and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will experience challenging financial days ahead. We, however, remain vigilant in our belief that excellent patient care drives every decision.

F inally, our story only grows with the investment of donors backing our mission. My profound gratitude to our supporters.

Sincerely,

Renee McInnes, MBA, RN CEO, NVNA and Hospice

non-profit mission at NVNA and Hospice is to provide quality home care, wellness, and public health services in the community.

$6.4 Million Raised

Board members proudly display the final result of our Grace Campaign

Dear Friends,

To properly thank the long list of individuals who allowed our Grace Campaign to break records would be impossible.

I can, however, tell you that over 8,000 donors generously contributed to our efforts. Our community stood with us from the start.

My profound gratitude to my fellow Board members and our Grace Campaign Committee for their counsel and commitment to the mission of NVNA and Hospice.

And, lastly, thank you to our Campaign Chair Jane Steinmetz, who set our sights high and remained focused on our ambitious goals.

Sincerely,

• Over Goal by 42%

• Over 8,000 Gifts Secured

Michael Baker

Chair, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees

Principal, Baker Law Group

Grace Campaign Chair, Jane C. Steinmetz

We need to talk about death because it helps us to understand more about who we are as human beings and how important we are to each other... It should give us a better sense of our connection to each other, the necessity of treating each other with the utmost dignity that life demands. It is a primer on the hard–but necessary–work of love.

~ Reverend Liz Walker

Leadership Donors to the Grace Campaign

$500,000+

McKim Family Foundation

Cathy and Rick Roche

Jill and Henry D. Tallman, Jr.

$100,000 - $499,999

Anonymous

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Donahue, Jr.

Donna and Robert Pineau

Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust

Barbara Roche

Edward Roche

Mr. and Mrs. Brad Warner

$50,000 - $99,999

Ada Bacon Trust

Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund

Anonymous

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Fireking Baking Company

The George E. Curtis Charitable Trust

Katherine Greaney

The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation

Hollywood Agency

Monica McKim Smith

Julia and Thomas Powers

The Quincy Mutual Group

Roche Bros. Supermarkets

$25,000 - $49,999

Sara and Matthew Abbott

The Alera Group

David Barcomb, The Barcomb Group

Brewster Ambulance Service

Commander and Mrs. Robert Chambers

Coastal Dealerships

Coastal Heritage Bank

Michelle Cully

Curtis Management

Helene Doherty

Duncan MacKellar

Insurance Agency

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ford

F.P. Giglio Properties

John and Barbara Giuggio Foundation

The Estate of Betty Gulick

Harold Brooks Foundation

Al Lucibello

Wells Fargo Advisors

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Lynch

Renee and Paul McInnes

Catherine McMenimon

Pilgrim Bank Foundation

Deirdre and Paul Prescott

Robert F. Quinn Foundation

Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation

The Safe Family Foundation

Katie and William Scalzulli

Social Service League of Cohasset

South Shore Bank

South Shore Elder Services

Stagedge

Beth and Christopher Sullivan

Laura and Andrew Tuttle

Ellen and Peter Zane

$10,000 - $24,999

Atlantic Charter Insurance/ Sallop Insurance

Ann-marie and Michael Baker

Mr. and Mrs. William Begley

Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA

Boston Evening Clinic Foundation

Pamela and Stephen Brake

Patti and John Burke

Santosh Chaturvedi

Tracy and Jason Clifford

Copeland Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dockendorff

Claudia and Peter Dolphin

Mr. and Mrs. C. Herbert Emilson

Christine Falvey and Anthony Messina

Fidelity Investments

Hingham Investor Center

Msgr. P. Fursey O'Toole Trust, Inc.

Cobie Gladwin

Thomas Hall

Paula and Bill Harris

WH Cornerstone Investments

Health Recovery Solutions

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Herde

Holtec Decommissioning International

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hooley

Ann Jacobs

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kelley

Mildred Mallen and Scott Olszyna

Sharon Marcil and Thomas Monahan

Victoria and Matthew Milano

Richard A. & Helene H. Monaghan Family Foundation

John C. and Eunice B. Morrison Charitable Foundation

Karen Mullaney, CPA, and Stephen Graves

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Pinch

Point32Health

The Fred John Pula Revocable Trust

Dianne and Tom Reilly

Cara and Matthew Rinaldi

Diane Scully

Sandi & Joel Shriberg and the Natalie Lovell Family

Molly and Fedor Smith

Claudia Sorgi and K. Douglas Briggs

South Shore Community Partners in Prevention

South Shore Health

State Street Global Advisors

Jane C. and John Steinmetz

Gerald Stergio

Pam and William Whelton

Laura and Randall Winters

Thank you to all who donated to the Grace Campaign. We are deeply grateful.

Above All, Love Taking the Hospice Journey Together

The grieving starts the moment you understand the diagnosis and what the end result is going to be,” Joy Moore quietly reflects. “The end-of-life journey began for Rob, and I wanted to be on that journey with him. And the question is posed, how do we best do that?”

Robert Moore was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2020. In the spring of 2021 he moved into the Pat Roche Hospice Home.

A proud veteran of the United States Navy, Rob began his military career assigned to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Retiring after a 20-year Navy career and a graduate of California State University, Rob transitioned to a career in property management. His greatest success, however, was his 37-year marriage to Joy and raising their two children Christopher and Amanda.

Joy served as Robert’s primary caretaker in the beginning, but they together realized there would soon come a time when she wouldn’t be able to care for him at home.

“I was too exhausted at the end of each day to just be able to sit, hold Rob’s hand, and talk to him,” Joy says. “I was missing that and I worried he was missing it, too.” After a discussion with Christopher and Amanda, Joy decided to tour the Pat Roche Hospice Home and recalls, “The moment I set foot on the property I could somehow feel that it was the right place. There was an atmosphere of serenity and peace, which is exactly what I was looking to be able to provide for Rob.”

At the start of the hospice journey, Joy made the decision to step down as Vice President for Student Affairs at Boston College. While still continuing in her role as a University Vice President and overseeing a new initiative, Joy was able to focus on Rob’s care and her family.

“Hospice is an opportunity to spend your final days in a warm, caring, and loving environment that brings you and your loved ones much needed peace,” noted Joy. “And there are so many moments of grace that stay with you, including a special dinner prepared for Rob and me by the chef on our 37th wedding anniversary and the afternoon the chaplain and his team recognized Rob’s military service with a ceremony.” Robert Moore passed away in August 2021.

“Christopher, Amanda and I are eternally grateful for the team of caregivers,” says Joy. “The Pat Roche Hospice Home delivered all that we had hoped for at such a difficult time. There is a particular way in which this team works to lift families up at the lowest point in our lives and help us see that there is life after this. It won’t be easy… but you will go on.” n

Joy and Robert Moore with daughter Amanda and son Christopher

Joy Moore

now that you–collectively and individually–treated my lovely wife in the most humane, caring and kind manner imaginable, all the while taking that extra step to maintain her dignity and respect, and for this my family and I are eternally grateful. We will never forget it.

~ Grateful Family Letter

The Pat Roche Hospice Home

The Carol Reports

Expressions of Love

The last year and a half of Carol Stergio’s life was defined by a devastating battle with brain cancer. With her beloved husband Jerry, and her son and daughter-in-law at her side, the family navigated treatments, surgeries, doctors’ appointments, and ultimately, honest conversations about charting her end-of-life care.

Jerry noted that the diagnosis moved fast but did allow Carol to participate fully in her transition to death. “How do we make it so that she remains as comfortable as possible and as dignified as she always lived her life?” asked Jerry. “We knew we couldn’t do it alone. Everyone

we asked said to use NVNA and Hospice.”

From palliative nursing care to in home hospice services, to taking residence at the Pat Roche Hospice Home, Carol utilized multiple clinical services and was guided by a thoughtful care plan that considered her wishes and factored in the challenging demand of a disease that ravaged her body.

Carol’s life was big, complicated, joyful and noisy. It was marked by successes, failures, purpose and profound love.

As Carol embarked on her final journey, she determined that her energy would be directed to her family, but her lifelong friends asked for updates and how they could assist.

In what eventually became a tribute to a life of lessons and revelations, Carol created The Carol Reports, a weekly email update to friends and family on her condition. It started with clinical notes on the appointments and evolving care plans and then quickly morphed into life lessons, humorous observations and a call to action to all her loved ones to take on life today.

In the end there were 53 reports and when the disease took full control and Carol could no longer pen her insights, Jerry took on The Carol Reports

Jerry Stergio bravely and graciously shared The Carol Reports and, although it would be impossible to print every line, we are honored to share wisdom from a woman who embraced life and saw the purpose of life more clearly as each day brought her closer to the end. n

“I have moments and, yes, days that I really want to let the world know how unfair my diagnosis is, although complaints change nothing. I also want to scream at folks to appreciate every day, every opportunity, every friend, every act of kindness, every relationship, every expression of love, everything normal, because it can literally elude you in a heartbeat.”

“Something good is coming out of this.”

“Life is good. Enjoy every minute!”

~ Carol

“Carol had an epiphany while on the Cape when we were overlooking a string of bonfires along the beach at night from our vantage point on our deck: 'With my Nordic heritage, it would only be fitting that I get cremated on a Viking funeral pyre on the water.' (Not sure the Cape’s regulations will permit this, but if we do it quick, we might only have to pay the standard Viking funeral fee.)”

“Thank you for allowing me to experience the cathartic effect of writing and sharing Carol’s and my journey, and, in the process, knowing and reassured that we're never alone.”

~ Jerry

Carol and Jerry Stergio

Carol and Jerry Stergio with their son Erik, daughter-in-law Meaghan, and grandsons Peyton and Finn

Honoring Family Dedicating the Tallman Family Meadow

On the 5th of June the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees dedicated the grounds of the Pat Roche Hospice Home in honor of Jill and Henry Tallman for their philanthropic commitment to the NVNA and Hospice mission. An original advocate of a regional hospice home, Jill Tallman serves in multiple roles for NVNA and Hospice: as a member of the Board of Trustees, a volunteer at the Pat Roche Hospice Home, and as a past participant on the Grace Campaign Committee. Jill's commitment to The Pat Roche Hospice Home has now spanned a decade and her Family Foundation remains one of the largest donors to our mission.

“I think in these complicated days we are always looking for leaders and guides. But sometimes all you need to look for is an example ... the example that both of you, Jill and Henry, have created for your beautiful family to follow of how to live a life of purpose and meaning.”

Renee McInnes, CEO, NVNA And Hospice at the Tallman Dedication

Introducing the Barbara F. McKim Patient Wing Recognizing a Life of Joy and Purpose

In 2021, Alan McKim, President and CEO of Clean Harbors, donated $500,000 to NVNA and Hospice through the McKim Family Foundation in honor of the care his mother received at The Pat Roche Hospice Home. Family and friends gathered in March for the official dedication of the Barbara F. McKim Patient Wing.

“For us, this is an opportunity to recognize Barbara and of course to thank the McKims for their incredible philanthropic support of our mission. And for the family ... I know this is about someone you dearly loved.”

Bill

Scalzulli Former

Board

Chair, NVNA

and

Hospice

Board

of Directors at the Barbara F. McKim ribbon cutting

Barbara McKim with two of her 29 great-grandchildren

Alan McKim with his children Monica, Jackie and Bill

ANNUAL SUMMER PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE

In July, a group of committed NVNA and Hospice donors gathered at the home of Claudia and Peter Dolphin for our third annual summer roundtable. This year, our breakfast conversation centered around connecting to a cause and compelling new supporters.

Q: The question of what connects to donors is always front and center. We have a powerful cause but we have to be consistently sending that message to a large demographic. What breaks through the noise to you as a donor?

PZ: I think part of the challenge that non-profits suffer is, how do you become famous? How do you resonate with the community?

MB: I agree with Peter about resonating with a large community and having a clear message. Hospice is an important conversation and our goal is to tie the charitable intent with the vital services we offer.

PZ: It’s a multi-pronged effort to draw new people to your mission for patient care and philanthropy.

MB: And fortunately for us, we are seeing success in our philanthropy platform.

KM: Therein lies the complexity of the messaging… We are actually behind financially due to cutbacks by Medicare and private insurers. My message as board Chair is that the national home care financial system is in crisis and without community support, we cannot do it.

VM: However, the moment people become engaged with the mission, they are moved, and you have a captive audience who is inspired to participate.

Claudia Dolphin

Karen Mullaney

The group included: Michael Baker, Claudia Dolphin, Peter Dolphin, Victoria Milano, Renee McInnes, Karen Mullaney, Rosemary Phalen, and Peter Zane.

RM: A former hospital CEO and I were recently comparing notes on this very topic. Donors drive the nonprofit health care system. As for the home care network around the country…I see many of those smaller agencies who are not organized on philanthropy. We know there will be more reimbursement cuts to home care. We are faced with tough questions that start with, “How is this sustainable?”

KM: We have an important mission mired in a complex message.

CD: And then we should be connecting to donors, and most importantly highlighting the outcome of people’s generosity in our messaging.

RP: Our patient stories are empowering. This isn’t a book you are reading. This is real. It is happening to the family next door.

VM: I agree; this can be anyone in our community. It’s everyone’s story at some point. And that’s important to our messaging: eventually you will want and need NVNA and Hospice. We also have something very compelling with the Pat Roche Hospice Home. It is an amazing resource and I keep thinking there is still room for growth and outreach.

Q: The pandemic has put home care and hospice in the center of the national conversation on healthcare. So, you all think we have a market that is even bigger than we realize?

PD: Exactly. The pandemic forced the conversation about what the NVNA and Hospice story is and what makes your mission special.

Home care takes place at all levels and ages. Patients want to avoid hospitalization and subsequently they will invest in something they will use today and into the future.

CD: And that, of course, means we have to loop in the narrative of healthcare delivery at home. We look at our local fire and police departments as helping us in a time of need. NVNA and Hospice offers an incredible benefit to families living in our region.

PD: There are unlimited stories to tell.

RP: The structure is already there as more of us baby boomers seek to receive care at home. NVNA and Hospice has the players in place so we can build upon what we already have and expand throughout the community.

RM: I agree, Rosemary. We are already providing extraordinary home health services at a very high level and as the community recognizes us, we can use this as an opportunity.

MB: Which brings us back to the question of what compels donors?

NVNA and Hospice is consistently awarded five-star scores for quality and patient satisfaction.

KM: This is why we are donating and giving our time: to assure the best clinical care access for all of our patients.

CD: It’s the most important point, because people like to be part of a winning team.

Rosemary Phalen

Michael Baker

Peter Dolphin

Renee McInnes

Peter Zane

Victoria Milano

Insights from Our Clinical Team

A Clinical Q&A

As our patient census grows, the complexity of our care increases. We are constantly asking ourselves, “What else can we be doing to serve our community?” Sahadia, Karl, and Amanda are three critical members of our administrative team who bring enthusiasm and innovation to their roles each day.

Sahadia Bleus Clinical Team Assistant

You need to simultaneously coordinate both patient and clinician schedules in your role. What do you keep in mind to successfully accomplish this?

The patient is always our first priority. I arrange patient visits based on factors such as their location and urgency of needs, but frequent communication with our clinicians is key. We all have individual responsibilities while acting as one unit to make the right decisions for every patient on our service.

Having been with the agency for over four years, how have you seen the mission grow over time?

Since I began working at NVNA and Hospice, I’ve noticed that our clinical scores and number of referrals have only continued to increase. I see this as evidence that we are gracefully growing to serve more families’ needs. Attending our fundraising dinner The 12 this year made me even more proud to be here and know that our work is valued in the community—but I know there’s always more we can do.

W hen working to arrange patient visits, how do you navigate the potential challenges, such as a last-minute schedule change?

I simply always have a backup plan. At the end of the line there is a patient who needs us and I’ll do anything to make sure they receive the care they need, when they need it. That’s why we’re here: to handle it all.

Karl Hoffman, RN Clinical Navigator

This is a new role for our organization. What were your main priorities coming in?

We are one of the first VNAs in the state to implement a clinical navigator, so a huge priority was defining this role from a home care perspective and integrating it among our existing programs to put together a workflow. Our goal is to stay one step ahead of our patients’ clinical needs, thereby lowering any risk of rehospitalization. Tell us about working with your clinical colleagues.

I can’t say enough about how impressive my colleagues are. Every person I’ve worked with thus far has been supportive and helpful as I’ve transitioned into my role. Our employee retention rate is high—some people have been here for over a decade—and I think there’s a reason for that.

Karl, looking to the future, what are you excited about doing here at NVNA and Hospice?

I’m very excited about being able to integrate my role and refine our processes, as well as becoming more involved in patient care. It’s an exciting opportunity to be able to help both clinicians and patients at once.

Amanda Pedretti, RN, CHPN, EOLD Hospice Clinical Manager

Tell us about what you think makes our hospice program different.

From our skilled clinicians to chaplains, spiritual support, and the volunteer team, we have a unique group of individuals who collaborate seamlessly with the patient and family as a whole. Their care and dedication to the program as well as the South Shore community is impressive: we are truly neighbors helping neighbors.

W hat are your impressions of your new position thus far?

My position is exciting. I have learned so much in my short time here and seen so many valuable developments. Hospice is being recognized for its importance in healthcare nationally, and I'm thrilled to be part of such an innovative, collaborative team.

W hat do you find fulfilling about working in hospice?

Above all, our ability to honor a life well lived with a beautiful end-of-life experience. Families are often afraid of the word “hospice,” but we are given the chance to show them how it can provide so much for both the patient and family. I consider myself so fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of a truly precious period of time for our patients and their families.

Setting the Standard

In 2021, NVNA and Hospice received a 5-star patient experience rating with The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

NVNA and Hospice was recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 5% of all eligible SHP clients for the 2021 calendar year and an overall hospice caregiver and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20%.

Prioritizing Patients Through Education Always Advancing

NVNA and Hospice RN case manager Caitlin Gabrielle has been with the agency for close to a decade. “I’m always looking to advance myself and my career,” she says, “but staying at the bedside working directly with patients is important to me. Being here has allowed me to do both.”

Coming from a hospital floor background, Caitlin acknowledges that she wasn’t quite sure what to expect when she first shifted over to the home care field; however, she would quickly grow to love it. “When I started out, I remember I was so elated to see a wound heal for the first time ever,” she recalls. “Visiting patients in the home allows you to see their care through to the end and concurrently give them the tools they need to help with preventative care.” She also points out that it isn’t just the critical needs that are met. “Home care is on a continuum. We address physical needs but additionally consider questions such as ‘What are we doing to help their quality of life?’”

One of Caitlin’s proudest achievements came in 2021 when she received her Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing (WOCN) certification through the Gerry Sanderson Education Fund. The certification offers nurses the opportunity to become highly specialized in complex wound care, and in the case of home care, can often help prevent patients from being re-hospitalized.

“Our mandate is to elevate all our caregivers’ skills and our organization remains focused on that goal,” remarked COO Kate Mercier. “Philanthropy is fully funding this work.”

“W hen this opportunity presented itself, I knew I had to take it,” says Caitlin. “Having this next level education means that we are able to bring wound center quality treatment to patients who cannot leave their homes. Being WOCNcertified puts you in a very unique position to direct care: physicians entrust you to finish what they began, whether it’s healing a wound or caring for an ostomy.” n

Caitlin Gabrielle, RN

ADVOCATING FOR EXCELLENCE A Critical Safeguard

At any given time, Lana spends her day handling calls both internal and external to help ensure patients are able to receive the care they need in a timely fashion.

“My job is to help all the clinical disciplines in the field,” she says. A fellow nurse may review a patient’s critical labs and request an urgent call to their physician, or a different physician might contact her with an update that must be made to a patient’s chart.

Lana notes that she often calls patients herself to review changes and plans of care. Although she’s not visiting homes, she acknowledges that “I still get that connection with patients when I call to speak with them. And, if I can bring some conversation and laughter to the moments we’re on the phone, I can tell it makes them feel good.”

Upon walking into Lana Legere’s office at NVNA and Hospice, the first thing any visitor notices is the giant bin of snacks pushed against the wall. “Just in case anyone needs a pick-me-up,” she modestly explains. Lining the windowsill are various awards received over the 15 years she’s worked for the agency in recognition of her dedication. Of these, she is equally as self-effacing: “I just try to be kind and help people out when it’s needed. I was shocked to receive them.”

Lana began her NVNA and Hospice career as a licensed practical nurse in the field, where she cared for patients in their homes for close to a decade. Then she made a switch. Someone was needed to run the Medical Doctor order line for the intake team, and Lana’s manager thought her organized, calm demeanor made her a clear fit.

“It’s a demanding role, providing critical updates to care plans and coordinating with physician practices,” noted CEO Renee McInnes.

Lana Legere is the 2022 recipient of the annual Robert F. Dwyer Compassionate Caregiver Award.

Lana Legere, LPN

Put Your Hand Up

Building The Care Plan Together

On a cold day in March, Patti Wade, Ellen Walsh and Pauli Lysko reminisce about their mother and growing up in a boisterous family of seven siblings in Holbrook. “I think of those very happy days and realize now our mother had the patience of a saint,” remarks Patti. “Seven kids in eleven years, and my mother was unflappable. She knew everything that made each of us tick and connected in such a special way with each and every one of us.”

Therese and Robert Doherty spent 53 years in a happy marriage together, raising seven children and building a family legacy of faith and love that includes 20 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

In July 2021, Therese passed away at the age of 92. A teacher for over 25 years, Therese was also elected to the Holbrook School Committee, eventually serving as the Chair. “All my siblings are busy with careers and families, and our mother was and continues to be our guidepost and role model. But, honestly, she was an example of service to everyone from our family to our community and her church,” says Pauli. “A small lady but a very big presence.”

The NVNA and Hospice team worked with Therese and her family for over 15 years, addressing her continuum of care with the goal of keeping everything local and as much of the care as possible at home in Holbrook.

O ver many years Therese accessed multiple clinical services of NVNA and Hospice. “I don’t recall the first

Therese Doherty surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Therese Doherty with husband Robert

year we encountered the team but it started after our mom’s hip surgeries,” remembers Ellen Walsh. “The efficiency of the nurse team and the physical therapists was impressive. Our mother wanted to regain her independence and she knew the NVNA and Hospice team would put her on that road to recovery.”

W ith the onset of dementia, the clinical team recommended Therese introduce palliative care to her plan. “The palliative team was encouraging but also put us on a whole new level of organization,” comments Ellen. “You worry that you might be missing something but the palliative nursing team is the differentiator on every topic, whether that is medication changes, diet concerns, or, of course, acting as the conduit to the physicians.”

“We knew that Mom's dementia was not curable, and living in the shadow of Boston, we had a remarkable physician team in our corner fighting with us,” Pauli remembers. “But the physician team embraced our decision to bring in the NVNA palliative care team.”

“I absolutely thought that too,” offers Patti. “‘Palliative care is about quality of life and our mother benefited tremendously from that level of care.”

In April 2020, as the pandemic was beginning to ravage the healthcare system, Therese transitioned from palliative care to hospice.

“Our mother loved her home, so having the NVNA and Hospice team providing care in her home and the clinical team being local, that says a lot about the mission of an organization. They were invested in her care and provided thoughtful, high-level guidance.” ~

Patti Wade

“My advice to anyone starting the process is to put your hand up. You are trying very hard to navigate care for someone you love and it is not a defeat to need a conversation with somebody who is an expert. It can’t hurt. If at that point you are early in the care plan, at least palliative is on your radar. Then it is a blessing.” ~

Ellen Walsh

“ The hospice nursing team made it easier and in retrospect, what a blessing to have all of those pieces already in place,” notes Patti. “We would all gather in Mom's driveway for visits when the pandemic was so confusing and the infection protocols were unclear. The hospice nurses just made it all work.”

“Right until the last breath that she took, she knew that she was with her loved ones,” Ellen quietly comments. Pauli says, “My lesson in watching my mother’s health care journey is accepting that you’re going down this uncertain road and taking the appropriate actions with experts can make all the difference. Mom had the gift of faith–she lived it and she had such acceptance.” n

Ellen Walsh, Patti Wade and Pauli Lysko at their childhood home

Karen Mullaney named Chair of the Board of Directors

of Directors

Karen Mullaney

President

Mary Sweeney

Vice President

John Burke

Treasurer

Ben Bembenek

Clerk

Alan J. Berrick, M.D.

Anita Comerford

Claudia Dolphin

Shaun Golden

Karen Johnson

Elena Kirkiles

Linda Mahonen

Renee McInnes

Kendra McKinley

Donna Pineau, Ph. D.

Deirdre Prescott

William Scalzulli

"I am honored to assume the role of Chair of the Board. This is an impressive Board of Directors and everyone is so committed to our mission, which revolves around our patients." ~ Karen Mullaney, CPA

Past Chair, Bill Scalzulli, pictured above with Karen Mullaney and Renee McInnes, will continue as a Board Member.

Karen Mullaney, CPA, Chair of the Board of Directors

NVNA and Hospice Board

"In the pandemic, Bill led us through some very challenging financial times," noted Renee McInnes. "He was the exact right leader at the exact right time for our Board."

Save the Date November 5, 2022

One night homes across the South Shore honor one of our region's most valued assets.

Donations collected the night of Bella Vita are directed to the Pat Roche Hospice Home's Free Care Fund, which allows any patient, regardless of their economic challenges, to access extraordinary care.

If you would like to host, attend, or donate to Bella Vita, please contact Lisa Mullen at 781.610.1519 or LMullen@nvna.org

"This is an event with great history. Gina Vita and Claudia Dolphin provided the roadmap, and I am honored to take the baton as the 2022 Bella Vita Chair."

~

Board of Trustee member Tracy Clifford with NVNA and Hospice CEO Renee McInnes

Sally and Trustee Kevin Schiller with Kim and Eric Warner at their Bella Vita Party, 2019

Daniel Hale and Trustee Darlene Hollywood with CEO Renee McInnes at their Bella Vita Party, 2018

Tracy Clifford

$480,000 Raised for Patient Care

On June 22, we celebrated The 12 to raise funds and awareness for patient care at the Pat Roche Hospice Home. Over $480,000 was raised as nearly 500 guests gathered on the hospice home grounds to enjoy cocktails, dinner, and a performance by Grammy winner Marc Cohn.

A FAMILY VOLUNTEERS Building Community Values

alongside her for years, but Megan acknowledges that this experience is a bit different. “At first they were curious and a little nervous to volunteer in a hospice home, but now they just want to keep coming back with me.” She goes on to note that their weekly baking time has been a gentle way to connect them with the hospice mission. “This is such a warm, nurturing environment, and I see it helping them become comfortable with the concept. All three of us have immediately felt embraced by everyone we have met here.”

In addition to kitchen shifts, Megan also provides companionship visits to hospice patients and is in the process of receiving her Reiki certification. “The learning continues for my daughters when they come to help in the kitchen, but it’s also continuing for me as I learn new skills and forge these human connections. Between us, the staff, and patient families, we’re all making a difference for each other. It’s a mutual joy.”

When Megan Hansen and her daughters Sophia and Brooke arrive for their Sunday evening volunteer shift at the Pat Roche Hospice Home, the first thing they do is turn on the oven. “We’re always looking to see what we can bake,” says Megan. “Preparing food for the patients, families, and staff here feels simple, yet it is so impactful.”

W ith a background in occupational therapy and a long history of volunteer work, Megan, a mother of four, has an instinct for providing comfort that becomes clear upon hearing her speak. It's only natural that her daughters would follow suit. Sophia and Brooke have volunteered

Volunteers at NVNA and Hospice have many options to choose from. Some, like Megan and her daughters, volunteer with housekeeping or patient services at the Pat Roche Hospice Home. Others conduct companionship visits in patient homes across the region, provide veteran recognition ceremonies, or offer clerical assistance.

“There is so much opportunity within this volunteer program,” Megan says. “I feel so fortunate to be here and to be able to involve my family in this important work. We’re all just supporting each other.” n

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with NVNA and Hospice, please contact Jonathan Pierce at JPierce@nvna.org. 7

This past July, our volunteers were invited to a luncheon celebrating their dedication to our patients and families.

• Home Care services

revenue in 2020 was over

$96 billion world-wide

• Over 35,000 home care

agencies in the United

States

• O ver 600 million patient

home visits each year

nationally

• Estimated 70% of patients using home

care nationally are

age 65 and older

Analytical Insights

Patient Support Behind the Scenes

Behind the network of caregivers that traverse the 27 towns served by NVNA and Hospice is an administrative operations center staffed by seventy employees in patient admission, education, human resources, finance, compliance, and information technology. Every piece of the administrative operations center is tied directly to the Clinical Dashboard.

“My position at NVNA and Hospice is to analyze, track and respond in real time,” remarks Clinical Application Specialist Emily Cooper. “The 'response' aspect of my work is the entire reason my position was created.”

Medicare is NVNA and Hospice’s largest payer and the structure to which payment is received involves multiple channels of disciplined data. All the data for our 750 daily census of patients is charted via electronic medical records, and then the diligent work of reacting to the

information comes into play. “From the moment they are referred to us, an entire team is working to analyze the information we receive so as to provide that patient with the proper support when a clinical team member walks through their door.”

“Every decision we make for the care of our patients is fueled by the analytical review of our data,” notes Chief Operating Officer Kate Mercier. “And of course, our ability to react to our data requires a sophisticated understanding of our business. It is complex: expanding our census, tracking trends, and financial projections are all connected to our dashboard, and Emily is the driver.”

In 2022, NVNA and Hospice will care for a record number of patients from Milton to Plymouth. n

Gathering to Remember

On May 22, over 200 guests joined together at our annual ceremony to honor patients whose names have been newly added to our Wall of Remembrance. Held on the grounds of the Pat Roche Hospice Home, this event recognizes each family’s individual loss as they gather in memory of their loved one.

For more information about honoring your loved one on our Wall of Remembrance, please contact: Lisa Mullen at 781.610.1519 or LMullen@nvna.org.

“The Wall of Remembrance gathering was a wonderful day to honor our mother alongside so many others who have also experienced a recent loss.”

~ Tracey Monahan

OUR MISSION IN ACTION

Whether it's Board members speaking about our offerings to their neighbors, getting the chance to celebrate the excellence around us, or volunteers giving their time, our community helps support our mission every day. On these pages, we celebrate events and happenings that show our mission in action, with the people who make it happen.

Norwell High School's 2022 NVNA and Hospice Nursing Scholarship winner Maddie Schiller, who will pursue her nursing degree at the University of South Carolina, with Renee McInnes

Massachusetts, presents NVNA and Hospice home health aide Kim Bolduc with the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts’s 2021 Aide of the Year award.

Board of Directors Chair Karen Mullaney with Claudia Sorgi, K. Douglas Briggs, and Jim Dunphy

Board of Trustees members Sara Abbott and Nancy Bailey with Renee McInnes

Board of Directors members Claudia Dolphin and Karen Johnson with James Broderick and Board of Trustees member Dianne Reilly

Derby Serves parents Heather Ward and Jeanne Beauregard delivering gingerbread houses

2021 Amy Sylvester Award winner Gina Vita with husband Thom Baer, M.D.

SETTING THE PACE IN CARE

NVNA and Hospice is pleased to announce the appointment of John Stevenson, M.D. as our Hospice and Palliative Care Medical Director.

In 2021, NVNA and Hospice was honored to care for a record number of patients and families. We remain committed to expanding our footprint for hospice services across the region.

Leadership and Empathy: A Panel Discussion

In late 2021, The New York Times Managing Editor Carolyn Ryan moderated our leadership panel that included Jane C. Steinmetz of Ernst & Young, Christa Hagearty of Dependable Cleaners, Renee McInnes of NVNA and Hospice, Bob Terravecchia of Coastal Heritage Bank, and Carol Bulman of Jack Conway.

“Dr. Stevenson understands and values our work. From day one he has enhanced our mission.”

~ Renee McInnes, CEO

Thank You to Our Charitable Fund Board of Trustees

NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees

Michael Baker, Chair

Sara Abbott

Lisa Allen

Lizzy Antonik

Nancy Bailey

Allen Bottomley

Jill Clifford

Kaitlin Clifford

Tracy Clifford

Timothy Corbett

Marisa Costello

Michelle Cully

Claudia Dolphin

Maureen Faherty

Christine Falvey

Martha Falvey

Peter Finnegan

Katherine Greaney

Paula Harris

Michelle Hatch

Darlene Hollywood

Dennis Keohane

Rob MacElhiney

Renee McInnes

Martin O’Neill

Stacey Page

Dianne Reilly

Patrick Renna

Cara Rinaldi

Michael Rogers

Kevin Schiller

Jill Setian

Bonnie Simmons

Molly Smith

Monica McKim Smith

Beth Sullivan

Jill Tallman

Robert Terravecchia

Laura Tuttle

Kristen Walker

Laura Winters

The NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Development Team includes:

Michael Rogers Senior Vice President of Advancement and External Relations mrogers@nvna.org

Linda Brown Director of Development lbrown@nvna.org

Lisa Mullen Development Officer lmullen@nvna.org

Deanna Tavares Development Officer, Operations dtavares@nvna.org

Dale O’Reilly Development Assistant doreilly@nvna.org

Liz Silvia Communications Coordinator lsilvia@nvna.org

If you would like to be added to or removed from our mailing list, or if you would like more information about NVNA and Hospice, please contact Liz Silvia at 781.610.1493 or LSilvia@nvna.org.

Rockland Trust and The Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation are pleased to support NVNA and Hospice.

We know that by supporting our neighbors, we’re strengthening the same communities in which we live and work, and building relationships that last a lifetime.