2023 Edition
Call to Care For our generous donors and supporters
BOLD LEADERSHIP:
Mobilized, Motivated, and Setting a New Mandate
IN THIS ISSUE
Call to Care Magazine 2023 is a special edition of the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund’s Call to Care Newsletter.
8 Advocating with Authenticity Strength and Support
18 The Power of Hospice A Collaborative Focus
20 Regaining Agency
Creating a New Normal with Palliative
22 Amy Sylvester Award
Honoring Healthcare Leaders
24 Ann's Team
A Collective Approach
30 An Exercise in Dedication
Pursuing Education, Enhancing Care
32 Honoring Loved Ones Wall of Remembrance
Production Editors: Liz Silvia and Deanna Tavares Photographers: Scott Eisen, Tracy Shankle, and Barrie Smith Graphic Design and Printing: Jack Dean, ColorMax Graphics, Inc. Special Thanks: Sara Abbott, Sophie Antone, and Darlene Hollywood All photos and content © 2023 NVNA and Hospice 781.659.2342
nvna.org
10
Philanthropy Creates the Path Pictured on the cover:
Seated: Herb Emilson Renee McInnes, MBA, RN Rosemary Phalen, RN
PMS 654 + 577
Standing: John Stevenson, MD Gerry Sanderson, RN Alan McKim
NVNA and HOSPICE
C H A R I TA B L E
FU N D
23 4
Guiding the Mission
Honoring Visionary Philanthropy
14
Summer Roundtable
26
The 12: A Night of Inspiration Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
1
A Strategy for Success Dear Friends, This edition of Call to Care is a tribute to what we believe ensures our success in our next century of care. We concluded 2022 facing the reality that federal healthcare cuts were inevitable. But we have remained resolute that we will advance. Structuring and defining our future is dependent upon our reaction to a pay system that undervalues our services. It is our reality, however frustrating, but we must claim the pieces we can control: generous philanthropic donors, thoughtful volunteer board counsel, and the highest level of patient care. These assets put us on solid ground today. It is our fervent belief that we have a solid strategic case which will allow us to weather the current unsteadiness of Medicare, our largest payor. An important part of that strategic case is community investment. Our continued gratitude to all of you for your tireless work on behalf of our mission. We are humbled by your kindness and understand that we are stewards of this goodwill. On behalf of the patients and families we serve, thank you. Sincerely,
Renee McInnes, MBA, RN CEO, NVNA and Hospice
Karen Mullaney, CPA Chair, NVNA and Hospice Board of Directors
Sara Abbott Chair, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees
Sara Abbott, Renee McInnes, and Karen Mullaney
Our non-profit mission at NVNA and Hospice is to provide quality home care, wellness, and public health services in the community.
PMS 654
2 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
3
VISIONARY VOICES
A Remarkable Legacy Emilson Family Celebrates Care
The NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees officially dedicated the Wall of Remembrance at the Pat Roche Hospice Home's Tallman Family Meadow in honor of the Emilson family and their remarkable generosity supporting the mission.
“We recognize the importance of home health and hospice care, and our family is pleased to be part of the equation to help sustain these needed services for the region.” ~ Karen McArdle
Herb Emilson addresses family and friends at the dedication ceremony
4 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Herb Emilson with daughter Karen McArdle and Karen Mullaney, Chair, NVNA and Hospice Board of Directors
Board of Directors member Donna Pineau, PhD; Board of Trustees member Kaitlin Clifford; Carol Bulman, Chris Oddleifson, Nancy Oddleifson; and Board of Directors member Elena Kirkiles
Pivotal Philanthropy A $1 Million Endowment for Hospice Access In October 2022, Karen and Rob Hale, continuing their vocation of impactful philanthropy, added NVNA and Hospice to that list with a $1 million endowed gift. The gift made through their family foundation, Fox Rock Foundation, will support end-of-life care to families at the Karen and Rob Hale | Photo credit: Getty Images Pat Roche Hospice Home regardless of financial limitations. Fox Rock Foundation is the private family foundation established by Karen and Rob Hale and their adult children, Trevor, Thomas, and Brett, to inspire health in our communities and our environment, with more opportunity for all. The Foundation’s gift was part of their $52 million commitment in 2022: $1 million a week for 52 individual non-profits. “This is a significant gift from the Hale family, and we are profoundly grateful for their confidence in our care,” said Renee McInnes, CEO, NVNA and Hospice. “Our mission as a non-profit is to serve all hospice patients with dignity, and philanthropy is a critical part of that story.”
“Hospice access is an urgent healthcare priority. The Pat Roche Hospice Home is a powerful resource for the South Shore community, and our family foundation is honored to invest in this mission so that everyone has access to this extraordinary care.” ~ Karen Hale, Fox Rock Foundation
Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
5
Lifetime Donors Our sincerest gratitude is extended to these community leaders for their enduring support of our mission.
$1,000,000+
Donna and Robert Pineau
Stagedge
Fox Rock Foundation
The Quincy Mutual Group
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Tedeschi
Cathy and Rick Roche
Roche Bros. Supermarkets
Kevin Tedeschi
$500,000+
Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Tedeschi
The Safe Family Foundation
Diane and Tom Willson
Anonymous David Barcomb The Barcomb Group McKim Family Foundation Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust
The Salah Foundation Monica McKim Smith South Shore Elder Services, Inc. Pam and Brad Warner
Kim and Eric Warner
$25,000 - $49,999 Atlantic Charter Insurance/ Sallop Insurance A.W. Perry, Inc.
Barbara Roche
$50,000 - $99,999
Mr. and Mrs. Willliam J. Begley
Edward Roche
Sara and Matt Abbott
Brewster Ambulance Service
Jill and Henry D. Tallman Jr.
Anonymous (2)
Susan J. Carson
$100,000 - $499,999
Burke Distributing Corporation
The Catered Affair
Ada Bacon Trust
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Alera Group
Marisa and Tom Costello
Commander Robert H. and Theresa M. Chambers, Jr.
Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund
Dennis Tedeschi Memorial Fund
Chrystine M. Sullivan Memorial Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dockendorff
Jill Clifford FreightPlus Tracy and Jason Clifford
Grace and Brian Concannon
Fidelity Investments Hingham Investor Center
The Cordelia Family Foundation
Fireking Baking Company
Coastal Heritage Bank
Paul DeMatteo Charitable Fund
F.P. Giglio Properties
The Conrad Group, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Donahue Jr.
Katherine Greaney
Copeland Family Foundation, Inc.
Mr. C. Herbert Emilson
The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation
Michelle Cully
Robert Lally
Mr. and Mrs. Edward DeGraan
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Lynch
DeMatteo Properties Inc.
Mildred Mallen and Scott Olszyna
Diagenix Corporation
Harold Brooks Foundation
Catherine McMenimon
Helene Doherty
Hollywood Agency
Mr. and Mrs. Michael O'Reilly
Duncan MacKellar Insurance Agency
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hooley
Julia and Tom Powers
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kelley
Dianne and Tom Reilly
ExpressIt Delivery
Mr. and Mrs. William Meara
Robert F. Quinn Foundation
Peter Finnegan
Rosemary and James Phalen
Sandy Cove Advisors
Dianne Fleming
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Pinch
South Shore Bank
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ford
South Shore Health
Bonnie Franklin
The Flatley Foundation Friends of Norwell VNA The George E. Curtis Charitable Trust
6 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Coastal Dealerships
Curtis Management
THE CATHERINE ROE SOCIETY Cobie Gladwin Phyllis Godwin Estate of Betty Gulick Paula and Bill Harris WH Cornerstone Investments Henry Hornblower Fund, Inc. Nancy and Michael Herde Hingham Congregational Church John and Barbara Giuggio Foundation John C. and Eunice B. Morrison Charitable Foundation Karen Ann Johnson and James Michael Broderick Al Lucibello Wells Fargo Advisors Renee and Paul McInnes Victoria and Matthew Milano Karen Mullaney and Stephen Graves Natales Men's Clothier Estate of Judith Phelps Pilgrim Bank Foundation Point32Health Foundation Richard A. & Helene H. Monaghan Family Foundation Erica and Michael Riley Sager Electronics The Sandra A. Cunningham Revocable Trust Katie and William Scalzulli Silicon Valley Bank Social Service League of Cohasset Claudia Sorgi and K. Douglas Briggs State Street Global Advisors Beth and Christopher Sullivan Laura and Andrew Tuttle Mr. and Mrs. Peter Zane
Thank you to those who have endorsed our mission through a planned estate gift. Your commitment will ensure that our award-winning care is available to the community for generations to follow. Anonymous David Barcomb Commander Robert H. and Theresa M. Chambers The Estate of Laurence Collins Marisa and Tom Costello The Estate of Sandra Cunningham The Emilson Family The Estate of Betty Gulick Carol Hurst Karen Johnson and James Broderick The Estate of Nancy Johnson Renee and Paul McInnes Karen Mullaney and Stephen Graves The Estate of Judith Phelps Violet Proodian Sandi and Joel Shriberg & the Natalie Lovell Family The Fred John Pula Revocable Trust Laura and Andrew Tuttle Stanley Walker Ellen and Peter Zane
The Catherine Roe Society recognizes families who, with charitable purpose, invest in the mission of NVNA and Hospice by making thoughtful donations through their wills, trusts, and with charitable annuities. To join the Society, please contact Deanna Tavares at 781.610.1409 or DTavares@nvna.org.
Advocating with Authenticity
F
Finding Strength and Support in Hospice Care
or decades, Boston knew Bob Neumeier as one of the most respected sports voices. A prolific journalist, Neumeier covered the NHL, NFL, Olympics, and horse racing for NBC, reporting on some of sports’ most celebrated moments. Michele Ucci Neumeier, his wife of 15 years, was used to how everyone reacted to her husband. “When you are on television for so long, you become someone people know,” Michele says. “Neumy enjoyed the interactions with fans because he loved sports—and Boston knew their sports. Then he became a national voice for horse racing, and racing fans would engage with him when they saw him in an airport or at a restaurant. Neumy was comfortable in that space, and people responded to his authenticity.” Bob Neumeier’s health problems had been ongoing for a number of years. And while the prognosis was serious,
8 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Michele was stunned at how quickly hospice became a part of the conversation. Bob had been clear on his care plan and confronted hospice with the same clarity. Michele heard her husband’s wishes: he wanted his death to be quiet, dignified, private, and to take place at home. Michele recalls taking a deep breath after concluding her very first call with the NVNA and Hospice team. “‘My husband is dying,’ I thought, ‘but I am going to have support all the way through.’ I cannot even tell you how it felt. There was a confidence in this team, and I knew I was in the right hands.” “Our story is no more painful than everybody else’s: it’s just different,” she notes. “People are remarkable, and so kind, but Neumy sought no attention in the end. It was a small group that knew Neumy was dying, led by his incredible nurses.” Bob “ Neumy” Neumeier passed away in October 2021.
Michele found herself in an all-too-familiar situation only a few months later when her mother faced her own end-of-life journey. “It wasn’t easy to confront this again so soon after losing Neumy, but I was now prepared with the knowledge that I would be completely supported throughout the process,” Michele says. “Being a caregiver is at once an honor and a challenge. NVNA and Hospice was there when I needed them.” Despite the difficulty of both losses, Michele recalls many moments of happiness and laughter through the hospice experience. “Neumy was so funny, and my mother, Babs, was just a joy,” Michele says. “Hospice care gave us the opportunity to enjoy the time we had left with each other—from joking around with Neumy and his nurses during home visits to singing in Italian with my mom—knowing that the rest was taken care of.”
Bob Neumeier and his mother-in-law "Babs" Ucci
“I was so surprised at how much there was to offer past the nursing care–from social workers to chaplains, aides, and support groups. End-of-life situations affect everyone, and hospice recognizes the overlooked fact that the patient’s family needs care too.” ~ Michele Ucci Neumeier
Today, Michele actively participates in a support group through NVNA and Hospice’s bereavement program and is a strong advocate for hospice care. “Everyone who reaches the point Neumy and I did should reach out to hospice,” she says. “I no longer felt alone. It changed everything.” n NVNA and Hospice is recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible SHP clients nationwide for the 2022 calendar year. Bob and Michele Neumeier with son Michael Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
9
MOVING THE NEEDLE Home care and hospice services across the nation are under immense pressure. There may be a local solution, and it involves all of us.
10 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
America has embraced care in the home from the very beginning, but it needs our help now more than ever.
A
s the largest non-profit, independent home care and hospice organization on the South Shore of Massachusetts, NVNA and Hospice had a record patient census in 2022 and is on track to break that record again in 2023. Charting a care plan for as many patients as safely as possible in their home has always driven this organization. While NVNA and Hospice is not immune to economic turns and national health pressures—just look to Medicare cuts or COVID-19—we have responded by staying focused on excellent patient care. Our organization can consistently point to leading regional patient care outcomes and data that have inspired confidence from physicians and consumers, positioning our missionbased care as the most comprehensive clinical platform in the region.
“In just six months, we have seen a lot of healthcare instability across Southeastern Massachusetts, including our colleagues at Brockton Hospital ceasing multiple services after a fire,” notes NVNA and Hospice CEO Renee McInnes. “Then, we saw one of the largest physician practices, serving 70,000 patients regionally, close overnight with no warning. Every shift in the healthcare delivery system affects all of us. I am proud to work with so many inspiring healthcare leaders because I know we are operating with the same goal of increasing patient care access.”
There is no secret, however, that in the complicated landscape of American healthcare, home care and hospice services are at a crossroads. The Medicare cuts are forcing home care and hospice providers to cut services and, in many cases, shut down services completely. Just 60 miles from the South Shore, Nashoba Associated Boards of Health closed their visiting nurse and hospice services in June 2023. Serving over 17 towns, the board cited financial losses and the lack of adequate nursing staff. Nursing homes are also crumbling under financial constraints, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reporting that 129 nursing homes closed in 2022. While the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has not experienced dramatic hospital closures, over 170 hospitals have closed nationally over the last eighteen years.
Herb Emilson and Alan McKim Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
11
While many home care and hospice services are opting to retreat by reducing services, NVNA and Hospice is committed to expanding. In May, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to preserve the home health service benefit. While the action was hailed by leaders in the home care and hospice space, it is recognized as a final attempt after failed negotiation to stop the further eroding of home care services and anticipated closures. “I know for certain the community is with us, and we have been honored over the last decade to see our philanthropy increase. Donors see us as a solid investment as we are addressing gaps in the delivery of care,” remarks McInnes.
In the last decade, $15 million in donor support has been invested in patient care at NVNA and Hospice.
Specifically, donors have invested in hospice care, notably responding to patients seeking access for care at our 12-room Pat Roche Hospice Home. “In our role as Board members, we seek to tell the story of why, as a community, we need to support hospice and home care. What I find most inspiring is that our discipline of telling our story compelled donors to support other clinical priorities. For example, support for our educational platform has increased three-fold. And that donor generosity makes an immediate impact on patient care,” says Sara Abbott, Chair of the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees. Determining the gap in maintaining visibility for non-profit health care providers requires thoughtful leadership from the administrative and board level. While there is not a lack of patients seeking care, there is now a moving target that will see the national payment structure for home care and hospice cut by billions over the next decade. Medicare has announced another cut in reimbursement for 2024. “Philanthropy allows us to strike ahead with confidence, not fear,” says McInnes. “Our Board of Directors operates with financial data, and the data for philanthropy is compelling.” n
12 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Rosemary Phalen, RN and John Stevenson, MD
The current patient demographic for NVNA and Hospice now includes: n 1,000-patient daily census (highest in our organization’s history) n Record hospice patient census (most patients cared for in the region) n The only provider of in-home
primary palliative care on the South Shore n The largest hospice home in the region with a consistent maximum patient census
“
Viewpoints from Regional Healthcare Leaders
“To provide only the level of care that is in direct “Investing in a non-profit requires understanding response to what Medicare and private insurers the challenges and why funding is needed. As are paying non-profit home care and hospice a nurse, deciphering the case for support was providers would be unconscionable. It speaks to something to which I connected immediately. We a flawed system that allows for-profit providers are talking about patient access. NVNA and Hospice to cherry-pick patients, and then forces the nonwants to do more, but so much of the national profit provider to take those patients they view as a system is working against them. Honoring excellent financial loss. We will continue to advocate loudly to nursing care and non-profit health care is something our government officials for a pay scale that reflects I believe in. We are at an urgent crossroads.” the work of non-profit providers, but I must remain Rosemary Phalen, RN focused and put “Palliative care in the all my energy into the home is the future. best care for every As a physician, I see patient. How will this patients asking for work? The current better options to financial model is maintain quality of broken. We are, life in their homes however, steadfast in and avoid recurrent our commitment to hospitalization even expand patient access, as they face serious increase our census, chronic illnesses. and invest in the best A palliative clinical nursing care regionally. platform is a solution We ultimately see that works. Skilled one way out, and it is nursing care in concert through philanthropy.” with physician partners Renee McInnes, are keeping seriously Standing: John Stevenson, MD, Rosemary Phalen, RN, MBA, RN, CEO Alan McKim, and Gerry Sanderson, RN ill patients safely Seated: Renee McInnes, MBA, RN and Herb Emilson at home.” “No family is turned away John Stevenson, MD for financial reasons at the Pat Roche Hospice Home, and that is an “My 20-year career as a nurse in the home has been important resource for the community. My family extraordinary. The expansion of the nursing services and I are honored to support this mission.” we offer from then to today is remarkable. I see the Alan McKim demand for our work is once again shifting, and we are being asked to do more. Philanthropy is critical, “Our non-profit healthcare providers need our and frankly, necessary, as we meet the needs of our support. The healthcare industry is facing complex community.” financial equations, underpaying providers for years. Gerry Sanderson, RN Board members, volunteers, advocates, and donors all need to participate in the conversation.” Herb Emilson Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
13
Messaging Our Mission A N N U A L S U M M E R P H I L A N T H R O P Y R O U N D TA B L E
This summer, a group of committed NVNA and Hospice donors gathered at the home of Martha and Jack Falvey for our fourth annual philanthropy roundtable. Our conversation focused on the growing financial pressure on the national model of home care and hospice patient access and philanthropy’s role. The group included Sara Abbott, Kevin Barbary, Jack Falvey, Martha Falvey, Stephanie Franklin, Josh Krumholz, Renee McInnes, Polly Minugh, and Karen Mullaney. Here are excerpts from that morning’s conversation: Q: Defining our message today in the summer of 2023 means relaying a narrative that is nationally and regionally negative. How do we keep donors confident and inspired in this troubling landscape?
SA: I am a realist. I like to know the facts. I think there is a way to share the story so that people understand why what we are doing is so important in terms of philanthropy, patient access, and now Karen Mullaney consistent payer cuts, along with how other organizations are struggling. This is going to impact us in a large way, and people need to know that.
KM: It is adding to a complicated message. Are we talking about urgency? RM: We are responding in complicated times and meeting the moment for patient care access. However, we are seeing some discouraging payer Martha Falvey decisions that are out of our control. So yes, absolutely, urgency is in play. But not fear. SF: I agree with Karen. Everyone wants to understand what is happening. It is building onto the story of NVNA and Hospice. And it’s not fear; it is reality. To Sara’s comments, that all leads to the why of our priority to expand philanthropy.
MF: For me, it is about explaining managed care. The Medicare payment does not cover direct costs. JK: Martha, I agree. There is a common misconception that insurance covers the care, which leads to the question, “Why do they need philanthropy?”
14 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Jack Falvey
JK: So why NVNA and Hospice versus someone else? From my standpoint, it’s an opportunity to talk about how much we need NVNA and Hospice. We have Stephanie Franklin this gap now that needs the support of the community, and that’s what I’d need to know. RM: It’s a thoughtful observation. Our donors understand we are committed to excellent care, and the government understands that the caregiver in the home is the most effective solution to the problems our healthcare system is facing.
nurses...how you can bring all of this together and really highlight why compassionate, in-home care resonates. MF: It is a good point. Palliative is a huge umbrella, and we have had this conversation many times at our Board of Trustees meetings. The overall message is that this organization helps so many people. It is a compelling cause.
Kevin Barbary
KM: Strategically, we understand there is a problem, and we are setting a course to respond. The potential to do more is in direct alignment with raising funds. Q: These are complex themes: defining hospice, palliative, and then how there are dwindling services. Are we complicating the message? PM: In healthcare, we throw around a lot of technical names of services. Maybe that is why we always hear “chronic care” instead, as Josh Krumholz most people understand that term. I think it’s compelling for people to simply know that you’ll be there for them, and then what are the different scenarios? Whether it’s recovery from a broken hip, chronic disease management, or hospice, there are all sorts of different avenues in which you provide support. SF: It's as simple as you’ve put it: you didn’t say “palliative” or “hospice,” but I get it as soon as you say it. I was just thinking about the faces of the patients and
Renee McInnes
KB: And for those people who maybe don’t understand it, unfortunately and statistically, at some point in their life they probably will need it. So I think you can also use that as a platform to educate people. SA: Patients are coming to us in record waves for a lot of complicated reasons. Our community understands how crucial NVNA and Hospice is to the healthcare landscape in our region. We are a five-star recognized patient care non-profit, expanding in challenging times, and that is due to philanthropy. PM: And I am confident our donors understand the risk of what could be lost in terms of end-of-life care and palliative services.
Sara Abbott
JF: When discussing healthcare, we often think about the system around us, especially living in the shadow of Boston. But then you need and want care at home, too. It’s an important, complementary piece.
KB: Yes, the impact of a visiting nurse. n
Polly Minugh Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
15
FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE
Pictured from left: Nick Sarno, IT Support Specialist; Adriana Askew, Intake CTA; Ashley Matthews-LaRonde, Medical Records Team Lead; Becky Brown, MS OTR/L, Clinical Manager; Cheryl Mooney, RN, Clinical Manager; and Renee McInnes, CEO
16 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
"Achieving a five-star patient experience rating, and then maintaining it, comes down to our incredible team. Ultimately, this is about excellent patient care with no compromise, reflective of the commitment we make to the families we serve." - Renee McInnes, CEO
Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
17
the power of hospice A Collaborative Focus
Our award-winning hospice team of over 75 clinicians remains focused on dignity, respect, and excellence of care for the patients we serve, providing more than 20,000 hospice visits each year. From nursing to social work, their interdisciplinary approach upholds families throughout the end-of-life experience. 18 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Danielle Burke
Jessica Judge
Registered Nurse
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I am incredibly proud to be a part of this hospice team. Every day, we work collaboratively to ensure our patients receive compassionate, individualized care rooted in identifying what each person determines is most important to them.
Offering words of encouragement to patients and families, providing validation, and being there for support during a very sacred time of life is an honor. When hope may seem lost, hospice has the opportunity to instill hope from a different perspective.
Roseleine Lisieux
John Sheeran
Home Health Aide
Chaplain
I’m thankful for all the support I am able to provide for our hospice patients and family members. It’s a joy and blessing to help others and offer comfort at this time.
My colleagues and I have the rare chance to create physical, spiritual, and emotional comfort. Every day, I witness the power of hospice families knowing that they are truly seen and heard as they walk this road.
Deborah Silva
Cynthia Stanton
Registered Nurse
Spiritual Care Coordinator
It is a privilege to be able to work with families at such a difficult time to provide guidance and support through a patient’s end-of-life experience, ensuring an opportunity for them and their loved ones to find peace in the process with dignity.
Spiritual care touches what is sacred to the individual and elevates it as a strength that can be used to assist the transition of dying. When we do this, a life with all its complexities can truly be honored. Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
19
R E G A I N I N G AG EN C Y
"E
arlier this year I was rushed to the hospital, suddenly unable to breathe on my own. They put me on a BiPAP machine,” says Judi Celidonio, who had experienced a harrowing COPD exacerbation due to pneumonia. “It was incredibly traumatic. I thought that was it for me.”
Creating a New Normal
Nicole DePace, Director of Advanced Illness Management and Palliative Programs, recalls, “I walked through Judi’s front door to meet her and saw her poised with a notebook and pen. Judi told me, ‘This is going to be an important conversation. I want to record it.’ I was impressed that she had an agenda.”
“The beauty of palliative After her hospitalization is that it is incredibly and weeks spent at a individualized, not just rehabilitation facility, to the person but to Judi arrived home in each circumstance,” says June 2023 to find that Nicole. “Plans are adjusted The question we ask ourselves every day is, life as she knew it had based on what we hear is ‘How do we give patients like Judi more changed. Usual daily important to the patient support to deal with things as they are?’ activities were made nearly and what we know is insurmountable due to realistic for their situation. severe shortness of breath, and she felt she had reached Psychosocial pieces are just as important as physical ones.” an impasse. “Then my physician, Dr. John Stevenson, With palliative services, patients are involved in their plans explained what palliative care could offer me and of care and are able to place a concentrated focus on what recommended a consultation with the team at NVNA matters most to them. For Judi, it is quality of life and and Hospice,” Judi says. “I didn’t know much about it, but independence. She was leading an active and full life prior I was hopeful again for the first time.” to being hospitalized—even walking on the treadmill for twenty minutes each day—but when she first met Nicole, Judi was essentially confined to a chair. Says Nicole, “Just because things may have changed doesn’t mean a patient has to continue feeling as poorly as they do when they first come home. We’re working together to adjust treatment plans and figure out what Judi’s next normal is going to be.”
Nicole DePace, MS, APRN, GNP-BC, ACHPN with Judi Celidonio
20 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Case in point: Judi was recently able to spend ten minutes on the treadmill and has even felt well enough to go for a drive or out shopping with a friend. “I have to be very selective about my activities now, and that can be difficult,” she says, “but my conversations with Nicole are always reassuring. I’m feeling good about how things are going.” n
Compassion With Complexity W
20 Years of Integrity
hen speaking to others about the mission of NVNA and Hospice, Sheila DeWolfe, RN puts a particular emphasis on the word “compassion.” From her initial job interview with now-CEO Renee McInnes back in 2003 to accepting the Robert F. Dwyer award onstage at The 12 2023, the trajectory of Sheila’s twenty years at this organization speaks volumes about her own compassionate work. While the majority of NVNA and Hospice’s team is on the road in 27 communities, there is a complex operations center that is integral to patient care. In her role as Hospice Performance Improvement Manager, Sheila DeWolfe works with her colleagues to confirm every piece of the care plan is documented. “Our patients are very ill when they come to us, and our clinicians are reacting, redirecting, and modifying care plans in real time,” Sheila says. “It is complex work and just amazing to witness. They make us shine.”
Sheila understands their work well, being a registered nurse herself with an extensive background in acute and geriatric care. “Caring with excellence is simply what we do,” she says. “I have such enthusiasm for this job and take every day as an opportunity to do the right thing for our patients and families.” With a record-breaking census and a commitment to increasing access for more hospice patients, Sheila sees her role as a compliance expert but also as a voice to challenge and consult. Having seen NVNA and Hospice’s census ascend from less than 100 patients total to now over 190 patients on hospice alone, Sheila can testify to the impression that the clinical team’s work has continued to make across the community. “Sheila DeWolfe is a nurse with the highest level of integrity,” says CEO Renee McInnes. “Not only does she excel in her field, but she does so with a level of kindness that is unmatched.” n Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
21
the
Amy Sylvester Award for healthcare excellence
In 1920 our first president, Amy Sylvester, set out on a mission to help her neighbors. Each year, we present the Amy Sylvester Award to two deserving individuals who have had an impact on national and local healthcare.
“When you think about the work that you do, you think about the gift you’re giving to people so that they can recover at home. Home health care provides peace of mind, dignity, and comfort to families.” Kate Walsh from her 2022 Amy Sylvester Award acceptance speech
PAST HONOREES 2020 Barbara Bush Former First Lady Awarded Posthumously Michael O’Reilly President, Fidelity Digital Assets Former Chair, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees
2021 Reverend Liz Walker Retired, Roxbury Presbytarian Church Gina Vita Former Member, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees
2022 Kate Walsh Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Jill Tallman President, Cordelia Family Foundation Member, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees 22 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Across the Board Over 75 members of our community share their talents and time as valued board and committee members. We are grateful for their continued support of our mission.
Board of Directors members Anita Comerford, Karen Johnson, and John Burke
Board of Trustees members Lizzy Antonik and Erica Riley
Board of Trustees member Jill Tallman and Finance Committee member John Barron
Ann Rossino with her clinical team, from left: Kelly Pfundstein, RN; Caitlin Carroll, RN; and Lisa Feingold, OT
Ann's Team "A
A Collective Approach
ren’t we lucky?” Those words are something of a refrain for Ann and Sam Rossino. They could mean many things by this: lucky to have a 41-year marriage and two children, to have family and friends nearby, to live on the beautiful South Shore. But there’s something more to it. In April 2019, Ann suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm and was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital. She spent five weeks in the ICU after surgery to repair the aneurysm, along with two others that had yet to burst. Then came another five-week stay at a rehabilitation facility. Ann had visitors every day, whether Sam, son Greg, or daughter Katy. All the while, a sticky note hung on a wall calendar to mark the day she would finally be able to return home. When that day finally came, Ann was met with the support of NVNA and Hospice clinicians Caitlin Carroll, RN, Kelly Pfundstein, RN, and Lisa Feingold, OT. “NVNA and Hospice was unbelievable,” Ann says. “They were recommended to us as they had particular expertise with aneurysm patients. The reason I am where I am today is because of them.”
24 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Says Kelly, “This was a collective approach. Caitlin, Lisa, and I were in constant dialogue with Ann’s physician team, and then we took the lead on her care when she was ready to come home. I think what helped enormously in Ann’s recovery was her commitment. If she feels lucky to have been under our care, we feel just as lucky to have witnessed her determined spirit.”
Sam and Ann Rossino
Understanding Ann’s path to recovery starts with an awareness of the volatile brain attack she survived. “The brain is an extraordinary machine, and although there is still constant research on aneurysms, we know a lot,” Lisa remarks. “Are there limitations? Of course. But with consistency of care, the brain can begin to restore and heal.” Ann in her greeting card workshop
Between relearning to walk outdoors on uneven surfaces, rebuilding the brain-body connection with eye work or drawing exercises, and creating a safe setting in which to live at home, Ann and her care team steadily created what she calls her “new normal” over the course of roughly seven weeks. Ann states, “To think that their job, their mission, is to go into homes and make sure that someone’s quality of life is going to be better every single day? It’s amazing.” Today, Ann plays Mah-Jongg three days a week, enjoys listening to music whenever possible, and makes handmade greeting cards for family and friends, all of which she says has been wonderful for her mind. She and Sam still continue to attend NVNA and Hospice’s monthly brain aneurysm support group, where they find comfort in sharing anecdotes and perspectives with other survivors.
“We offer this group as a way for survivors to gather and know they are not alone in their experience. It is an honor to continue to be a part of the Rossinos' inspiring story.” ~ Bernadette Ward, brain aneurysm support group facilitator and Director, Pat Roche Hospice Home
“An aneurysm is like a roller coaster without a straight path to recovery,” Sam notes. “We were told that 50% of aneurysm patients do not survive the trip to the hospital, and of those who do, half do not survive the operation. But look at Ann now.” Lucky, indeed. n
“I love the fact that with home care, you’re in your own environment. NVNA and Hospice reintroduced me to my home—and taught me how to live there again.” ~ Ann Rossino Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
25
$662,000 Raised for Patient Care On June 21, NVNA and Hospice celebrated The 12 under a sold-out tent with over 520 guests and a performance by the Boston Pops Community Gospel Choir. Co-chaired by Board of Trustees members Tracy Clifford and Stacey Page, all funds are directed towards patient care at the Pat Roche Hospice Home.
26 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
SHARI NG T I ME AND TALENTS Volunteers Help Make Our House a Home
Linda Tierney preparing lunch for patients at the Pat Roche Hospice Home
make people happy. She cherishes providing a positive environment within the home and appreciates the ability to accommodate a patient’s wants or needs, noting, “We always have a set menu, but if someone has a particular request for a meal, we can often make that happen.” When Linda’s daughter, Tracy Clifford—a Board of Trustees member—suggested that she consider volunteering in the kitchen at the Pat Roche Hospice Home, she was initially apprehensive. However, Linda has gained a new understanding of the hospice mission. “I always say that there is sadness, of course, but I also see happiness. I love everyone at the hospice home. It just makes my day coming here.” n NVNA and Hospice offers extensive volunteer opportunities at the Pat Roche Hospice Home, in patient homes across the region, and at our Norwell offices. If you are interested in sharing your talents with us, please contact Catie MacWilliams at CMacWilliams@nvna.org.
O
ver 95 volunteers are actively part of the NVNA and Hospice team. As with our 300 employees, each volunteer has a different reason to become part of the NVNA and Hospice mission. For Linda Tierney, the motivation was to give back and make an impact sharing her talents. Cooking is not just a hobby for Linda: it’s a part of her identity. Fortunately, she has brought that piece of herself to the Pat Roche Hospice Home. “I staff the morning cooking shift on Mondays. This is important work that the team and families are grateful for,” she says, “and I get so much back from the experience.” Volunteering at the hospice home is an extension to the Sunday dinners Linda traditionally prepares for her own family, where the goal is simple: to always
28 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
NVNA and Hospice is proud to offer our Veteran Recognition Program as part of our volunteer services. Pictured is NVNA and Hospice patient and U.S. Army veteran Bill Kelleher receiving a certificate of recognition from volunteer and U.S. Army veteran Jim Murphy and Kate Mercier, NVNA and Hospice COO.
Board of Trustees member and 2023 Bella Vita Chair Dianne Reilly, second from left, with daughters and Bella Vita hosts Courtney Csikesz and Nicki Disch alongside NVNA and Hospice CEO Renee McInnes
"Bella Vita is such an important evening for one of the region’s most vital non-profit missions. I consider it a true privilege to chair this year’s event." ~ Dianne Reilly
November 4, 2023 On 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 Charitable 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
Board of Directors Chair Karen Mullaney and Trustee Christine Falvey at a 2022 Bella Vita party Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
29
Alyssa Marchi, PT working with a patient in his home
An Exercise in Dedication Pursuing Education, Enhancing Care
N
VNA and Hospice provides a comprehensive rehabilitation program that encompasses physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. For these patients, recovery can have individual meanings. Some find that it is about launching back into their lives after a planned surgery, and for those in rehabilitation following an unplanned event, it is about learning to set a new normal with each passing day. But all share a common ground: it takes a skilled, educated clinical team to achieve that recovery. Continuing education for all clinicians is one of the driving forces at NVNA and Hospice. “Nothing defines us more than our focus on expanding our care options at home, and that requires additional education and philanthropy,” says Kate Mercier, COO. “Specifically, the Gerry Sanderson Education Fund has revolutionized how we view education.”
30 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Alyssa Marchi, a physical therapist who has been with the agency for over six years, can speak to that firsthand. “It started with my interest in pursuing a Geriatric Certified Specialist (GCS) certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy,” she relates. When her manager heard of her interest, she and Alyssa applied for a grant from the Gerry Sanderson Education Fund. A comprehensive six-month course and exam later, Alyssa received her certification in June 2023, making her the first patient-facing physical therapist at the agency with the GCS credential. “We are so unbelievably fortunate to have this fund available to our organization. It provided an opportunity for me that was just amazing,” says Alyssa. “We see patients of all ages, but our geriatric patients are a very special and important subset. It means so much that I was able to pursue this certification and further my career here.”
Did You Know?
CLEARED FOR WORK
NVNA and Hospice makes
30,000
rehab visits per year
Alyssa emphasizes that the main benefit of rehab in the home is the ability for clinicians to see patients in their most realistic setting. “When I begin working with a patient, they are often very far from their baseline,” she notes. “Being able to help them build up their strength in their own environment is a gift. They are happy to be home; meanwhile, I can design their recovery care plan in concert with their environment, which often includes limitations not in play just a month prior.” Through the GCS certification, Alyssa is now able to cater her treatments, goals, and interventions for her geriatric patients through a highly focused lens, acting as an expert-level guide towards the level of recovery that is right for them. As she explains, “Having this assistance available simply benefits everyone involved. The fact that this agency makes clinicians a priority allows us, in turn, to better our patient care every day.” n
David Byron working his morning shift as an excavator operator, clearing land for a new housing development
"I had an all-around great experience with NVNA and Hospice after my knee replacement last year. The physical therapy team helped me get on my feet again. I am back at work." ~ David Byron, grateful NVNA and Hospice patient
Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
31
Honoring Loved Ones On May 21, NVNA and Hospice welcomed families to the annual Wall of Remembrance ceremony to commemorate the addition of their loved ones' names for 2023. Gathering on the Pat Roche Hospice Home's Tallman Family Meadow, families have the opportunity to peacefully honor their losses individually and as a group.
For more information about honoring your loved one on our Wall of Remembrance, please contact Julie Hargrave at 781.610.1494 or JHargrave@nvna.org. n
“One of our most important days on the calendar, the Wall of Remembrance ceremony is a meaningful opportunity to remember loved ones and thank our donors.” ~ Kristen Walker, Member, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees
32 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Managing healthcare decisions is not an easy task.
N
27
HELPING YOU MAKE AVIGATOR CARE CONNECTIONS
Navigator 27 is a concierge case management service of NVNA and Hospice that assists clients and their families as they traverse the challenges of aging and care transitions. For more information, please visit nvna.org or call 781.659.2342.
Noreen Cataldo, RN, BSN, CCM Director, Navigator 27
PMS 654
O U R M I S S I O N I N AC T I O N 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.
CEO Renee McInnes and Board of Directors Chair Karen Mullaney with Linda Henry, CEO, Boston Globe Media, celebrating NVNA and Hospice's inclusion as one of the 2022 Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts.
Board of Trustees members Bob Terravecchia and Paula Harris with board committee member Jerry Stergio attending the 2023 summer board social at the Pat Roche Hospice Home.
34 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
Craig Sanderson, VP Supplier Marketing and Product Management of Sager Electronics, Frank Flynn, President of Sager Electronics, and Maryellen Stack, Director, Marketing Communications of Sager Electronics, presenting a $30,000 gift to the Gerry Sanderson Education Fund to Gerry Sanderson, RN and Renee McInnes, CEO.
Sara Abbott, Board of Trustees Chair, recognizes immediate past Chair Michael Baker for his work on behalf of the agency’s mission.
Nicole DePace, Director, Advanced Illness Management and Palliative Programs, presents NVNA and Hospice Nursing Scholarship winners Nora Carroll-Millins and Kaylee King with their awards at Norwell High School.
Board of Directors members Kendra McKinley, John Burke, Karen Johnson, Mary Sweeney, Renee McInnes, Karen Mullaney, Claudia Dolphin, and Ben Bembenek gather before the annual summer board social. Not present: Alan Berrick, MD, Anita Comerford, Shaun Golden, Elena Kirkiles, Linda Mahonen, Donna Pineau, PhD, and Deirdre Prescott. Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
35
Thank You to Our Board Members NVNA and Hospice Board of Directors Karen Mullaney, President Mary Sweeney, Vice President John Burke, Treasurer Ben Bembenek, Clerk Alan Berrick, MD
Anita Comerford Claudia Dolphin Shaun Golden Karen Johnson Elena Kirkiles
Linda Mahonen Renee McInnes Kendra McKinley Donna Pineau, PhD Deirdre Prescott
Thank You to our Premier Sponsors at The 12
Maryellen & Anton Arapoff
The Finnegan Family
Monica McKim Smith Realtor, William Raveis Diane & Tom Willson 36 Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees Sara Abbott, Chair Godwin Aduba Lisa Allen Lizzy Antonik Nancy Bailey Michael Baker Kelly Berkeley Allen Bottomley Kaitlin Bulman Clifford Jill Clifford Tracy Clifford Timothy Corbett Marisa Costello
Michelle Cully Nicole DePace Claudia Dolphin Maureen Faherty Christine Falvey Martha Falvey Peter Finnegan Stephanie Franklin Katherine Greaney Paula Harris Michelle Hatch Darlene Hollywood Dennis Keohane
Karen Lyon Rob MacElhiney Renee McInnes Monica McKim Smith Martin O’Neill Stacey Page Julia Powers Dianne Reilly Patrick Renna Erica Riley Cara Rinaldi Michael Rogers Kevin Schiller
The NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Development Team includes: Michael Rogers Senior Vice President, Advancement and External Relations MRogers@nvna.org Linda Brown Director of Development LBrown@nvna.org Mimi Macdonald Development Officer MMacdonald@nvna.org Lisa Mullen Event Coordinator LMullen@nvna.org Deanna Tavares Development Officer, Operations DTavares@nvna.org Dale O’Reilly Development Assistant DOreilly@nvna.org Liz Silvia Strategic Communications Specialist LSilvia@nvna.org Julie Hargrave Development Associate JHargrave@nvna.org
Jill Setian Bonnie Simmons Molly Smith Beth Sullivan Jill Tallman Robert Terravecchia Laura Tuttle Kristen Walker Bernadette Ward Laura Winters
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.
Call to Care | 2023 | NVNA.org
37
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ABINGTON, MA Permit No. 6
PMS 654 + 577
120 Longwater Drive Norwell, MA 02061 nvna.org
Call to Care 2023 MAGAZINE EDITION
HHHHH
FIVE-STAR PATIENT EXPERIENCE RATING Keep track of updates and news facebook.com/NVNAandHospice Follow us on Instagram @NVNAandHospice
Scan to Donate
Roche Bros. is proud to support the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund.
rochebros.com