Call to Care
32 Remembering Loved Ones At the Emilson Family Wall of Remembrance
Call to Care Magazine 2024 is a special edition of the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund’s Call to Care Newsletter.
Production Editors: Liz Silvia and Deanna Tavares
Photographers: Scott Eisen, Barrie Smith, Tracy Shankle, and Chris Bernstein
Graphic Design and Printing: ColorMax Graphics, Inc.
Special Thanks: Sophie Antone, Tammi and Lance McBrayer, and Derrick Rutledge
All photos and content © 2024 NVNA and Hospice 781.659.2342
nvna.org
Decision Makers
Leading the Way
Pictured on the cover:
From left: Joy Moore, Executive Director, VP, Pine Manor Institute for Student Success at Boston College; Renee McInnes, CEO, NVNA and Hospice; Ellen Zane, CEO Emeritus, Tufts Medical Center; Stephanie Franklin, SVP & CHRO, Vertex Pharmaceuticals; Carol Bulman, CEO and Chair of the Board, Jack Conway
With Gratitude for Our Community
Dear Friends,
As a non-profit, mission-focused organization, we will persevere with the investment of our community. Cover to cover, we celebrate kindness, humanity, and generosity.
The honor of providing clinical expertise in someone’s home is that we are welcomed into the inner circle of a family. We are present when the news is good, and the care plan is working. And then we are present when the news is painfully challenging, and decisions become complex. Our nurses are present for the one-on-one conversations allowing the patient to digest, question, and understand the diagnosis. Finally, our team is the quiet voice of compassion for a loved one who is tired and overwhelmed.
Yes, the extraordinary clinical expertise of our team is the reason we are celebrated for five-star care, but our credibility is rooted in time and fully understanding the needs of our patients and families.
The push for profit over care is the headline that makes noise every day. But that is not our headline. Our headline is that we are advancing and extending patient care access, because our communities understand our impact and our challenges.
This is our mission. This is our call to care.
With gratitude,
Renee McInnes, MBA, RN CEO, NVNA and Hospice
Karen Mullaney, CPA Chair, NVNA and Hospice Board of Directors
Our non-profit mission at NVNA and Hospice is to provide quality home care, wellness, and public health services in the community.
Renee McInnes and Karen Mullaney
Kitty and Tim Pinch to Lead Campaign
“ In the last five years, our Charitable Fund has raised over $13 million for patient care, and we are now seeking to increase access for our mission by embarking on a new five-year campaign. We are honored to have seasoned philanthropists in Kitty and Tim Pinch to lead the efforts,” noted CEO Renee McInnes.
NVNA and Hospice is investing in strategic growth, and the philanthropic community has been open and generous to meet the moment.
Kitty and Tim Pinch launched the campaign with a $500,000 gift, impressed by the organization’s commitment to increase patient care access–particularly for increased palliative services.
“We believe hospice services must also include a comprehensive approach to palliative care in the home,” Kitty Pinch said. “There is a decrease in services for seriously ill patients locally, and NVNA and Hospice is
embracing a concept to identify patients who will benefit from sophisticated care in the home, and in turn release pressure on a healthcare system that is regionally fractured.”
Strengthening the platform of non-profit palliative, home care, and hospice services regionally will require significant investment of philanthropic funding to address the gaps that are limiting services and, in some cases, closing agencies.
“We are talking about vulnerable populations in our communities that need care. This problem needs to be addressed, and Kitty and I are grateful to be in a position where we are able to help.”
~ Tim Pinch
Second $1 Million Gift from Hale Family to Advance Hospice Care
“Meeting Karen Hale a few years ago and having the opportunity to talk about our impact while outlining our challenges was a privilege. Now, two years later, to have the Hale family awarding our mission with another transformative $1 million gift is motivating,” remarked CEO Renee McInnes. “Karen and Rob speak eloquently on the opportunity for everyone to have access to healthcare and how philanthropy can play a role.”
The donation will support hospice services and increase the endowed gift made in 2022.
“We believe strongly in patient care access for everyone, and NVNA and Hospice is investing in that priority for hospice services. As they prepare to launch a new campaign, we applaud co-chairs Kitty and Tim Pinch for their dedication to improving the state of healthcare on the South Shore.”
~ Karen Hale
Virginia M. Acerra Family Dedication
On September 12, the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees dedicated the Virginia M. Acerra Patient Wing at the Pat Roche Hospice Home. A generous gift from Greg Acerra in memory of his mother, Virginia, will contribute to the growth of hospice access, including the region’s first hospice residence.
NVNA and Hospice is again delighted to be the recipient of a $1 million grant from Fox Rock Foundation, the family foundation established by Karen and Rob Hale and their adult children, Trevor, Thomas, and Brett. Half of this grant will be designated towards hospice services as part of NVNA and Hospice’s upcoming campaign, while the other half will be designated towards their endowment to support the Pat Roche Hospice Home.
Created in 2022 with their initial $1 million gift, the endowment supports end-of-life care for families at the hospice home regardless of financial limitations.
“O ur non-profit carries a daily census of 1,200 patients, and we are committed to the growth of our hospice services,” said Sara Abbott, Chair, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees. “The financial constraints we navigate are lifted by generous philanthropy. Visionary leaders like Greg are leading those efforts.” NVNA and Hospice provided over 125,000 patient visits in 2023.
“Greg Acerra has been generous to our mission in so many ways throughout the years. I cannot imagine a better way to recognize his philanthropic contribution while paying tribute to his deeply loved mother.” ~ Renee McInnes, CEO
Leading Our Legacy
The following lifetime contributions are impactful gifts that strengthen our mission and reinforce our stability in the community. We are grateful for the opportunities this generosity creates.
g $1,000,000+
FoxRock Foundation
Karen and Rob Hale
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust
Cathy and Rick Roche
Edward Roche
g $500,000 - $999,999
Anonymous (2)
David Barcomb,
The Barcomb Group
McKim Family Foundation
Kitty and Tim Pinch
Barbara Roche
Jill and Henry D. Tallman Jr.
g $100,000 - $499,999
Sara and Matt Abbott
Ada Bacon Trust
Alera Group
Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund
Anonymous
Chrystine M. Sullivan
Memorial Fund
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Grace and Brian Concannon
The Cordelia Family Foundation
Paul DeMatteo Charitable Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Donahue Jr.
Estate of Judith A Donahue
Mr. C. Herbert Emilson
Elizabeth Feeherry and Dr. David Fish
The Flatley Foundation
Friends of Norwell VNA
The George E. Curtis
Charitable Trust
The Hamilton Company
Charitable Foundation
Harold Brooks Foundation
Hollywood Agency
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hooley
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kelley
Monica McKim Smith
Mr. and Mrs. William Meara
Mr. and Mrs. James Phalen
Donna and Robert Pineau
Violet Proodian
The Quincy Mutual Group
Roche Bros. Supermarkets
Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation
The Safe Family Foundation
The Salah Foundation
South Shore Bank
South Shore Elder Services
Pam and Brad Warner
g $50,000 - $99,999
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Barbary
Burke Distributing Corporation
Marisa and Tom Costello
Dennis Tedeschi Memorial Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dockendorff
Fidelity Investments
Hingham Investor Center
Dianne Fleming
F.P. Giglio Properties
Katherine Greaney
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Herde
Henry Higgins Jr.
Robert Lally
Al Lucibello, Wells Fargo Advisors
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Lynch
Mildred Mallen and Scott Olszyna
Catherine McMenimon
Richard A. & Helene H. Monaghan
Family Foundation
Natales Men's Clothier
Dale and Michael O'Reilly
Julia and Tom Powers
Dianne and Tom Reilly
Robert F. Quinn Foundation
Sandy Cove Advisors
Social Service League of Cohasset
Claudia Sorgi and K. Douglas Briggs
South Shore Health System
Stagedge
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Tedeschi
Kevin Tedeschi
Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Tedeschi
Laura and Andrew Tuttle
Kim and Eric Warner
Diane and Tom Willson
g $25,000 - $49,999
Atlantic Charter Insurance/
Sallop Insurance
A.W. Perry
Ann-marie and Michael Baker
Mr. and Mrs. Willliam J. Begley
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Brake
Brewster Ambulance Service
Patti and John D. Burke
Nancy and Kevin Callanan
Susan J. Carson
The Catered Affair
Commander and Mrs. Robert H. Chambers Jr.
Jill Clifford, FreightPlus
Tracy and Jason Clifford
Coastal Dealerships
Coastal Heritage Bank
The Conrad Group
Copeland Family Foundation
Michelle Cully
Curtis Management
Mr. and Mrs. Edward DeGraan
DeMatteo Properties
Diagenix Corporation
Helene Doherty
Claudia and Peter Dolphin
Duncan MacKellar Insurance Agency
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
Electro Switch Corporation
The Eluned and Edward Russell
Foundation Trust
ExpressIt Delivery
Christine Falvey and Anthony Messina
Peter Finnegan
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ford
Bonnie Franklin
John and Barbara Giuggio Foundation
Cobie Gladwin
Phyllis Godwin
Mr. and Mrs. David Gomes
Mr. and Mrs. John Griffin
Estate of Betty Gulick
Paula and Bill Harris, WH Cornerstone Investments
Henry Hornblower Fund
Hingham Congregational Church
Jack Conway & Company
John C. and Eunice B. Morrison
Charitable Foundation
Karen Ann Johnson and James Michael Broderick
Renee and Paul McInnes
Joy, Amanda, and Christopher Moore
Victoria and Matthew Milano
Karen Mullaney, CPA and Stephen Graves
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Norman
Estate of Judith Phelps
Pilgrim Bank Foundation
Point32Health Foundation
Cara and Matthew Rinaldi
Sager Electronics
The Sandra A. Cunningham Revocable Trust
Katie and William Scalzulli
Silicon Valley Bank
State Street Global Advisors
Beth and Christopher Sullivan
Amie Tedeschi
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Tedeschi
Matthew Tedeschi
Maria Tedeschi Smith
Welch Senior Living
Laura and Randall Winters
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Zane
THE CATHERINE ROE SOCIETY
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, retirement plans, and with other planned gifts.
To join the Society, please contact Patrick Woods at 781.610.1463 or pwoods@nvna.org.
David Barcomb
Theresa and Bob Chambers
Estate of Laurence Collins
Marisa and Tom Costello
Estate of Sandra Cunningham
Estate of Judith A. Donahue
The Emilson Family
Martha and John Falvey Jr.
Karen Mullaney and Steve Graves
Estate of Betty Gulick
Henry Higgins
Carol Hurst
Estate of Nancy Johnson
Renee and Paul McInnes
Estate of Judith Phelps
Violet Proodian
Estate of Dr. Fred Pula
Michael R. Rogers
Sandi and Joel Shriberg
Laura and Andrew Tuttle
Stanley Walker
Ellen and Peter Zane
“Hospice is an important cause for me, and I am proud to support it in my planned giving. The NVNA and Hospice team goes above and beyond in the care they provide— they are absolutely wonderful.”
~
Violet Proodian
An Unexpected Blessing
Honoring Wishes and Creating New Bonds
Kathleen Monahan began hospice services with NVNA and Hospice in February 2023 after experiencing a decline due to dementia.
“When I was first offered hospice care for Kathy, I thought that meant she had thirty days to live,” said her husband Hugh. “ But the nurses sat me down and explained everything to me.” Well over a year later, Hugh is deeply grateful for the support he has received.
“It’s all about taking care of Kathy,” says Hugh. “I don’t know what I would have done without NVNA and Hospice. I never even knew this type of care existed.”
PATIENT CAREGIVER INSIGHT
Jo Calabro, RN visits Kathy and Hugh three times a week for hospice nursing care. Sitting down across the table from Hugh, she notes, “When we first began working together, we had a discussion about his goals of care for Kathy and what the future could entail based on the progression of her disease. Hugh’s aim was ultimately to keep her home and comfortable.”
“ We’ve been in this house for 46 years,” says Hugh, as he looks toward the backyard where Kathy used to tend to her vegetable garden. “We raised our family here. This is where she wanted to be.” Their two children and four grandchildren still live nearby, visiting often as part
“It is so comforting when Kathy locks into someone,” he says. “I can tell based on her reactions. You start to form relationships.” Although she is no longer able to verbally communicate, “Kathy is still in there,” Jo says. “I can see the twinkle in her eye, the spark.”
In addition to nursing care, the hospice benefit provides the Monahans with further layers of support such as chaplain services and social work. Says Hugh, “Rev. Marek, our NVNA and Hospice chaplain, is another friendly face who comes to visit with us once a week. He has a good rapport with myself and Kathy, prays with us, and offers words of encouragement.”
of a rotating schedule of friends and family, but Hugh acknowledges that the presence of hospice care has been “a blessing” amidst the changes in Kathy’s health.
“It’s hard to accept these changes, even when you know you’re honoring a loved one’s wishes,” says Jo. “Hugh and I talk a lot about what the future holds and how we are still going to be available for him to walk him through bereavement when the time comes.”
For Hugh, one of the most important facets of Kathy’s care is the bond they both have formed with her team.
After a moment of consideration, Hugh’s final words of advice for families offered hospice care for a loved one are simple: “Grab hold and don’t let go.” g
Kathy Monahan passed away in April of 2024, surrounded by her family. We thank her husband Hugh for allowing us to share these photos and their story.
BROKEN FIXING A SYSTEM
Here’s the truth:
D ecision makers will be the way for us to advance. These individuals are smart, motivated, and recognize they can be part of a movement that will not accept shortcuts or restrictions in patient care. We see this in our donors, board members, volunteers, and advocates. We will advance with the growing support of these decision makers who believe patient care access is about serving humanity.
Renee McInnes, MBA, RN CEO, NVNA and Hospice
The payer system is collapsing because the focus is not on patient care. If it was, we would not be seeing hospice and home care agencies restricting care and, in many cases, shutting down altogether.
Determining the direction of hospice and home care in the American healthcare landscape has led to a conversation about patient care access. In 2023, NVNA and Hospice admitted a record-breaking census, navigating over 125,000 patient visits. In a region with over 1 million residents, the over 65 population is expected to increase by 86% over the next 30 years.
Home Health Care News reported that in the first quarter of 2019, there were 9,624 home health providers nationally who filed a claim with Medicare. In the first quarter of 2022, that number was at 8,670: a 10% reduction. Home care agencies are closing and merging. Dwindling reimbursement rates for healthcare providers at a federal level, and particularly from Medicare Advantage plans, are the major reason patient care access has stalled.
“We are struggling with low reimbursement rates for providers,” notes Jake Krilovich, Executive Director of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. “The care across the Commonwealth is exceptional, and our leadership and direct care providers are delivering services in the home that are innovative and cost-saving for a healthcare system that is broken. This is inherently unfair to organizations providing this care.”
As the largest non-profit provider of care in the home south of Boston, NVNA and Hospice marked significant achievements in the last year, including a five-star patient care experience rating for a record fourth year in a row, expanding their palliative and hospice census to the highest in the region, and onboarding 75 direct care providers.
Joy Moore Executive Director, Vice President Pine Manor Institute for Student Success at Boston College
Palliative care took time to permeate the American healthcare landscape. An innovative approach to care for those patients with complex needs and positioned at a higher risk for hospitalization, palliative care merges the patient’s view of a quality life with the clinical expertise that invests time and sophisticated care plans. Under the direction of a physician plan carried out by a nurse practitioner, this is counter to a payer system that requires a high volume of patient visits. On average, nurse practitioners see only 15 patients in a week.
“We see the data and the results, and yet in the communities we serve, NVNA and Hospice remains the only regional provider of comprehensive primary palliative care in the home,” notes CEO Renee McInnes.
My husband’s passing was under the care of the hospice team. His endof-life journey was about peace and finding God in all things. When I went to visit the Pat Roche Hospice Home, I knew almost instantly that this was where he would find peace, as well as our son and daughter. Privately, I struggled with finding peace. However, standing alongside this mission was an easy choice after months of difficult decisions and learning how to accept Rob’s diagnosis. This ultimately is about extending a hand to the next family and now that I better understand the complexities and barriers the business of this mission faces, I am fully engaged.
John Stevenson, MD, Hospice and Palliative Care Medical Director, joined the NVNA and Hospice team in 2022. “I have so much respect for the Board leadership and their focus on palliative care,” says Stevenson. “There is a reason so many organizations are opting out of palliative care, and it is financial. Because from an outcome perspective, it is remarkable how the patient is thriving at home with complex diagnoses.”
Stephanie Franklin Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Vertex Pharmaceuticals
I made the decision to join the NVNA and Hospice Board of Directors because I have a shared passion for this mission to provide quality health care, wellness, and public health services in this South Shore community I call my home.
The challenges around advancing and expanding patient care are exceptional, but I feel so deeply confident in this leadership and their commitment and focus on the mission which has rooted this organization for over 100 years.
Ellen Zane CEO Emeritus Tufts Medical Center
Strong leadership is paramount when you are looking at a non-profit health care organization. Renee is a visionary leader and from the start, one of her immediate objectives was to expand philanthropic possibilities. It was the correct decision and, frankly, a bold one. Philantropic investment requires making the case, and NVNA and Hospice has done the necessary work. My decision to support the mission was about helping to ensure we can expand patient access and build the next 100 years of care.
“Reimbursement for palliative care is fee-for-service, and it doesn’t cover the direct costs. Palliative care is not viable when agencies are losing millions of dollars to the exploitative insurance maneuvers set in motion by Medicare Advantage.”
Commercial payers and Medicare Advantage plans continue to undervalue home care and hospice. With the current Medicare Advantage crisis denying care to seniors, home care—the often-celebrated solution to the national healthcare system—is at its lowest level of providers.
Medicare and managed care have maintained a steady cut in payment services. Home care and hospice providers in Massachusetts are currently bracing to adjust to a 3% cut in 2025.
The debate is in one part about immediate care for a patient requiring services, and the other, a revolutionary
conversation on how we are providing care in the home for our sickest patients and the financial barriers that are setting the course of care.
The ethical question that remains unanswered is: How do we advance in the name of quality, high-level patient care access?
Renee McInnes would say it begins with identifying your decision makers. “ I am convinced that the path for greater patient care access is linked directly to our
My family’s company is about a cornerstone of the American dream: finding that home to build a life in and create memories, becoming part of a neighborhood and a community. But if that community cannot access health care, then there is a problem. My decision to support the mission of NVNA and Hospice is understanding that the system is struggling and as a business leader there is a responsibility to assist in any way I can for my employees, customers, neighbors, and family.
community,” says McInnes. “ Mounting the best clinical team we can is one thing, but our team must also include the community’s investment and endorsement. Advocacy from local leaders is the only way forward in navigating the broken healthcare system.” g
Carol Bulman CEO and Chair of the Board
Jack Conway
Conversation, Compassion, and Care
A New Perspective with Palliative Care
Patrick McGeoghegan greets Sarah Driscoll, PA, at his front door with a smile on his face and a cane in his hand. It’s the first time she has seen him standing without the use of a rolling walker in the two years they have been working together through NVNA and Hospice’s palliative care program.
In addition to living with malignant melanoma, Patrick has been steadily recovering from surgery to address a pervading pain in his hip that turned out to be a fracture. He makes coffee every morning, regularly writes cards to loved ones, and looks forward to driving his car again. But back in 2022, things were different.
“I was spending all day in my armchair, no longer even going to dinner, and was losing weight,” Patrick says. He and his wife, Susan— or PJ and Sue, as they’re known to friends and family—were high school sweethearts and have been married for over 50 years. It was upsetting that his pain levels were reaching a point where he was unable to take part in the activities they enjoyed—until NVNA and Hospice stepped in with a plan that included in-home nursing care and palliative services.
“
It was such a gift to meet Sarah and find out that she could really understand what was going on with me.”
Says Sarah, “My favorite part of palliative care is developing relationships with patients and families. We are able to have important conversations about the future in a calm environment rather than in an emergent situation, and I get to see the improvements we make together.”
W ith NVNA and Hospice standing as the only provider of in-home palliative services in the South Shore region, Patrick feels fortunate to have this care available to him.
“It’s a gift,” he says. “A lot of palliative care has to do with listening. I think sometimes providers are in such a rush
The McGeoghegan Family
Patrick continued, “We started working to figure out how I could get through the day with the pain I was experiencing until surgery became an option.”
As a physician assistant, Sarah works in tandem with the palliative nurse practitioner group on managing each patient’s symptoms and addressing their goals of care. Patrick calls the relationship between the NVNA and Hospice interdisciplinary team “unbelievable” and enthuses, “They truly communicate with each other about my care. I have a tremendous comfort level with the organization.”
that they may not be able to hear what a patient is really saying, but that is not the case with Sarah.”
Sitting down with Patrick to begin the day’s visit, Sarah tells him, “You’ve made leaps and bounds in improvement. It just makes my day to see where you are now compared to where you’ve been.” Patrick would tend to agree. “I told Sarah I was determined to get rid of that walker, and now I am determined to get rid of this cane. I’m taking back all these things—the laundry, the trash, the coffee, the dishes,” he says. “I finally have a life again.” g
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.
“Palliative care is an investment in helping people to live the best they can on their own terms. There is no greater gift that we can give to each other than to be genuinely seen and heard.” ~ Dr. Sunita Puri
PAST HONOREES
2020
Barbara Bush, Former First Lady Awarded posthumously to Barbara Pierce Bush
Michael O’Reilly, President, Fidelity Digital Assets
2021
Reverend Liz Walker, Retired Roxbury Presbyterian Church
Gina Vita, Former Member, NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees
2022
Kate Walsh, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Jill Tallman, President, Cordelia Family Foundation
2023
Sunita Puri, MD, Program Director
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at the UMass Chan School of Medicine
Kevin B. Callanan, Partner Callanan Law
Past Chair, NVNA and Hospice Board of Directors
LEADING the Way
In March 2024, Board of Directors member Claudia Dolphin and her husband Peter welcomed over 30 guests to their home in Naples, Florida. As fellow Board members, donors, and friends gathered, CEO Renee McInnes acknowledged the overwhelming generosity in the room and the impact their investment has made on patient care access.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to have a night where we could all gather in celebration of our friendships and our shared belief in this important mission.”
~ Claudia Dolphin
THE REVIEWS
I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL .”
H H H H H
H H H H H “
“ YOU WENT FAR BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS.”
MY RECOVERY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN EASIER .”
H H H H H
H H H H H “
“ YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND!”
ARE IN...
YOU ARE ALL ANGELS . THANK YOU!”
H H H H H
H H H H H “
WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE .”
H Largest Non-Profit Provider of Home Care, Palliative Care, and Hospice Services on the South Shore
H Only Regional Provider of Comprehensive Home-Based Primary Palliative Services
H Five Star Patient Experience Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
H Over 125,000 Patient Visits per year in 27 Communities
H Leading Regional Employer of Clinical Home Care Providers: Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Speech Therapists, Home Health Aides, and Chaplains
NVNA and HOSPICE CHARITABLE FUND
Board of Trustees
Sara Abbott, Chair
Godwin Aduba
Lizzy Antonik
Nancy Bailey
Michael Baker
Kelly Berkeley
Kathleen Chouinard
Jill Clifford
Kaitlin Clifford
Tracy Clifford
Tim Corbett
Marisa Costello
Nicki Disch
Claudia Dolphin
Sarah D’Souza
Kevin Ellis
Maureen Faherty
Christine Falvey
Martha Falvey
Elizabeth Feeherry
Peter Finnegan
Phoebe Goldsberry
Paula Harris
Michelle Hatch
Darlene Hollywood
Dennis Keohane
Renee McInnes
Monica McKim Smith
Stacey Page
Julia Powers
Dianne Reilly
Patrick Renna
Erica Riley
Cara Rinaldi
Michael Rogers
Kevin Schiller
Jill Setian
Bonnie Simmons
Beth Sullivan
Jill Tallman
Robert Terravecchia
Laura Tuttle
Kristen Walker
Bernadette Ward
Laura Winters
hen I accepted the position of Chair of the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees, I did so knowing the strong platform in place and how effective our Board has been raising funds for patient care.
Under the consistent and visionary leadership of our CEO, Renee McInnes, the charitable fund board in place for a decade has raised over $25 million, and each year we have surpassed our ambitious goals.
e success starts with the seasoned clinical team and the five-star patient care.
e common link of our board members is that we believe in the mission.
ur work to drive patient care funding priorities and craft that message for the community has led to record breaking numbers for our Charitable Fund. In fact, we are on track this year to once again exceed our fundraising goal
e are in challenging times for non-profit health care, and the fundraising picture is now, more than ever, a significant strategic priority. It has been an honor to serve in this capacity as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
W ith our new campaign just starting under the thoughtful leadership of Kitty and Tim Pinch and our Board of Trustees motivated to increase resources advancing patient care access, I see how disciplined philanthropy and its remarkable energy can change lives.
Sincerely,
Sara Abbott, Chair NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Board of Trustees
NVNA and Hospice is saddened by the passing of Board of Trustees member Allen Bottomley. With our deepest sympathies to Allen's family and in gratitude for his life of dignity and service. (1969–2024)
Faith, Meaning, and Purpose
Patients and families facing the end of life often confront questions or fears that reach beyond their diagnoses. While navigating this journey, NVNA and Hospice’s spiritual care colleagues—part of the interdisciplinary hospice clinical team—are available to serve as an invaluable resource.
They acknowledge that spirituality can hold a wide range of meanings and different purposes in each person’s life: for some, it reflects life’s achievements and personal connections, while for others, it may be rooted in a particular faith.
“It is a privilege and an honor to be a chaplain and to serve as a bridge of comfort,” says Chaplain Daniel Langa.
“We truly meet people wherever they are.” Chaplain services are available to all home hospice patients, as well as residents of the Pat Roche Hospice Home.
A chaplain’s offerings might entail bedside visits with prayers and conversation. Other times, complex discussions are guided by the chaplain team.
“We walk alongside others—patients, family, and staff— through whatever the journey brings,” says Chaplain Rachel Reid, “and I love the moments of connection that remind me we truly are all one. Finding meaning while reflecting on life and looking ahead to what comes next is deeply healing.” n
~ Jessica Judge, LICSW Supportive Care Manager “
The spectrum of hospice care must include faith, and that means something different for everyone.
At NVNA and Hospice it is our chaplains who uphold this valuable component of care.”
Chaplains Marek Tuptynski, John Sheeran, Daniel Langa, and Rachel Reid
Education and the Power of Philanthropy
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Wound Nursing Certification
Hospice Diagnosis
Coding Course
Preceptor
Training
Grief Educator
Certification
Phlebotomist Education
Heart Failure Certification
Carolin Greene, Sharon Walsh, Cheryl Mooney, Ashley Connors, and Deb Silva have all recently received their RN to BSN degree with the help of the Gerry Sanderson Education Fund
“The support I received from the Gerry Sanderson Education Fund kindled a spark on my journey of professional growth. Obtaining my BSN was only the beginning.”
~ Deb Silva, Hospice RN Case Manager
The Gerry Sanderson Education Fund was established by an anonymous grateful family, and to date, the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund has received more than $800,000 from their generosity.
O ver 250 team members have benefitted from advancing their education through this program, and it has encouraged additional donations for education, such as the Higgins Family Nursing Scholarship.
Renee McInnes with Gerry Sanderson and her family
Over $659,000 Raised for Patient Care
NVNA and Hospice celebrated a decade of our annual fundraising dinner
The 12 on June 19 as funds were raised for the Pat Roche Hospice Home, making care accessible to families throughout the community.
More than 600 guests gathered under the sold-out tent for an evening of impact and inspiration, featuring a performance by Steve and Sarah Bass.
The event was co-chaired by Board of Trustees members
Tracy Clifford and Stacey Page.
MEANINGFUL COMPANIONSHIP Finding Fullfillment Through Volunteering
Volunteering with NVNA and Hospice can take on many different forms, from assisting at the Pat Roche Hospice Home to supporting colleagues in the office. For Margery Carr, nearly two years of volunteering have seen her offering companionship to hospice patients within their own homes.
This volunteer work came naturally on Margery’s life path: “I’ve always wanted to help people,” she says. “I was with my father when he died in 2013, and it was such a privilege. When this opportunity came my way, I knew I could do it because of that experience.” Having held a career as an elementary school teacher before raising two children of her own, Margery has found that through volunteering she is able to do something she finds rewarding while making a difference for those facing the end of life. “Volunteering here gives me tremendous fulfillment, and I see how it helps our hospice families, too.”
“I meet people where they are,” Margery says, “and if I can find a connection between us, even better.” She details one particular conversation wherein she and a patient bonded over the discovery that Margery’s father, Richard Chapin, had been the captain of the patient’s Navy ship during World War II. “What are the chances? It made me feel even more certain that I am meant to be doing this.”
At NVNA and Hospice, we aim to provide the best care experience to those we serve, and this continuum includes the vital work of our volunteers like Margery. The support provided to our patients receiving hospice care and their families is made possible because of our entire team. g
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 Volunteer Coordinator Catie MacWilliams at cmacwilliams@nvna.org.
championing
a cause
Why become involved with a non-profit?
What does it mean to truly support a cause?
Members of the community offer perspectives on the roles they play as advocates, board members, and donors.
PETER FINNEGAN PRESIDENT, BARNSIDE CAPITAL MEMBER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
How did you become involved with NVNA and Hospice?
My first experience with NVNA and Hospice was through care provided for a family member. Having lived in Hanover for 25 years, I became involved as a board member because of the mission’s broad reach and impact.
Does being a father impact your choices when it comes to organizations you support?
Yes, absolutely. I try to be involved in regional organizations that help people and hope my children will see the benefit: the key is to have participation at any scale. Every little bit matters. The events NVNA and Hospice produces are so crucial, as they provide an opportunity to educate at a generational level.
How does NVNA and Hospice stand out as an organization?
NVNA and Hospice remains true to its original values while having a dedicated, committed, and smart team. I have great confidence in NVNA and Hospice and am always proud to introduce them to others. When people understand the mission, they want to support it because of the critical services it provides.
There is currently a tremendous strain on the healthcare industry as a whole. What is your perspective on how NVNA and Hospice is approaching this issue?
NVNA and Hospice strikes the delicate balance of providing the best care to their patients while understanding the need to expand and adapt to current demand. As Renee often says, it is about an ethical responsibility to patient care. g
PAULA HARRIS CO-OWNER AND PRINCIPAL, WH CORNERSTONE INVESTMENTS
MEMBER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
How did you become involved with NVNA and Hospice?
Bill and I have long been connected to the South Shore region, both personally and through our business, WH Cornerstone. I already knew NVNA and Hospice had a top-notch reputation, and so the decision to become involved was very easy. This was a mission I wanted to support.
WH Cornerstone also aims to help others navigate through times of grief and loss, albeit through financial planning. Have you found parallels in these two areas?
I am constantly finding people who need both of these related services, and it keeps me so passionate. Within our company, we started something called “curveball life planning” to help prepare for unexpected circumstances, like hospice, beforehand. We encourage planning more and being aware of the offerings that will be available when the time comes.
From your experience sitting on the board with NVNA and Hospice, what stands out to you regarding the way the organization operates?
I appreciate that Renee is willing to speak out and speak up in a time when the government just keeps cutting back subsidies. It takes a leader to step out in that way. Too many people are too afraid to say anything because they’re afraid they’ll lose more, but if more health care organizations don’t start pushing back, the government will not understand the desperate need.
How do you go about helping and educating people within this field?
We all need to be educated consumers, and when I know someone’s really struggling, I feel a need to assist. In the last year, I’ve helped three people get into the Pat Roche Hospice Home. It’s directing them to the right resources and the right people g
ELIZABETH FEEHERRY
MEMBER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
How did you become involved with NVNA and Hospice?
My father was diagnosed with cancer in January 2022 and wanted to be in hospice care when the time came, just as my mother had been when she passed. Everyone recommended NVNA and Hospice, and I felt lucky that we were able to utilize the Pat Roche Hospice Home. Not only was there fantastic communication and professionalism, but it did not feel clinical, and the team truly got to know us—right down to the strawberry milkshake my father loved.
W hat made you want to become a board member with NVNA and Hospice?
That care my father received made me want to support the organization from a philanthropic standpoint and volunteer my time. I greatly appreciate that NVNA and Hospice is committed to making services accessible regardless of one’s income level.
Has being a board member impacted your knowledge of the services NVNA and Hospice offers?
I am always learning more about the organization, and it just keeps getting more impressive. For example, I think the Navigator 27 program is great. When a loved one needs care, it’s beneficial to be able to lean on and gain opinions from knowledgeable professionals.
W hat would you say to someone who is considering becoming involved after experiencing a loss?
For me, serving as a board member has been a way to continue to honor my dad and to keep that relationship alive. There are so many ways to be involved, whether with your time or with your gifts, and it’s a means to stay connected with the community that helped you take care of your loved one. g
Remembering Loved Ones
On Sunday, May 19, 2024, NVNA and Hospice welcomed families to the annual Emilson Family Wall of Remembrance ceremony to commemorate the addition of their loved ones' names for 2024. Over 350 individuals have been memorialized on the Wall since 2014.
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 information about honoring your loved one on our Emilson Family Wall of Remembrance, please contact Julie Hargrave at 781.610.1494 or jhargrave@nvna.org. g
“Thank you for your kind care of my loved one. You made their last days so comfortable and peaceful, and your love for what you do helped ease the pain of letting them go.”
~ Grateful hospice patient family
EMPOWERMENT IN HOSPICE CARE Passion in Profession
Within hospice, we don’t just care for patients,” says Rebecca Primmer, RN, BSN. “We care for entire families. We facilitate comfort and peace at end of life, but more importantly, we support and empower.”
O ver 200 hospice patients are on service each day with NVNA and Hospice, a number that only continues to grow as the organization invests in improving care access for families in the region. The team currently sees a rate of hospice care utilization that is nearly 10% higher than local county averages. “We have a responsibility to do right by the people we serve,” CEO Renee McInnes says, “and this means strengthening the hospice mission so that when they need it, patients have the opportunity to benefit from this compassionate care.”
Rebecca, a nurse with nearly two decades of care behind her, is one of many who understands this well. Since joining the NVNA and Hospice team in 2022, she has implemented a nurse recognition program, been recognized in The Boston Globe’s Salute to Nurses, and received the Robert F. Dwyer Compassionate Caregiver Award at the organization’s annual The 12 dinner.
“The hospice care my father, Jack Fee, received was outstanding,” says son Michael Fee, speaking for the Fee family. “We were in awe of the personal relationship of trust, comfort, and compassion that Rebecca established with him. She listened, she explained, she honored his military service, and she cared for him in a way that our entire family will never forget.”
Thanks to initiatives including a thoughtfully developed serious illness program, the implementation of a nurse navigator, and focused community education, NVNA and Hospice is committed to making this kind of end-of-life experience possible for more families.
“From nursing to social work, home health aides, chaplains, volunteers, and beyond, none of us take for granted how privileged we are to care for this community,” says Rebecca. “I’m right where I should be.” n
Rebecca Primmer is the 2024 recipient of the annual Robert F. Dwyer Compassionate Caregiver Award.
Rebecca Primmer, RN, BSN
Rebecca with her patient, Jack Fee
FIVE-STAR TEAM
“It all starts with a team who appreciates the significance of the work we are being called to do in our community. If we did not have their enthusiasm and dedication, none of these achievements would be possible.”
- Renee McInnes, CEO
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.
Board of Trustees member Cara Rinaldi, right, hosts an informational luncheon with Noreen
and
At the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts’s annual meeting for 2024, CEO Renee McInnes is sworn in as Chair of the Board of Directors while Home Health Aide Manager Alyssa Machovec, center, is named an Emerging Leader, celebrated by Kate Mercier, Melissa Thompson, and Kim Bolduc.
| 2024 | NVNA.org
John Stevenson, MD, Hospice and Palliative Care Medical Director, leads a conversation on palliative case studies at a quarterly Board of Trustees meeting.
CEO Renee McInnes attends an address by Governor Maura Healey on her vision, insights, and plans for the future of the region.
Cataldo, RN, Director of Care Management,
Renee McInnes, RN, CEO to share details on Navigator 27’s concierge care.
At Norwell High School, CEO Renee McInnes presents 2024 NVNA and Hospice Nursing Scholarship winners Avery Cawthorne and Eleanor Lane with their awards.
Jane Carr, Karen McArdle, Linda Brown, Jill Tallman, and Dinah Starr celebrating at Linda’s retirement lunch after her ten years of service to the NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund and a 30-plus year career in fundraising.
Board of Trustees member Kathleen Chouinard, at right, attends The 12 with Katie Lally, Lindsay Wilkinson, and Amy Kudrick.
Making Voices Heard
NVNA and Hospice carries out our mission with enthusiastic advocates who act as powerful voices for patient care access in the towns we serve.
Thank You to Our Board of Directors
Karen Mullaney, President
Mary Sweeney, Vice President
John Burke, Treasurer
Ben Bembenek, Clerk
Alan Berrick, MD
Anita Comerford
Claudia Dolphin
Stephanie Franklin
Shaun Golden
Karen Johnson
Elena Kirkiles
Linda Mahonen
The NVNA and Hospice Charitable Fund Development Team includes:
M ichael Rogers Senior Vice President, Advancement and External Relations mrogers@nvna.org
Patrick Woods Director of Development pwoods@nvna.org
Mimi Macdonald Development Officer mmacdonald@nvna.org
Deanna Tavares Development Officer, Operations dtavares@nvna.org
Dale O’Reilly Event Coordinator doreilly@nvna.org
Liz Silvia Strategic Communications Specialist lsilvia@nvna.org
Julie Hargrave Development Associate jhargrave@nvna.org
Molly Smith Development Assistant msmith@nvna.org
Renee McInnes
Kendra McKinley
Donna Pineau, PhD
Deirdre Prescott
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.
Norwell, MA 02061
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