Summer 2016 Franklin County Home Health Agency
Caring Connections ... at your door
Every visit tells a story ... Barney Malone lives in a remote farmhouse on Enosburg Mountain – the same house his grandfather built and where Barney brought his bride over fifty years ago. “My Home Health nurse comes about once a week to check on my wound, my diabetes, and draws blood because of my medicine. My Care Attendants make sure I’ve got groceries and a clean house.” By staying in his home, he is also close to his children and part of the community where he has lived his entire life. “I used to be Chair of the Franklin County Field Days,” he says. “A few years back, we needed money to upgrade our electrical system but didn’t know how we’d do it. I’d met the promoter for the Grateful Dead so I got in contact with him.” As a result of
“It feels so good to
Barney’s work, two Grateful Dead concerts were held on the Field Days grounds. “Those shows got us going again and Field Days have been growing ever since.” Barney stays busy rebuilding antique engines, honing the skills he used throughout his life as a repairman. “If I weren’t still at home I couldn’t work on my engines. It feels so good to know someone’s making sure everything is where it’s supposed to be, that they’re taking care of me.” “I’ve never moved,” he says. “I don’t know what I would have done without Home Health. If I didn’t have access to this care, I’d probably have ended up in a nursing home.” “When I’m gone,” he continues, “I’ve got it all taken care of. Donations go to the Agency instead of flowers. It’s all in my Advance Directive. That takes a big load off the family. They know I want my ashes by my wife and sprinkled on the mountain. Maybe I can grow a tree. That mountain was my home.”
know someone’s making sure everything is where it’s supposed to be, that they’re taking care of me.
”
Staff Service Celebrated
Service to Others
Service Milestones Awarded
Patricia A. Dean Make a Difference Award
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t this year’s annual Staff Appreciation luncheon, the Agency recognized 28 employees who have reached service milestones. • 30 years: Crystal Sheridan, Medical Billing Specialist. • 25 years: Sue O’Brien, Administrative Assistant; Connie Lane, RN; Terry Poirier, RN; Lori Wright, Hospice Support; and Veronica Wright, RN. • 20 years: Charlene Baron, SLPA; Pauline Domina, LNA; and Lisa Phillips, Clerical Support. • 15 Years: Carol Cook, Care Attendant; Annette Blanchard, RN; Keith Franchetti, SLP • 10 years: Nancy Dulude, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator; April Pettengill, RN; Sue Hunt, LNA; Care Attendants Jeanette Candels, Laurie Chaloux, Kathy Evans, Debbie Austin, Darlene Larose, Sharon Anderson, and Janis Hess.
BLUE JEAN BALL
E Two of the 25 year milestones: Sue O’Brien and Connie Lane.
ach year since 2004, the Agency has presented the Patricia A. Dean Make a Difference Award to a staff member who whose work makes a difference in our Agency and community. This award is named in honor and memory of past board member, Patricia A. Dean. The recipient for the 2016 Award was Nancy Dulude, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator.
GOES
FIESTA!
October 22, 6-10 PM American Legion Nancy Dulude (left) accepts her award from Executive Director Janet McCarthy (right) and Board Chair Bridget Howrigan Rivet.
St. Albans, VT Dinner By Santini Catering Dancing with Bobby Cee
SILENT & LIVE AUCTIONS | RAFFLES & MORE PURCHASE TICKETS: fchha.org/bluejeanball 20 Year milestones: Lisa Phillips, Charlene Baron and Pauline Domina
• 5 years: Katie Larivee, RN; Mari Stuart-Bullock, RN; Mary Harwood, Community Relations Coordinator; Care Attendants Samantha Brace, Theresa Snider and Sallie Royea.
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ranklin County Home Health Agency is at the forefront of helping people who suffer from chronic conditions. Recent studies show that people with fewer financial resources are far more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, COPD, and heart disease, all of which are directly linked to an increased risk for repeat hospitalizations and death. We provide direct support to our clients through our Better Breathing program, which is managed by our rehab therapists, and our telemonitoring program. Through telemonitoring, you can measure your weight, blood pressure, oxygen level and more at home and
Making a Difference Leave a Legacy
8th ANNUAL
Staff test new equipment
send your readings directly to one of our nurses. She will review your information and if she is concerned about any of the readings, she will contact you to suggest either a home visit or recommend a call to your doctor. We are also working with NOTCH (Northern Tier Center for Health) on a program for people with chronic conditions when they are released from the hospital. One of our nurses will contact you immediately after your discharge from Northwestern Medical Center to go over
$50 each | $400 table for eight
your medications and ensure you have a a successful return to your home from the hospital. United Way funding helped us start our Better Breathing program. We are about to roll out new telemonitoring equipment using smart tablets. The financial support from our community helps make it possible for us to keep our equipment and skills at the highest level so we can provide the best care to you and your family. Giving through a bequest is one way you can make a lasting difference and support our work now and in the future. Here’s the story from one family member whose parents provided for the Agency in their will: “I have the greatest respect for Home Health. My parents, John and Fan Willson, believed in it. If not for Home Health, my father would have had to leave mom at home and go to rehab. He used to look forward to his nurse coming when he needed help; they were fabulous. They always said that, when they died, they wanted to leave money to four places and Home Health was one of them. I’m doing my own will now and want to include the Agency in it. Who knows – someday I might need care! I couldn’t image if Home Health wasn’t there. If you can stay home, that is the way to go.” For information on how you can make a lasting difference through your bequest or other types of planned giving, please call us, (802) 527-7531.
Raffle Quilt on Tour Don’t miss your chance to win this gorgeous quilt, made by our Home Health quilters! Tickets are $1 each or a book of 6 for $5. The drawing will be held at the Blue Jean Ball. Purchase tickets online at www.fchha.org/quilt, in the St. Albans office, or at one of these venues: Monday July 25-29, Union Bank in St Albans Sunday July 31, Fairfield’s Jig in the Valley Saturday August 13, St. Albans Farmer’s Market
Thank you to our Blue Jean Ball sponsors: Ultra Fit: Superior Technical Ceramics Perfect Fit: Ben & Jerry’s Designer Fit: Community National Bank, Kinney Drugs, NFP, Heald & Spears Funeral Homes, McDermott Inc., the McDermott Family, Mylan Technologies, New England Federal Credit Union, Northwestern Medical Center, Northcountry Federal Credit Union, TD Bank. Quilt Sponsor: Union Bank
3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478 802.527.7531 | www.fchha.org |
[email protected]
To my Home Health nurse: You have had such a positive influence on my attitude toward my heart condition. Each time you come, you bring a calmness which assures me that what is happening in my body is a natural progression of aging. I have such faith in your expert knowledge as a nurse and your down to earth wisdom grounds me. - A Grateful Patient Find us on:
Marietta Scholten, MD: Hospice Medical Director
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arietta Scholten, MD FAAFP, started as our primary Hospice Medical Director in 1991. Over the years, she has seen the Agency grow from a small staff operating out of a brown house on Main Street to our Agency today. She has a passion for caring for individuals with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones. This passion has had a profoundly positive impact on the way she views end-of-life care. “I see the relationship of family medicine to hospice as a natural extension of taking care of someone throughout the continuum of life; hospice is dedicated to compassionate care and the best quality of life possible for each patient.” One of her roles is to make home visits in order to recertify clients that still meet the hospice criteria. “This has increased my involvement and appreciation of the care for both patients and families; medical, psychological, emotional,” said Dr. Scholten. “Hospice care is really special. The life reviews are amazing!” By meeting with people in person, she observes nuances that don’t show on paper and builds trusting, professional relationships with the clients and their loved ones. Read more on our website, www.fchha.org.
Summer Safety
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ummer sun is welcoming after a cold winter. However, we all need to remember to stay safe in the sun. Sun and summer heat can lead to life threatening heat stroke and skin cancer. Here are a few tips for staying safe and healthy: • Apply sunscreen often • Wear a hat and long sleeves • Drink cool, non-alcoholic beverages • Wear light, loose-fitting clothes • Avoid heavy activities, especially during the hottest part of the day • Move to a cooler location • Try cooling down by immersing in or sponging with cool water • Use ice packs or cooling vests to lower your temperature • Call for help if your temperature goes above 101 degrees. .
