Newsletter Fall 2008 - VNA Northwest, Inc.

NEWSLETTER
VNA Northwest, Inc.
www.vnanw.org
Serving:
Bantam ¨ Bethlehem ¨ Cornwall ¨ Falls Village ¨ Goshen
Harwinton ¨ Lakeville ¨ Litchfield ¨ Morris ¨ Northfield ¨ North
Canaan ¨ Salisbury ¨ Sharon ¨ Thomaston ¨ Torrington ¨ Warren
Washington ¨ Woodbury
Serving Northwest Connecticut for 80 Years!
VOL. XVIII Issue 2 Fall 2008
Get Your Flu Shot!
Flu and pneumonia shots
will be offered by VNA
Northwest throughout
November, while supplies
last.
Vote & Vax clinics are
scheduled in three local
towns on Election Day,
Tuesday, Nov. 4 -Harwinton, Sharon, and
Torrington.
For details: please visit
www.vnanw.org or call us
at (860) 567-6000.
Walk-ins are welcome at our
office, 607 Bantam Road,
Bantam, between 9 a.m. and
3:30 p.m. on weekdays.
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In this Issue:
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Golf Tournament Wrap-up,
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80th Anniversary Gala,
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Hospice Northwest News,
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P. 4
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If You Have Lost a Loved
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One, P.5
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Thanks to Therapy, He Can Sing Again!
Last spring, illness
kept Robert Decker
bedridden for a month.
“I was extremely
weak,” says the Geer
Village resident. He
was under the care of
VNA Northwest Nurse
Darlene Grant, and
then began receiving
physical therapy from
Laura Leifert, RPT.
A power wheelchair
has helped him to get
around the North
Canaan facility where
he has lived for the
past two and a half
years. “He has a lot of
distance to cover,” says
Laura. By September,
after several weeks of
Robert Decker with Laura Leifert
therapy, Mr. Decker
had begun to do some walking on his own.
Regaining his strength and mobility has allowed him to resume his
twin passions: singing and songwriting. He is happy to report, “The
voice is coming back! This is the most important thing to me – it’s my
life,” says the former church choir director and music teacher.
The World War II Army veteran enjoys composing at his keyboard
as well as participating in a poetry class and socializing with his
friends at Geer.
Although the therapy can be strenuous, he managed to make jokes
and laugh with Laura during a recent session.
“There’s no question I’ve made progress,” he said cheerfully.
Regarding the care he’s received from Laura and the VNA Northwest
staff, he added, “Darlene and the whole bunch are very good.”
9th Annual VNA Northwest, Inc. Golf Tournament: Best Ever!
Dr. and Mrs.
Morris Kotick,
along with
Alan Matisoff
and Mike
Broverman,
enjoyed this
year’s event on
Sept. 22 at
Fairview Farm
Golf Course in
Harwinton.
Photo by Nancy DePecol, DePecol Design
Platinum Sponsors
Tee Sponsors
Accurate Mailing Services
Peter Belval
Brookhollow Marketing
Conquest Consulting, LLC
Emerson Process
Management
First National Bank of
Litchfield
Lindell Fuels, Inc.
Litchfield Bancorp
Art Mulligan, The
McKellan Group, Inc.
Prospect Printing, LLC
Salisbury Bank & Trust Co.
Accurate Mailing Services
Advanced Monograms,
LLC
Peter Belval
Brookhollow Marketing
Burns, Brooks & McNeil
Charlotte Hungerford
Hospital
Conquest Consulting, LLC
Alice Dember
Hon. Judge Anne C.
Dranginis, Principal, Rome
McGuigan, PC
First National Bank of
Litchfield
Geer Village
LaPorta-Cook Funeral
Home
Litchfield Bancorp
Mary & Dick Loughney
Art Mulligan, The
McKellan Group, Inc.
Olson, Mobeck &
Associates
People’s United Bank
Prospect Printing, LLC
Salisbury Bank & Trust
Sharon Health Care Center
Gold Sponsors
O&G Industries, Inc.
Sharon Hospital
Torrington Savings Bank
Thomaston Savings Bank
Silver Sponsors
Brumell’s Cycling &
Fitness, LLC
Letizia, Ambrose & Falls,
PC
Joan Cantelo Kellogg &
Dwight A. Kellogg Family
Foundation
LaPorta-Cook Funeral
Home
Mutual of America
Naugatuck Savings Bank
Peach and McPherson,
CPAs
Hole-in-one Contest
Litchfield Ford
Putting Contest
Dr. John & Laurel
Galloway
Cart Sponsors
James Thibault, Barron
Financial Group
Bri-Cins, Inc.
Brumell’s Cycling &
Fitness, LLC
Denise Cloutier, Esq.
Founders Insurance Group
J. Miggins
Rosemary Ripley Family
Foundation
Sullivan’s Northwest Hills
Dealerships
Tedeschi Tile and Marble
Toce Brothers, Inc.
Torrington Maintenance
Supply Company
True Value Hardware of
Litchfield
The Rev. Robert F. Tucker
Yankee Penny Saver Donna Isely
Photo Sponsor:
Nancy DePecol,
DePecol Design
Diamonds in the Rough
Apple Orchard in the
Northwest Hills
Bantam Pizza
Candice Clukey &
Corri Pelletier
Collinsville Canoe &
Kayak
Dunkin Donuts, Litchfield
Giordano Signs
Guion, Stevens & Rybak,
LLP
Lincare
Dick Ross, Litchfield
County Promotions
Don & Michele Murelli
Northwest Community
Bank
Rainbow Press
The Shoppes at Farmington
Valley
Westover School
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VNA Northwest, Inc.
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Board of Directors
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Officers
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Arthur J. Mulligan, III,
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President
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Sharon Pilz, Vice
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President
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Laurence Weber,
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Treasurer
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Jane DeVries, Corporate
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Secretary
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Board of Directors
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Peter Belval, Woodbury
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Michael Broverman,
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Torrington
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Denise
Cloutier, Esq.,
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Goshen
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Timothy Cook,
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Torrington
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Jane DeVries, Woodbury
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Cindy Donaldson,
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Torrington
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Laurel
R. Galloway,
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Litchfield
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James Gold, West
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Cornwall
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Meryl Eve Matisoff,
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Harwinton
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Arthur J. Mulligan, III,
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Southbury
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Sharon Pilz, Falls
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Village
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Russell Riva, Jr.,
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Salisbury
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The Rev. Robert F.
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Tucker, Litchfield
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Laurence Weber, New
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Preston
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Staff
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Nancy
Deming,
RN,
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BSHA
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Executive Director
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Bridget
A. Beauchaine
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Corresponding Secretary
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Newsletter Editor
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Joyce B. Dunn
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Education and Equipment Funded
VNA Northwest has received recent grants
from the following: Salisbury Bank & Trust
Company’s Trust Division, for wound care
education for staff; the Junior Women’s Club
of the Litchfield Hills and Civic Family
Services, for purchase of an automated external
defibrillator (AED); and the Thomaston
Savings Bank Foundation, Inc., for digital
cameras to be used to improve wound treatment
outcomes for our patients.
Save the Date: May 16, 2009
We will hold our 80th Anniversary Gala at Mohawk
Mountain Ski Area in Cornwall, the town in which
the agency was founded. “Back to ‘28” will have a
Roaring ‘20s theme. Please plan to come and celebrate this milestone with other supporters of VNA
Northwest. For information, please call us at (860)
567-6000 or visit us online at www.vnanw.org.
Thank You!
We are very grateful to all who have supported the
mission of VNA Northwest and to all who will continue
to do so, even during these difficult economic times.
Whether you have made a financial contribution,
attended one of our events or volunteered your
services, we want you to know that you have made a
difference to this agency!
Friends of the 9th Annual VNA Northwest, Inc. Golf Tournament:
Acu-Grind Cutter
Services, Inc.
Lisie Adamson-Arbonne
Advanced Monograms
All About Accessories
Peter Belval
BJ’s Wholesale Club,
Inc.
Budget Blinds of
Litchfield County
Bunnell Farm
Cakes Unlimited
Chatterly’s Cafe
Raphael Chillious-Nike
Chippanee Golf Club
Colonial Greenhouse
Martin J. Connor, AICP,
Land Use Planning
Consultant
Cuisine by Jill
Alice Dember
DePecol Design
Dwan & Company
Energy Fitness
ESPN
Fairview Farm Golf
Course
Federal House Inn
Flatbread Pizza
Flora & Fauna
Margaret Furey
Dr. John & Laurel
Galloway
Goshen Players
Goshen Wine & Spirits
Guy Consulting Group
Haight-Brown Vineyard
Hair by Design Salon Spa
Hatfield’s Jewelers
Hometown Pizza
Inspired Touch
Jimmy’s Store
Joyful Noise
Jeffrey B. Kellner,
Photographer
LaCupola Ristorante & Inn
Dr. Charles Lerner
Litchfield County Times
Litchfield Golf Center
Litchfield Hills Nursery
Litchfield Pet Supply
Little Brook Engraving
Maletta Pfeiffer &
Associates, LLC
Mary Kay-Joyce Dunn
Meadowview Farm
Michael P. & Evelyn
McCormack
Michael’s Jewelers
Miranda Vineyard
Mohawk Mountain Ski
Area
Monarch Jewelers
Mt. Pleasant Bed &
Breakfast
Nellie’s Ice Cream &
Confections
Northwest Hills Credit
Union
Noujaim’s Specialty Foods
Nutmeg Conservatory for
the Arts
P. Sam’s Bar & Grille
Palm Classic Apparel
Panera Bread
Passiflora Tea Room &
Apothecary
Pinch of Thyme
Pizza Palace
Price Chopper
Pro Film
Riverside Deli
Rock & Soul Productions,
Jacques Williams
Santoro’s Cleaners, Inc.
Seasons of the Litchfield
Hills
Barbara Sokolik
Stonybrook Golf Course
Studio 59
Studio G
Sur La Table
The Entrepreneurs Source,
Lori Tyll & Karen Powell
The Hickory Stick Book
Shop
The Litchfield Catering
Co., LLC
The Nutmeg Grille
The Palace Theater
The Pantry, Inc.
The Quiet Zone
The Spa of Litchfield Hills
The Spirited Hand
The Village Restaurant
Three Oaks Chocolatier
Torrington Toyota
Vanitas Jewelry
Village Wine Cellar
Warner Theatre
Westside Package Store
Woodbury Pewter
Workshop, Inc.
Thank You to all of
the golfers, sponsors
and donors who
made this event such
a success!
Hospice Northwest News
Hospice Northwest Volunteer Coordinator Patricia Anderson (L) with some of our
Hospice volunteers: (L-R) Eileen Finnan, Lyn Bouteneff and James Dillman.
A Volunteer’s Perspective:
James “Jim” Dillman of Litchfield says that hospice volunteering has been an important part of his life
for almost three years now. Jim retired from the management consulting business and has volunteered for
a variety of causes and organizations since then. He likes the one-on-one contact with patients and their
families that sets hospice volunteering apart from other work he has done. And he knew from the time he
met his first patient that it would be a meaningful experience. “With my initial assignment, I was able to
use my German language skills,” he says. “The patient, whose mother tongue was German, shook my
hand and his eyes lit up when I spoke German to him,” he recalls. Jim says he appreciates this opportunity
to help others “at a critical stage of the life cycle.” NOTE: If you are interested in becoming a Hospice
Northwest Volunteer, please call Patricia Anderson, (860) 567-6000.
Director Receives Additional Certification
Lea Alberghini, RN, BSN, CHPN, the agency’s
Hospice Director, is certified by the National Board for
Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN).
Lea passed the certification exam for the specialty practice
of hospice and palliative nursing earlier this year.
Hospice and palliative nursing practice is the provision
of nursing care for the patient and family that places
emphasis on the patient’s physical, psychosocial,
emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Board
certification in hospice and palliative nursing is highly
valued.
Note: VNA Northwest’s Hospice Program (Hospice
Northwest) gathers a team of care-givers, including
physicians, nurses, home health aides, therapists, nutrition
counselors, social workers, clergy and volunteers to meet
the needs of patients. For more information, please call us
at (860) 567-6000.
Did you know?
There are several ways to support VNA
Northwest’s work. You can:
Purchase a leaf on our Legacy Tree to
celebrate a special occasion or to honor or
memorialize a loved one.
Donate to our annual spring and fall fund
drives. (Credit cards accepted.)
Participate in any of our special events, such
as the annual Golf Tournament or Garden
Party.
Enroll in Planned Giving, a process that
allows you to benefit through tax advantages
while supporting our agency.
Remember us in your will through a Bequest.
Please call our fund development office at
(860) 567-6000 or visit us online at
www.vnanw.org for more information.
The Great Gatsby
Garden Party
More than 80 people attended the
Great Gatsby Garden Party in
Harwinton in July. The benefit was
sponsored by Victoria Elliot of
Sotheby’s International Realty, and cohosted by Victoria’s husband, Dr.
Marvin McMillen. Over $3,000 was
donated to VNA Northwest, Inc.’s
Hospice Program in conjunction with
this event.
In photo: Marvin A. McMillen, M.D., addresses guests along with his wife, Victoria Elliot of Sotheby’s International
Realty (near right) and VNA Northwest Hospice volunteer Julie Combs, (far right). Seated at left is Harwinton
resident Lyn Keepin.
If Your Family Has Lost a Loved One...
The first year following
the death of a family
member represents a
significant challenge. This
is the first time that
surviving family members
must deal with birthdays,
anniversaries, holidays,
significant events and day to
day life without their loved
one present. The loss of a
loved one may become more acute during special
occasions as family members remember these
occasions with everyone together. While feelings of
sadness and loss will certainly be prominent and
should not be discounted, there are some ways that
may help during these special occasions especially
during the first year following a loss.
It is very important to first acknowledge that the
occasion or holiday will not be the same. The
person who was there celebrating with you in the
past will not be present. How could it be the same?
By acknowledging that it will not be the same, you
are then able to lessen the stress to make the event
similar to years past. You are giving yourself
permission to observe the occasion in a different
way.
If you do not have anyone to help support
you, Hospice Northwest can be of assistance.
Our bereavement program is an important part of
what we do. Our social workers are available to
meet with you, assess your needs and provide
short term counseling as well as information
about available community resources. There are
excellent bereavement support groups in our
community that we can refer you to. Please let
us know if you need us.
There is no time frame when it comes to
bereavement. Every person grieves in his or her
own way and at his or her own pace. The first
year after a loss is particularly challenging
because it is the first time one is experiencing
life without one’s loved one present. Even years
after a loss, an event or occasion may trigger
significant feelings of grief. For most, these
acute feelings do not linger for a long a period of
time. It is always important to acknowledge
this, to accept your feelings and understand that
this is part of our humanity.
-- Abby Palmer, Hospice Northwest IDT Team
Member
National Hospice/Palliative Care Month
is celebrated in November.
VNA Northwest, Inc.
607 Bantam Road Unit F
Bantam, CT 06750
(800) 752-0215 or (860) 567-6000
[email protected]
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 118
Waterbury, CT
Where the Care Comes to You
VNA Northwest, Inc.
VNA Northwest:
Where the Care Comes to You!
(MaryAnne Spring Photo)