VNS Westchester

Home Care Heroes from VNSW and our affiliate, VNSW@Home, are being recognized for their exceptional commitment to patient care during National Home Care Month in November. The Home Care Association of New York State, through its statewide Home Care Heroes campaign, is highlighting the exceptional work of home care staff who have stood out in the COVID-19 pandemic. Kudos to all of our agency staff for their hard work during this challenging time. Read the press release at: https://www.vns.org//vnsw-vnswhome-heroes-recognized-durin

The Miller Family expressed their thanks to VNSW's Intake Department by sending them a delicious home-baked cake. The much-appreciated treat was in honor of "the wonderful job they did with their family member's admission" to our home care services. I guess you could say our Intake Department "takes the cake!" Kudos to everyone on our top-notch Intake team!

VNSW's Fall 2020 Newsletter is now available! Read or download our Fall newsletter for the latest news about VNSW and VNSW at Home (formerly Westchester Care at Home). Learn more about our home care team's response to COVID-19, new programs and initiatives, community activities, staff honors and our upcoming move to a new location! Read the newsletter here: https://www.vns.org//newsl/fall-2020-newsletter-available

All of us at Westchester Care at Home and affiliate VNS Westchester are extremely proud of Latoya Connolly and Angel Yohoulamanga for their dedication during the COVID-19 crisis. They represent a fantastic group of Home Health Aides who are providing outstanding care for our patients at home. Congratulations, and thanks to HCANYS for recognizing their exemplary efforts!

Congratulations to VNSW RN, WOCN Laura Maldonado for her well-deserved recognition by the Home Care Association of New York State (HCANYS) as one of their "Home Care Heroes." Laura has been indispensable to her patients and to other staff members throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Read her story in HCANYS' current Situation Report: https://hca-nys.org/home-car/home-care-hero-laura-maldonado

VNSW Director of Patient Services, Joann Parliament, will serve on a panel of health care professionals, during a free educational COVID-19 Virtual Round Table Discussion, held Thursday, May 28, from 12:00 - 1:30 pm. Hosted by Artis Senior Living of Briarcliff Manor, the program will focus on the effects of COVID-19 on home care and geriatric management services. Register today at: https://www.artisseniorliving.com//state-rd/upcoming-events

Congratulations to our own Susan Fassett who was selected as the first winner of the Galleria of White Plains "Galleria of Good" contest. This award celebrates local residents and workers who have had a positive impact on the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Susan plays a key role in providing support services for the Nurses and Home Health Aides at Westchester Care at Home and Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester who are on the front lines of patient care. Thanks for all you do, Susan, to help our staff and our community during this challenging time!

VNSW Director of Patient Services, Joann Parliament, provided valuable information on "How to Keep Your Family Safe at Home During COVID-19," during an interview on the Facebook Live video, "Time to Talk" with Jen Graziano. Watch the video below!

Today, as National Nurses Week comes to a close, VNSW is proud to honor a pair of VNSW Home Care Champions. Maria Creadore, Quality & Compliance Specialist and Laura Maldonado, WOCN, have completed scores of N95 face mask fit-tests for our home care team. Fit-tests ensure that our staff are receiving the expected level of protection by minimizing any contaminant leakage into the mask. This is critical as we continue to make in-home visits to a growing number of COVID-19 patients who are being discharged from hospitals to our home care services. Thank you Maria and Laura!

VNSW is pleased to share this story posted today to lohud.com that shines a light on the great work our home care team is doing to help patients with Covid-19 at home, following discharge from hospitals. Thanks to RN, Joann Bykowski-Warner and Director of Patient Services, Joann Parliament, for highlighting the importance of home care as the next line of defense in the Covid battle. https://www.lohud.com//home-health-care-frees-/3077545001/

Proud to honor our extraordinary nurses for providing care, compassion and HOPE to our patients. See today's ad in the Journal News...

Today kicks off National Nurses Week, an opportunity to acknowledge and honor VNSW’s and Westchester Care at Home’s extraordinary nurses who are on the front lines of in-home patient care every day. Now, more than ever, we salute their dedication, compassion and courage as they help patients to recover from the lingering effects of Covid-19, following discharge from hospitals and other facilities. We cannot thank you enough for all you are doing to keep our community safe and healthy at home! Pictured in photo, VNSW nurses, Marie Kalmancy, Noreen Forde, Darnel Amuyal and Lucy O’Connor.

Meet this week's Home Care Champion, VNSW RN, Lisa Osbourne-Eden, who is working on the front lines of home care every day for our growing number of COVID-19 patients. In the photo below, Lisa is providing care for patient, Jon Burnham, who was recently released from the hospital following treatment for complications from COVID-19. Lisa is treating Jon's lingering COVID-19 symptoms and other chronic health issues, while providing education on disease management and infection control. Thanks, Lisa, for all you do!

Our deepest thanks to the New York State United Teachers Union (NYSUT) for their generous donation of 1,500 surgical masks to VNSW. Now that more and more Covid-19 positive patients are being discharged from hospitals and rehab centers to our home care services, the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is even more urgent to keep our patients, their families, and our home care team safe during in-home visits. To donate N95 or surgical face masks, gowns, goggles, shields or other PPE to our nonprofit agency, please email [email protected]. Pictured in the photo (l to r) are VNSW Intake Nurse, Valerie Fitzgerald and NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist, Sarah Arbitrio.

We are extremely proud to recognize this week’s Home Care Champion, Tai Grifith, RN, and Care Navigator for VNSW affiliate, Westchester Care at Home. Tai is doing an exemplary job of providing care management and support services to special populations, including elderly members of religious communities, during the Covid-19 crisis. Here she is in full protective gear as she gets ready to assist a group of Sisters residing at Andrus on Hudson.