News & Events
HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! GARDNER VNA HOSPICE ANNOUNCES VOLUNTEER TRAINING
The Gardner VNA Hospice Program is looking for volunteers throughout the greater Gardner and Athol area. There is currently a great need for volunteers to serve families and patients in 16 cities and towns including Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Erving, Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, Hubbardston, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Westminster and Winchendon. Our services extend into other areas as needed.
Hospice volunteers dedicate their time and support by providing comfort, compassion and quality care for the terminally ill and their families. Volunteers are assigned to perform a variety of important and rewarding duties, such as providing caregivers with respite care, assisting patients with errands and homemaking, friendly visitation, performing clerical work in an office environment and assisting with bereavement and spiritual care. There is also a need for complimentary care practitioners in the fields of massage therapy, reiki and other modalities to work with patients on a volunteer basis.
The only requirements are a caring heart, dependability, compassion and a willingness to serve patients from diverse backgrounds.
A free, comprehensive training program is required to prepare volunteers for Hospice work. The training is a 10- session program that meets once a week from 6-8pm. The next training will begin on Tuesday, February 16th and will conclude on April 20th.
For more information or an application, please contact Rev. Brenda Casavoy, Coordinator of Volunteers and Spiritual Care, Gardner VNA Hospice at 978-632-1230 ext. 3040 or by email at brenda.casavoy@gardnervna.org.
GARDNER VNA HELPS AREA BUSINESSES WITH WELLNESS EFFORTS DURING FLU SEASON
The Gardner VNA is very committed to preventing the spread of the flu virus. We have partnered with 14 local companies to provide on-site flu clinics to employees for the past 5 years, according to Murielle Conway, RN, Public Health Nurse. “Companies have contacted us every year, through our Corporate Wellness Program, to come to their facilities and provide this service with very little disruption to their daily business activities,” she said. “It is rewarding for us to be able to partner with local companies and provide them with a clinic that helps their employees stay healthy through the flu season,” said Conway.
The flu can lead to serious illness and take a significant toll on businesses. The flu virus spreads rapidly from person to person and thrives in a typical office environment. It can live up to 48 hours on phones, door handles, keyboards and clothing. During the winter months, one of the most common causes of employee absenteeism is the flu, resulting in additional expenses to companies. Organizing a workplace flu immunization clinic can be an effective way to help reduce employee absenteeism during the flu season and provide a great benefit to employees.
“Individuals who have the flu are generally contagious one day prior to getting the symptoms themselves and remain contagious for up to seven days after getting sick,” said Conway. “For this reason, it is very important for individuals to seriously consider receiving a flu shot, because they can be spreading the virus to co-workers or family members without even knowing it,” she said.
For information about our Corporate Wellness Program or to schedule a clinic at your office for 2010, please contact Laura LaBrack at (978) 632-1230, Ext. 3092.
ADULT DAY HEALTH CREATES GREEN SPACE FOR CLIENTS AT THE CENTER
The North Quabbin Adult Day Health Center recently completed a beautifully landscaped Remembrance Garden for the clients at the Center to enjoy during the nice weather. “The Garden was designed with our clients in mind,” according to Elaine Fluet, CEO of the Gardner VNA. “This space creates a peaceful, calm environment where clients can enjoy the fresh air and tranquility of nature,” she said.
“The Garden would not have been possible without the generous donations made to our “Home Away From Home” Campaign,” said Fluet. “Some donors designated their contributions to create this green space, allowing us to build raised bed gardens, plant trees and buy benches,” she said.
“Adjacent to the Center, the garden is an important component of the comprehensive care that is offered at the Center,” said Fluet “Interacting with nature allows clients to remember special times in their lives, enjoy the benefits of physical stimulation and take pleasure in the wonder of the changing seasons,” she added.
For more information about the Remembrance Garden or the “Home Away From Home” Campaign, please contact the Development Office at the Gardner VNA at (978) 632-1230, Ext. 3024.
PHOTO:
Pictured from left to right are campaign donors and staff of the Gardner VNA:
Jeff Cole, Witty’s Funeral Home
Shirley Hebert, Athol-Orange Rotary Club
Ann Racine, Development Director, Gardner VNA
Steve Raymond, Athol-Orange Rotary Club
Kathy Kilhart, Director of Elder Services, Gardner VNA
Deb Vescovi, President, Athol-Orange Rotary Club