News & Events

News
 Upcoming Events

Giving Tree Update

The Gardner Visiting Nursing Association launched a Giving Tree Campaign in September 2003.  The campaign was initiated to help support our commitment to the growing and strengthening of comprehensive health care services the Gardner VNA has to offer to Gardner and its surrounding communities.

Through your generous contributions to the Giving Tree Campaign, the funds will be used for the program of your choice (ie. Hospice, Adult Day Health, etc.) or can be put into a general fund for various programs within the organization that have specific needs.

When making a donation, you have several different levels of giving from which to choose.  They include the Double Gold Leaf at $1,200, the Golden Leaf at $600, the Silver Leaf at $300 and the Bronze Leaf at $100.  These leaves can be purchased to honor or memorialize someone special in your life.  If you would like to make a donation to a specific program within the Gardner VNA, please make sure to mark your check on the "For" line with the department or service you would like your donation to benefit.

For more information regarding the Giving Tree Campaign, please contact Nancy Langlois or Laura LaBrack at (978) 632-1230.

News

ADULT DAY HEALTH PROGRAM CLIENTS
AT GARDNER VNA ENJOY VEGETABLE GARDEN

 The Adult Day Health Center clients at the Gardner VNA planted their first vegetable garden this summer.  According to Program Director, Murielle Conway, the green space was created for the clients through the United Way’s Day of Caring.  “This is the second year we have used the garden, but the first year we’ve planted all vegetables,” she said.  “The Center enjoyed the fruits of their labor when they ate zucchini with their hot noontime meal,” she added. 

“This project has been overwhelmingly successful due to the commitment of staff members Tina Gauthier and Andrea Lively,” said Conway.  “They have given their time and gardening talents to create a garden for clients to enjoy,” she added.

 Conway noted that at least two times per week the clients at the Center assist with the watering and weeding of the garden and enjoy seeing the growth of the plants.  “We are happy to provide this outdoor activity for our clients as it not only increases mobility and endurance, but it gives them a chance to reminisce about the days of their own gardens,” said Conway.

 

 Pictured from left to right are Charles Smith, Tina Gauthier- Gardner VNA Activities Director, Gloria LeBlanc, Richard Flannagan, Daniel Clark and Kari Dame- (in front row). (Picture taken by Diana Kamila, Gardner VNA)

NORTH QUABBIN ADULT DAY HEALTH PROGRAM
CLIENTS ENJOY FLOWER GARDEN

 The North Quabbin Adult Day Health Center of the Gardner VNA planted their first garden this summer at the newly renovated center.    According to Elder Services Director, Kathy Kilhart, the flower garden was created for the clients to enjoy and have a chance to be outside.   “This beautiful garden was created by staff members Louise Smith, Program Director and Margaret Aguda,” said Kilhart.  “They have given their time and gardening talents to create a beautiful area for clients to enjoy while spending the day at the Center,” she added.

 

 Pictured from left to right are Margaret Aguda and Louise Smith

GARDNER VNA’S MD2 MACHINE HELPS
TO ENSURE MEDICATION NEEDS ARE MET
WHILE REMAINING INDEPENDENT

 

The Gardner Visiting Nursing Association, Inc. offers clients the state-of-the-art technology of the MD2 Personal Medication System.  According to Kathy Kilhart, Elder Services Director, the MD2 system is an added benefit that clients can use to compliment their Lifeline Personal Response System, but don’t have to have the personal response system to use the MD2.  “The MD2 system is an ideal solution for people who are suffering from physical dexterity issues, mild to moderate dementia, and individuals with very complex medication schedules,” said Kilhart.  “This helps to ensure that patients are complying with their daily medication regimen, as well as receiving the appropriate dose of medication,” she said.

According to Kilhart, the MD2 system holds up to 60 doses of medication and automatically dispenses them in individual cups at pre-programmed times in accordance with the patient’s medication schedule.  “An added benefit for our patient’s is that the system is continuously monitoring, so if the patient forgets to take their medication, caregivers can be notified automatically via telephone,” she said.

“The MD2 machine gives patients medication reminders in a clear, loud voice and tone, plus a text message and a flashing red light,” said Kilhart.  “This reminder can also be customized to give special instructions, such as “take with food”,” she said.  “Another feature of the machine is its easy dispensing button for patients,” she added. “The button is easy to feel and is oversized, so it only requires a gentle push,” said Kilhart.

According to Dr. Sherry Tuck, a Clinical Psychologist, of Fitchburg, the MD2 System has provided peace of mind for her and her family.  “I have been using this system for the past 9 months and find great comfort in the fact that I am not missing any doses of my medication,” said Tuck.  “Being a physician, I am very well aware that missing doses of medicine can be a very serious problem,” she said.  “As we grow older, we need reminders about not only taking medication, but what the appropriate doses are as well,” she said.  “I truly believe that a person of any age could benefit from this fine system, especially with today’s busy schedules, important daily regimes can be forgotten easily,” she added. 

Kilhart also noted that the use of either the Lifeline Personal Response System or the MD2 system or both together is a safe, comforting and effective way for caregivers to remain working and active in their own lives, while caring for a loved one.   “The Gardner VNA serves 24 cities and towns from Erving to Lunenburg and we are available to answer any questions regarding our Lifeline program and its available products,” she said.

 For more information about the MD2 or Lifeline Response Systems, please call Judy Durkee, Lifeline Coordinator, at the Gardner VNA at (978) 632-1230.

 

GARDNER VNA RECEIVES $30,000 GRANT FOR IN HOME MONITORING UNITS

 The Gardner Visiting Nursing Association, Inc. (Gardner VNA) recently received a $30,000 grant from Fallon/OrNda Community Health Fund of Greater Worcester Community Foundation for in home monitoring units.  According to CEO Elaine Fluet, the grant money will be used to purchase a portion of health telemonitors as part of the Gardner VNA’s goal to provide telemonitoring services to our home health patients.  “We are excited to move into this state-of-the-art monitoring in an effort to reduce re-hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes,” she said.

 Fluet noted that these units would allow our nurses to monitor patients on a daily basis without having to physically visit the home.  “We serve 24 cities and towns in the majority of Worcester County and the North Quabbin area, so for us to have the ability to monitor patients right in our office will have an immeasurable benefit to our patients,” she said.

 “The system is designed for those patients who experience frequent ups and downs in their condition,” said Fluet.  “This daily monitoring has proven to be very beneficial to many patients any may impact medical outcomes in a variety of ways for each patient,” she said.

 Types of conditions that would benefit from the home monitoring system include congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, recent cardiac surgery, diabetes and coagulation deficits.

“The benefits of this program from a medical point of view are numerous,” Fluet said.  “We will be able to deliver vital sign data, trending and graphs to our physicians in an effort to prevent any medical crisis, provide patients with instant access to this same data, and notify patients if results are out of the norm so they can make immediate changes to their activities,” she said.  “According to reports from a VNA in Western Pennsylvania, they have seen a better than 50% improvement in patient compliance due to this stride in technology,” said Fluet.

 For more information about the Gardner VNA and our services, please call (978) 632-1230.

Gardner VNA Quality Improvement Efforts
Recognized by Masspro

Gardner VNA was recently recognized by Masspro, the Medicare quality improvement organization for Massachusetts, at a conference honoring the achievements made by home health agencies participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Home Health Quality Initiative (HHQI). The agency received its award for improving clinical care related to one or more target outcome measures (areas of care). 

“Of the agencies that worked with Masspro on the HHQI project, a majority were able to significantly improve their selected target outcome(s). All of the agencies that volunteered to participate in this project clearly showed their commitment to improving the quality of care delivered to their patients,” said Helen M. Magliozzi, RN, BSN, Manager, Home Health and Nursing Home Services.

Facilitated locally by Masspro, the HHQI seeks to enhance the care provided to patients treated in their homes. Participating agencies are given technical assistance to develop and implement plans of action, as well as encouraged to share information and learn from their peers through interactive e-mail lists, Web-based trainings, audio-conferences and workshops.

“We were thrilled to be able to participate in this initiative,” said Elaine Fluet, Gardner VNA CEO.  “As healthcare providers, we are always looking at ways to provide even better service to our patients,” she said.  “Having formal implementation plans in place and a forum to share our learned experiences was such a bonus in our efforts to improve patient outcomes,” she added.

The Gardner VNA is located on 34 Pearly Lane in Gardner, and serves over 3740 patients every year.  The agency is a not-for-profit home health agency, who has been providing home health services to 24 cities and towns in the greater Gardner area since 1906.  The diverse services include community health nurses, certified home health aides, rehabilitative therapists (PT, OT & Speech), medical social workers, certified wound, ostomy & continence nurse, My Home Connection™: A Private Duty Service, Lifeline®, Adult Day Health Services- Gardner, Fitchburg & Athol, Home Assisted Living™: Group Adult Foster Care, Hospice, Community Education Programs, Maternal/Child Health Services, Healthy Families®, HIV Education & Prevention Programs and HIV Counseling & Testing.

For more information about the Gardner VNA or any of our services, please call (978) 632-1230.

Upcoming Events

In Recognition of National Adult Day Health Services Week
The Gardner VNA is hosting a

Spaghetti Supper
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

at the North Quabbin Adult Day Health Center
1471 Main Street Rear, Athol, MA

 Proceeds to benefit
North Quabbin Adult Day Health Services
of the Gardner VNA

5:00 pm & 6:30 pm seatings—Reservations Required
Tickets:  $5.00 per person

 To purchase tickets, please call (978) 248-9470 or (800) 382-7305

 Gardner VNA’s Blues Festival
Music by “Ottomatic Slim”

 Monday, November 3, 2008
5:00 – 9:00 pm
at
Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker Street, Gardner, MA

Proceeds to benefit
North Quabbin Adult Day Health Services
of the Gardner VNA

 Door prizes every hour!                 Tickets: $10.00 per person

For more information, please call (978) 632-1230 or (800) 382-7305