Five More Nurses Receive Hospice Certification

Posted 2/9/12

Five additional members of the VNA Northwest nursing staff recently became certified by the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN).

NBCHPN® is a national organization that advances quality in the provision of care to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses through certification of health professionals. According to NBCHPN officials, there are currently less than 120 registered nurses, and less than 15 licensed practical nurses in the state of Connecticut who have earned this certification.

Read more about VNA Northwest certified staff

Litchfield Woman Wins Quilt

Posted 12/13/11

Carol Romer of Litchfield had the winning ticket for our handmade "Legacy Tree" quilt, valued at $1,200. She claimed her prize soon after the the ticket was drawn at our annual Legacy Tree Celebration on Oct. 14. Mrs. Romer said she bought her ticket at the Goshen Fair.

View photo

Thanks to all who supported this fundraiser for our Hospice and Home Care programs!

Please Help Us to Reach Isolated Seniors

Posted 9/28/11

VNA Northwest staff members are asking for help from the public in identifying senior citizens who may need help in connecting to services that can allow them to continue living safely in their homes. With grant funding from the East Hill Woods Fund of the Connecticut Community Foundation, VNA Northwest is equipped to identify and meet with up to 30 residents of nine western Connecticut towns, with the goal of connecting them to services offered through the state’s CHOICES program. (Connecticut’s programs for Health insurance assistance, Outreach, Information and referral, Counseling and Eligibility Screening)       

The towns included in the grant’s guidelines are: Bethlehem, Goshen, Litchfield, Morris, New Milford, Thomaston, Warren, Washington and Woodbury.

Please call us at (860) 567-6000 or (800) 752-0215, or email jdunn@vnanw.org  if you have a friend, neighbor or acquaintance that may need assistance with healthcare, transportation, home maintenance or other aspects of daily living. All referrals will be kept confidential.

Need a Speaker to Address Your Group?

Posted 8/2/11

Our staff members are available to talk to your group or organization on a variety of topics, including --skilled nursing care, hospice care, private duty options, rehabilitation services, and other aspects of home care. There would be no charge to you. Please call Bridget at 860-567-6000, and she will work with you to tailor a program to your needs.

Sharon Radio Host Interviews Nancy Deming

Posted 8/2/11

The benefits of home care and its importance to residents of our area was highlighted in a recent radio interview featuring our executive director, Nancy Deming, and Marshall Miles of WHDD.

Hear podcast of the interview

Dr. Walker Exhibit Continues in Cornwall

Posted 8/2/11

Where do babies come from?  In Cornwall, between 1923 and 1978, the answer would have been, “Dr. Brad Walker.”  Articles and letters at the Cornwall Historical Society record that Dr. Walker delivered a lot of babies:  800 by some accounts, a whopping 6,000 by others.

The CHS exhibit focuses on the founder of VNA Northwest, Dr. W. Bradford Walker.

"Care to Cure: Medicine in the Era of Dr. W. B. Walker, 1923-1978" opened in late June and will run through October.

11 Volunteers Complete Hospice Training

Posted 7/1/11

On May 19, 11 local individuals completed an eight-week hospice volunteer training course sponsored by VNA Northwest, Inc. The sessions covered the hospice philosophy and featured presentations from local experts and VNA Northwest staff on how to provide support to terminally ill patients and their families.

Participants who successfully completed the VNA Northwest Hospice Volunteer Training program are: Jean Devaux of Torrington; Susan Wadelton of Washington Depot; Gail Langlois of Torrington; Rachel Crean of Torrington; Maureen Carpenter of Litchfied; Leah Clark of Morris; Patricia Della Rocco of Morris; Rasheedah Z.N. Mu’min of Winsted; Paul S. Fazzina of Bantam; Lisa Klous of New Milford, and Stephen Wadelton of Washington Depot.

May is Older Americans Month

Posted 5/23/11

May is Older Americans month. The combined staff of VNA Northwest and West Street Home Care would like to express our appreciation for the wonderful seniors here in northwest Connecticut.

Their shared histories, diverse experiences and wealth of knowledge have made our culture, economy and local character what they are today.

To help our seniors maintain their independence, VNA Northwest provides a wide range of community-based and in-home services – from blood pressure and Bend and Stretch clinics to rehabilitation therapy and assistance with daily living.

New Workshop for People with Chronic Conditions

Posted 4/1/11

VNA Northwest is pleased to present a "Live Well" workshop in partnership with the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging. If you or a loved one are dealing with an ongoing health condition such as arthritis, diabetes, depression, or high blood pressure, this six-week workshop may be very beneficial to you! The sessions will be held on Wednesdays, beginning May 4, from 9:30-12 noon at our office, 607 Bantam Rd., Unit F, Bantam. Call Bridget Beauchaine or Joyce Dunn for more information at 860-567-6000.

May We Send You Our Preferred Provider Card?

Posted 1/27/11

If you’d like to keep our phone number and contact information handy in case you or a loved one have need of our services, please call us at (860) 567-6000 or drop us a note at info@vnanw.org

We’ll send you a sturdy plastic card that you can keep in your wallet or purse for future reference!

Grant From Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation to Fund Foot Clinics

Posted 10/27/10

Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation has awarded $1,353 to VNA Northwest to fund a series of free foot care clinics for older adults during the coming year. Please watch the newspapers or consult our website in Spring 2011 for more information.

VNA Northwest Nurses Receive Wound Care Certification

Posted Oct. 8, 2010

Nurses Kim T. Cole, RN, WCC and Kim M. Lagana, RN, BSN, WCC, recently received advanced clinical certification from the National Alliance of Wound Care. They join three other VNA Northwest nurses who have achieved this certification.

VNA Northwest Receives Grant from BTCF

Posted Oct. 8, 2010

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has awarded VNA Northwest, Inc. a $5,000 grant from its Anonymous Donors Fund. The grant supports our yearly food and gift distribution in North Canaan and surrounding towns.

11th Annual Golf Tournament a Success!

Posted Sept. 22, 2010

Thanks to all who participated on Monday, Sept. 20, at Fairview Farm Golf Course in Harwinton. The annual fundraiser for our Home Care and Hospice programs raised over $17,000. Once again we had a beautiful day on the course, and many non-golfers joined us for the social and dinner. We are grateful to have so many supporters from the communities we serve. Next year's tournament is scheduled for Monday, September 19, 2011.

VNA Northwest Now Offers Private Duty Care

Posted March 19, 2010

VNA Northwest has purchased West Street Home Care, a Litchfield referral agency, and we now offer private duty care in addition to our current programs and services. New services available include Personal Care Attendants, Companions, Domestic Care and Drivers.

Cholesterol Screening Available Here

Posted March 19, 2010

Weekday appointments are available for individuals who would like to come to our Bantam office for cholesterol screening. This test, which uses a small amount of blood obtained from a finger, takes less than 15 minutes. Fasting 8-12 hours beforehand is required. To make an appointment, please call 860-567-6000. A $15 donation for materials is requested, but not required.

"HomeSight" Helps People with Low Vision

Posted November 30th, 2009

If you or a loved one struggles with vision loss, VNA Northwest can help. Our specially-trained nurses, physical and occupational therapists will develop a personalized plan to help you live safely and confidently in your own home. Please call 860-567-6000 or 1-800-752-0215 to inquire about our new HomeSight program.

Nodine's Fundraiser

Posted June 17th, 2009

VNA Northwest and Nodine's Smokehouse have joined together in a unique fundraising effort. When you make a purchase (orders of all sizes welcome) Nodine's will donate 25% of the total purchase to VNA Northwest's Hospice and Home Care Programs.