VNA & Hospice Receives Grant Award from Monterey Peninsula Foundation

VNA & Hospice is proud to announce it has received a grant award from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for $60,000 to support general operating funds for the VNA & Hospice.

Monterey, CA, April 20, 2020 - VNA & Hospice is proud to announce it has received a grant award from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for $60,000 to support general operating funds for the VNA & Hospice. The Monterey Peninsula Foundation is the nonprofit organization that stages the annual AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and distributes the proceeds to charity. The Foundation powers positive community change in the Monterey, California area through its world class golf charity events. VNA is honored to be one of this year’s recipients of this prestigious event.

VNA is dedicated to providing the highest quality health care to residents of the Central Coast by meeting their individual needs in a caring, effective, honorable, and accessible manner. VNA transforms the care and culture to meet the changing needs of patients, families, and caregivers. We achieve positive results every day through quality standards, empowerment, teamwork, and accountability.

Media Contact: Jane Russo, 831-372-6668

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://ccvna.com/

VNA & Hospice Receives $5,000 Grant Award from Barnet Segal Charitable Trust

VNA & Hospice has announced a $5,000 grant award from the Barnet Segal Charitable Trust to support general operating funds.

Pacific Grove, CA, April 18, 2020 — Founded in 1986, the Barnet Segal Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Carmel. It has been providing support to VNA is dedicated to providing the highest quality health care to residents of the Central Coast by meeting their individual needs in a caring, effective, honorable and accessible manner

About VNA
Since 1951, the not-for-profit VNA has provided a wide range of home health care, serving Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and South Santa Clara counties. VNA places an emphasis on individual patient needs and goals, providing care in an ethical, effective, compassionate and fiscally responsible manner. For more information, visit www.ccvna.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ccvna.com

VNA & Hospice celebrates National Volunteer Week with thanks to selfless folks who help others in need

Volunteers do not earn a paycheck, but their rewards cannot be measured.

Salinas, CA, April 04, 2020 - Volunteers do not earn a paycheck, but their rewards cannot be measured. At VNA, volunteers make it possible to help the nonprofit achieve its ultimate goal — to provide care in an ethical, effective, compassionate and fiscally responsible manner.

With National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) approaching, VNA honors its compassionate crew of hardworking folks who give their time and boundless energy to the cause.

VNA volunteers spend every minute building the foundation of someone else’s life, which offers them deep rewards.

Hospice volunteer Jake Ragsdale believes helping people directly is the most fulfilling thing he can do, and he is deeply committed to serving others.

“Often, the patients we visit are lonely and don't have family in the area, or any immediate family at all,” said Ragsdale. “Spending time with them makes them feel valued and brings them joy and purpose. Spending an hour or two with a hospice patient once per week can make their day, if not their entire week.”

Ragsdale’s payback? “It's always rewarding to show up to visit a patient and be greeted with a big smile and excitement,” he said.

Ragsdale was drawn to hospice by his mother Gail, a nurse for 44 years.

“No one should have to be alone or feel lonely during the final stage of their life,” he said. “I love hearing about the past experiences of the patients I visit, especially the veterans. Through providing emotional support, compassion, and friendship we are able to improve the quality of life for others. This is a special gift and it is deeply fulfilling.”

Fellow VNA volunteer Susan Eastman will turn 70 next month, yet the former nurse and U.S. Navy veteran never thought of retirement as an opportunity to slow down.

“Volunteering fulfills my need to be needed,” she said. “After I retired, I had spare time and wanted to fill that void. I feel my clients appreciate the effort hospice extends to them. I am glad to be a part of that.”

The most rewarding part of Eastman’s VNA experience as a patient volunteer is having made a new friend in one of the patients she visits.

“Both she and her daughter have been extremely kind and inclusive, to the point I feel like a part of their family,” Eastman said. “I never would have met them had it not been for my VNA Hospice experience.”

Another patient, a woman in a nursing home, usually doesn't remember Eastman week to week. “But I bring her a coffee from Burger King, and then she is glad to see me,” she said.

Volunteer opportunities

From the initial phone call and in person interview, VNA works with prospective volunteers to find the right fit. VNA provides an orientation and team training, where volunteers can learn more about hospice, the interdisciplinary team, and how to work with patients.

Those seeking rewarding volunteer opportunities with VNA should reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Quinn Junghans at (831) 751-5500, or email volunteer@ccvna.com.

VNA offers prospective volunteers varied options: Visiting Volunteer (direct, nonmedical support services to palliative and hospice patients and their families); Office Volunteer (skills and abilities that can be utilized in an office setting); Veteran Volunteer (connecting veteran volunteers within the community with veterans who are currently on hospice); Pet Therapy Volunteer (providing companionship and enhancing quality of life for hospice patients through visits with certified pets); and Therapy Volunteer (services and support from licensed beauticians, massage therapists and/or music therapists).

For more information about VNA, visit www.ccvna.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ccvna.com

“VNA & Hospice Hires Dwight Wilson as CEO/President”

The Board of Directors of the Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice is proud to announce the hiring of Dwight Wilson, RN, MSN, as the Chief Executive Officer/President. Dwight will assume his duties on February 4, 2019.

Monterey, CA, February 08, 2019 - “Dwight has a long history of experience in home care, hospice, and eldercare and while at Mission Hospice and Home Care in San Mateo, CA, as Chief Executive Officer, he accomplished many things as his passion is for building programs and services” said Mary Claypool, Board President. For example, he built a licensed and accredited home care agency and led the way to implementing other services such as palliative care, all while at the same time growing revenue.

Dwight was with the Veterans Administration for 30 years prior to Mission where he was Deputy Associate Chief of Staff. During his time with the VA, he developed standards of practice and quality outcomes for Extended Care programs as well as serving as Chief Nurse for that program. He opened a 150-bed nursing home program and oversaw other multi-site facilities. He oversaw quality improvement programs as well as respite, hospice, dementia, and long-term care programs.

Overall Dwight has several Joint Commission accreditation survey initiatives. He is an advocate of engaging with the community to promote the mission of home care and hospice. In addition, at his Mission office they received the "Top Work Places" award in 2018 from the Bay Area News Group.

VNA & Hospice has been providing the highest quality care to residents of the Central Coast since 1951 and we will continue to be the premier community service provider in service and quality patient care. “The Board looks forward to working with Dwight as he takes the organization to the next level in home and hospice care,” said Claypool. Additional information on VNA & Hospice services can be found at ccvna.com.

Please join us in welcoming Dwight and his wife, Julia, to the area from the North Moss Beach, CA area.

From: Central Coast Community Health Care, Inc. www.ccvna.com
Media Contact: Mary Claypool, Board Chair

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ccvna.com