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At the Visiting Nurse Association, we believe EVERYONE deserves quality care

On August 17 the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is celebrating National Thrift Store Day and National Nonprofit Day – Did you know all proceeds from our VNA Hidden Treasures Thrift Store benefit our Hospice program, a VNA & Hospice Foundation supported program providing optimal end-of-life care for residents of Indian River. The VNA & Hospice Foundation was formed to provide financial support for the many programs and services provided by the VNA of the Treasure Coast, a non-profit providing patients and caregivers with home health, hospice and community health services of the highest quality regardless of their ability to pay, ensuring healthcare equality for all.

Programs supported by the VNA & Hospice Foundation include:

Bereavement Services: These services include counselors, chaplains, social workers and music therapists who provide support and guidance for patients and families who are affected by a life-limiting illness.

Camp Chrysalis: For a child, the loss of a loved one can be devastating and understanding the feelings that come afterwards can be confusing. VNA’s Camp Chrysalis, a bereavement-focused camp, offers a way for children who have experienced a death to better understand and cope with their emotions.

Charitable Care: Our talented home health team tailors every patient’s plan of care to their specific needs including the uninsured and underinsured. Almost 50 years ago, a dedicated group of people made a promise to provide care for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and through our philanthropic partners our Charitable Care program makes that possible.

The VNA Hospice House: Recently renovated, the VNA Hospice House provides 24/7 care for patients whose symptoms cannot be managed at home in an elegant yet cozy setting.

Telehealth (Remote Patient Monitoring): Remote patient monitoring is a popular type of telehealth that allows patients to monitor their daily health at home utilizing easy-to-use technology that relays their personal information to a clinician’s office. If there’s anything “off,” the appropriate health care workers will be alerted. This allows providers to manage acute and chronic conditions from ‘afar,’ which cuts down on infection risk and helps reduce hospital readmissions – not only keeping healthcare costs down but reducing patient stress.

Community Health Services: Through the generous support of the Indian River County Hospital District, and the Indian River Community Foundation, the VNA Mobile Health Clinic goes into neighborhoods throughout our community to bring affordable healthcare to those who are under or uninsured. Advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) aboard the VNA Mobile Health Clinic can examine, diagnose and prescribe medications for minor, non-urgent illnesses such as upper respiratory infections, sore throats, earaches and minor cuts. Health screening and health education workshops are also offered throughout our community at local organizations and residential communities in a group setting thanks to our Community Health Services program.

Music Therapy: Board-certified music therapists provide music therapy to hospice patients and the community through local collaborative efforts. Patients and their families can listen, enjoy music or participate actively by singing or playing instruments. Benefits of music therapy include increased relaxation, reduced pain, reduced anxiety and cognitive improvements.

These VNA & Hospice Foundation-supported services are vital to our community, and we couldn’t offer them without the help of our benefactors. If you’d like to aid us in our mission to provide optimal healthcare – and more – to all in Indian River County, please visit the VNA & Hospice Foundation’s website at vnatc.org/waystogive/. To support Hospice, consider donating your gently used household item to Hidden Treasures Thrift Store or shop in Hidden Treasures today and enjoy amazing sales on everything from fashionable attire to beautiful home décor. And last but not least, Happy National Nonprofit and National Thrift Store day!

*To learn more about the VNA & Hospice Foundation and how you can support it, please visit vnatc.org.

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Gearing Up for the 34th Annual Golf-A-Thon

As we start 2024, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) & Hospice Foundation and our amazing Golf-A-Thon Committee members are already hard at work planning for the 34th Annual Golf-A-Thon. As our only annual fundraising event, the Golf-A-Thon is incredibly important, providing the necessary funding for the VNA’s Charitable Care Program. Last year’s event brought in a record $510,000, ensuring the VNA can continue to bring the highest quality home health and hospice care to those who are underinsured and uninsured in Indian River County.

The VNA is lucky enough to have thirteen of our local golf clubs participating in this event which will be hosted by Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club! The Golf-A-Thon has not been held at Grand Harbor since 2009. Their championship golf courses combine meticulously maintained landscapes, serene surroundings and perfectly manicured greens, creating a work of art in a natural environment. The Golf-A-Thon will be played on the Harbor Course, designed by Pete Dye, which features tiered greens, undulating fairways and deep pot bunkers, which can all be traced back to the historical Scottish links-style. The course has been recognized as a certified Audubon Cooperative International Sanctuary since 2001, and it’s a beautiful example of the harmony between man-made design and the surrounding ecosystem. Playing golf on this course is a great example of “living grand.”

Troy Pare, Director of Golf and Membership Sales at Grand Harbor, has participated in the Golf-A-Thon since 2021. In his 25th year as a golf professional, Troy is still relatively new to Vero Beach, Florida, having joined the club in March 2021. Troy has been married to Kimberley Pare for 22 years and they have two sons: Hunter (17) and Logan (15). If Troy is not on the golf course, he is either on the Indian River boating or fishing, or at home doing something with the kids. Troy is a huge supporter of the VNA and our mission in the community. We are so grateful that Troy has championed the VNA through the Golf-A-Thon the last few years and that he has taken on the task of being host pro for our 2024 event!

The 34th Annual Golf-A-Thon will be held on Monday, May 6 at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club with proceeds benefiting the VNA’s Charitable Care Program. Sponsorships are now available to support your favorite golf pro. Go to vnatc.org/golf-a-thon/ or call 772-978-5568 to learn more about this unique event, and see how you can support the VNA and your club’s golf professional!

 

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VNA Donors’ Impact During Fiscal Year 2023

The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) was founded 48 years ago, seeking to fill the need to deliver quality at-home nursing care to those discharged from the hospital. Today, the VNA is an organization of over 500 associates dedicated to our mission of providing our patients with the highest quality care regardless of their ability to pay. And it’s only through the generosity of our donors that we can provide the breadth of programs and services to our community.

During our 2023 fiscal year (October 2022 through September 2023), we were able to use donor funds for the following:

  • $1,477,705 funded the day-to-day operations of the VNA Hospice House, keeping this vital community resource operating 365 days a year, giving patients a place to receive care when they can no longer be cared for at home.
  • $693,047 in program support funded the VNA’s Charitable Care Program, allowing the VNA to serve home health and hospice patients who are under or uninsured.
  • $34,644 funded our Community Health and Wellness Clinics in the community, where nurses perform blood pressure and glucose checks on residents.
  • $21,466 funded the VNA’s Telehealth Program, allowing patients with chronic illnesses to remain at home and make less trips to the emergency room.
  • $3,942 in donor support funded our hospice patients’ end-of-life wishes through Project Wish.

The VNA’s mission is rooted in the quality of life for our patients and their families. Everything we do is centered on ensuring optimal quality of life at all times. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the enduring commitment of this community to our mission, the VNA can help our patients and their families achieve that. Your donations help fund our programs, bringing the highest quality home health and hospice care given by compassionate clinicians. The numbers above are only part of the story of your impact. Thousands of lives in this community are touched every year by the VNA and countless uplifting stories are told about the incredible care VNA clinicians give to our patients.

The VNA’s donors show us every year how much they value quality home health and hospice care and the desire to ensure everyone in need has access to it. 2023 was no exception to this. We humbly thank our donors for their unwavering support and for allowing your contributions to go toward providing care in our community.

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August is National Make a Will Month

Do you have a will? Have you been thinking – ‘I need to put together a will’? Well, now is the time!

A will is an important document, allowing you to select the persons or entities who will receive what you own when you pass away. Without a will in place, the state will decide how your property is divided. You may or may not have a large estate, but having peace of mind knowing that your assets will be divided the way you wish is worth taking the time now to put those thoughts into action. A will allows you to dictate how your assets are distributed, it can be changed if your circumstances change, and it should be reviewed every few years, especially after major life events, such as marriage, births, etc.

August marks National Make a Will Month. The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) & Hospice Foundation would like to encourage you to consider leaving a lasting impact by including us in your estate plans. By doing so you can support the VNA’s unwavering commitment to provide exceptional care to those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Leaving a legacy is about more than just financial support; it’s about ensuring that future generations have access to the crucial care and services they deserve. By including the VNA & Hospice Foundation in your estate plans, you have the power to make a profound difference in the lives of individuals who rely on our services.

The VNA’s comprehensive programs are designed to address the diverse needs of our community. Through the VNA Hospice program, individuals and their families receive compassionate end-of-life care, allowing them to navigate this challenging journey with dignity and support. The VNA Mobile Health Clinic provides vital healthcare services to those who are unable to access traditional medical facilities, ensuring that no one is left behind. Additionally, the VNA Home Health program offers professional medical care and support to individuals who are recovering from illness, injury, or surgery, in the comfort of their own homes.

By including the VNA & Hospice Foundation in your estate plans, you are making a lasting impact on the lives of those who are most vulnerable. Your generosity will help ensure that the VNA’s programs continue to thrive, allowing us to provide care to residents in our community for years to come. Including the VNA & Hospice Foundation in your estate plans also grants you membership into our Nightingale Legacy Society. You would join a generous group of individuals who understand the need for the VNA’s programs and services in our community now and in the future.

Please join us this month and become a member of our Nightingale Legacy Society and allow us to thank you for your future support! Click here to download our free Estate Planning Guide.

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VNA Donors – Their Impact by the Numbers

The Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast (VNA) touches many lives every day and it’s our donors that allow us to help bring care to those who need it. Through specialized programs and services, we provide care focused on the whole person, ensuring our patients always experience optimal quality of life. VNA & Hospice Foundation Director of Development, Michelle Deschane, notes, “Our donors are an integral piece of the VNA family, allowing us to provide essential programs and services to members of our community.”

During our last fiscal year, through the generosity of our donors, the VNA was able to:

    • Perform 91,504 home health visits to 4,257 patients
    • Cover $537,177 to pay for the care of 186 patients who couldn’t afford the healthcare they needed
    • Care for 1,811 hospice patients for a total of 63,974 days of hospice care
    • Grant 15 end-of-life wishes to hospice patients through our Project Wish Program
    • See 4,032 patients on the VNA Mobile Unit
    • Administer 1,420 flu and COVID-19 vaccines
    • Educate 592 individuals on their healthcare needs through our Community Health Services
    • Screen 345 patients during 34 health screening clinics held throughout the county

Whether it’s home health, private care, hospice or community health services, the VNA is committed to ensuring our patients and their families are cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually. That is the essence of whole person care. According to CEO Lundy Fields, “Whole person care goes beyond just providing episodic care for our patients. Whole person care means evaluating the patients’ environment to determine if there are ways the VNA can assist them to improve the care experience and deliver on our WHY? Statement: as a team to provide excellent care to patients and families–with integrity, compassion, knowledge and love, so that patients experience optimal quality of life at all times.”

When it’s broken down into those numbers, it’s amazing to see how many people VNA has helped with the support of our donors. Behind those numbers are uplifting stories about the whole person care the VNA brings to our patients and families, which includes quality medical care, emotional support, comfort, relief, and so much more. The VNA strongly believes in our mission to care for everyone in the community, including the underserved populations in need of care. And it’s your support that makes our mission a reality. You bring whole person care into homes all around this community making an impact on the lives of those who need our services.

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Volunteers Help Deliver the VNA Mission Every Day

At any given time, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has approximately 400 volunteers helping us care for our patients in a variety of ways. From helping serve patients lunch at the VNA Hospice House to working in our Hidden Treasures Thrift Store to socializing with hospice patients, our volunteers are at the heart of what we do. Our loyal volunteers help the VNA deliver on our mission of providing the highest quality of care to those in need, ensuring optimal quality of life for patients and their families at all times.

Marie B. is a newer volunteer, joining the VNA family in November 2022. After moving to the area right before COVID-19 and then finding herself as an empty nester, Marie was looking for a way to fill her days with volunteer work. One day, when shopping at Hidden Treasures, Marie decided to explore the different volunteer opportunities the VNA offers. Though Marie indicated on her volunteer application her willingness to perform any type of volunteer role, she found her niche being a respite volunteer.

By providing respite care, Marie sits with hospice patients allowing their caregivers to run errands, go to appointments or just take a step away from the caregiver role for an hour. As someone who has experienced loss firsthand, Marie understands the complexity of dealing with a patient in hospice care and the need for caregivers to get a much-needed break. Marie knows what it is like to care for someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and from the start understood the impact she could have on a family by simply keeping a patient company. “It’s important for a caregiver to get out and clear their mind,” said Marie.

Of the patients she provides respite care for, Marie said they often just want to talk. “They are human; they are worthy and have things to share,” she said. Through these conversations, Marie brings comfort to our patients, gives caregivers much-needed time to recharge, and she also receives a benefit from her work. Marie gets to socialize and truly enjoy her visits with the patients she sees. Marie is an amazing asset to the VNA, using her past experiences to help us give our patients and their families an experience that includes the support they need during a difficult time. Marie, along with all of our volunteers, bring the VNA’s  mission to life every single day in Indian River County. We can’t thank them enough for their dedication to our mission.

For more information on how you can volunteer to help the VNA and those in our community, go to: vnatc.com/volunteer/.

 

 

 

 

 

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2023 Golf-A-Thon Recap

On Monday, May 1st, 13 local golf pros teed off at Indian River Club to participate in the 33rd Annual VNA & Hospice Foundation Golf-A-Thon. The first Golf-A-Thon was held in 1991 at Orchid Island Golf Club with just four golf pros participating. This inaugural event raised $21,000. Fast forward 33 years and we now have 13 pros participating and this year we raised over $500,000! Contributions made in support of the Golf-A-Thon benefit the VNA’s Charitable Care Program.

The Golf-A-Thon is such an amazing event. We have a committee of over 60 volunteers from 13 local golf clubs who help make this event happen. These volunteers give the VNA their time by attending monthly meetings and recruiting and coordinating other volunteers who help with the mailing and provide support the day of the event. This year, our Golf-A-Thon volunteers assembled over 10,000 pieces of mail!

This year’s event once again demonstrates what makes the residents of Indian River County amazing: generosity, compassion, and dedication. We have volunteers who have worked on this event for decades who believe in the VNA’s mission and want to continue to help us achieve our goals. We have individuals willing to donate their time and funds because they believe that everyone who needs home health and hospice services should be able to receive the quality care they desperately need and deserve. This year, we had over 1,600 people who were willing to donate to support this amazing cause and the 13 golf pros who helped us make this event a success.

Thank you to everyone who helped us make this year’s event not only a fun day but a record-breaking day as well.  Thank you to our 13 pros: Matthew Challenor (Windsor Club), David Champagne (Orchid Island Golf Club), Drew DiSesa (Riomar Country Club), Randy Hedgecock (Vero Beach Country Club), Steve Hudson (John’s Island Club), Ian Killen (Indian River Club), Don Meadows (Quail Valley Golf Club), Frank Mentzer (Oak Harbor Golf Club), Bela Nagy (Sandridge Golf Club), Troy Pare (Grand Harbor Golf Club), A.J. Petrulak (The Moorings Yacht & Country Club), Eddie Suchora (Bent Pine Golf Club), Ryan Zug (Pointe West Country Club). And thanks to Jason Berchtold from Bent Pine Golf Club for subbing in for Eddie Suchora for part of the day!

A very heartfelt thank you to Indian River Club for hosting the event this year. Head Golf Pro Ian Killen did an amazing job organizing the golf-related aspects of this event and the staff at Indian River Club were instrumental in making sure the event, including the post-event reception, ran smoothly. Our event co-chairs and Indian River Club members, Linda Braun and Deb Lockwood, were instrumental in making the event run smoothly and for that we are extremely grateful. And finally, thank you to all our committee members and the volunteers who helped with all aspects of this event. This event wouldn’t have been successful without your help. We also want to give a special thank you to Pat Gorman. Pat retired from Bent Pine Golf Club last year and he has also participated in the Golf-A-Thon since that inaugural event in 1991. We couldn’t have a Golf-A-Thon without him, and we were thrilled to have him MC the shootout contest at the end of the day.

As the 33rd Annual Golf-A-Thon ends, we are so grateful for all the support we have seen in this community over all these years. We are already looking forward to the 2024 event and can’t wait to start planning! Stay tuned for the announcement of which golf club will be hosting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Using Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to support the VNA & Hospice Foundation

Every day, people of all ages use services provided by the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast (VNA). Last year, with philanthropic support they were able to provide $3,423,854 in support of our many programs and services including VNA Hospice and the VNA Mobile Health Clinic. How can you help?

Did you know that at the age of 70 ½ or older you can take advantage of what is known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) or IRA Charitable Rollover AND help the VNA to continue providing quality care in our communities?

While you can start taking distributions from your Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) as early as age 59 ½, by law you are required to do so beginning at age 73. Normally, these distributions are subject to income taxes. In 2015 Congress made permanent, the IRA Charitable Rollover provision which allows you to donate up to $100,000 ($200,000 per couple) per calendar year from your IRA directly to the VNA once you have reached 70 ½. Bonus, these QCDs, are not considered taxable income when made directly from your IRA to the VNA.

There are some rules to remember when considering a gift from your IRA.

  • You must be 70 ½ at the time of distribution for this to qualify as a tax-exempt gift.
  • You must make the gift directly to the VNA from the IRA account, if you transfer the funds to your personal account and then send it to the VNA this will be considered taxable income.
  • With the recent passing of the Legacy IRA Act, you may now take a one-time election for a qualified charitable distribution of up to $50,000 (without being taxed) from your IRA to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA). Some limits apply, so contact Maurika Reed for more details at Mreed@vnatc.com or 772-978-5574.

Potential Benefits

  • A QCD may reduce your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which can impact Social Security and Medicare premiums.
  • A QCD may benefit you if you use the “standard deduction” because you do not itemize, and therefore, do not claim a charitable tax deduction when you give to charities.
  • A QCD may be beneficial if you do not need any or all of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

How to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution: If making a Qualified Charitable Distribution is right for you, first contact your IRA administrator to initiate the request. VNA & Hospice Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization categorized as a supporting organization under section 509(a)(3) of the tax code. All QCD gifts must be made payable to the VNA of the Treasure Coast (59-2664912), a qualified charitable organization. QCD gifts should be mailed to:

VNA & Hospice Foundation
920 37th Place, Suite 101
Vero Beach, Florida 32960

If you have any questions on how you can help support the VNA, please contact Maurika Reed at 772-978-5574 or mreed@vnatc.com.

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Teeing Off for the 33rd Year to Support the VNA’s Charitable Care Program

For the past 32 years, the VNA & Hospice Foundation has organized our annual Golf-A-Thon, bringing together local golf clubs to help support the VNA’s Charitable Care Program. In 1991, four local golf pros participated in the inaugural VNA Golf-A-Thon at Orchid Island Golf Club. This unique event continued to grow and 32 years later, in 2022, 13 pros from our local clubs played at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club, helping us raise over $484,000! Funding from that year’s event allowed the VNA to provide over $533,000 in home health and hospice services for patients through our Charitable Care Program.

Our Golf-A-Thon is a unique event in Vero Beach. Golf club members donate in support of their golf pro’s participation in the event while supporting the VNA’s mission of providing the highest quality home health, hospice and community health services to those who cannot afford their care.

On Monday, May 1st, our 13 golf pros will be teeing off at 7 a.m. at Indian River Club in an attempt to play 135 holes of golf. The golf pros for our 33rd annual event are:

Matthew Challenor – Windsor Club

David Champagne – Orchid Island Golf Club

Drew DiSesa – Riomar Country Club

Randy Hedgecock – Vero Beach Country Club

Steve Hudson – John’s Island Club

Ian Killen – Indian River Club

Don Meadows – Quail Valley Golf Club

Frank Mentzer – Oak Harbor Golf Club

Bela Nagy – Sandridge Golf Club

Troy Pare – Grand Harbor Club

A.J. Petrulak – The Moorings Yacht & Country Club

Eddie Suchora – Bent Pine Golf Club

Ryan Zug – Pointe West Country Club

Along with our loyal golf pros, we have a dedicated group of Golf-A-Thon Committee members who work with us for five months out of the year to help plan this event. Each of the participating clubs has committee members who attend monthly meetings and serve as VNA ambassadors in their respective clubs. These volunteers give so much of their time to the VNA, this year stuffing more than 10,000 envelopes for our mailing, recruiting volunteers for the event day and promoting the event at their clubs to ensure a successful day.

Our loyal and generous donors to this event make a huge impact on the lives of those individuals in our community who need our care! If you’d like more information about this year’s Golf-A-Thon, including how you can support your golf pro, please visit: https://vnatc.org/golf-a-thon/.

 

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A tax savvy way to support the VNA & Hospice Foundation

Every day, people of all ages use the services provided by the VNA. When you give a gift to the VNA & Hospice Foundation, you are helping us provide compassionate, innovative care of the highest quality, setting the standard for patients and caregivers needing home health, hospice, and community health services. The VNA extends this care to the uninsured and underinsured in our community, ensuring healthcare equity for all.

A donation of appreciated stock may offer you significant tax benefits. Contributions of appreciated securities held for more than one year are generally tax-deductible at market value, regardless of what you paid for the securities. This may provide you with capital gains savings as well as a charitable income tax deduction. It is important to transfer the stock directly to the VNA & Hospice Foundation to take advantage of the tax incentives associated with making this type of gift.

Consider this strategy: Let’s say you were originally going to donate $10,000 from your personal account; instead, you choose to donate $10,000 in appreciated stock directly to the VNA & Hospice Foundation. Then you reinvest the $10,000 from your personal account back into your portfolio to maintain the same level of investment, but in doing so you were able to increase your stock basis, avoid capital gains tax AND support the VNA & Hospice Foundation for a win, win, win!

Donating appreciated stock is one of many options that can help reduce tax liabilities while supporting the wonderful programs the VNA has to offer; click here to learn more about these programs. We encourage you to talk with your financial/tax advisors to see what the best strategy for you would be.

Donating Appreciated Securities: Executing a gift of stock is simple. The transfer of securities from your brokerage account to the VNA & Hospice Foundation is accomplished via the Depository Trust Company (DTC).

For more information about transferring stock, including account information to initiate a transfer, please contact Maurika Reed, Charitable Gift Planner, at mreed@vnatc.com or at (772) 978-5574.

If you would like to electronically begin a stock transfer to the VNA without going through a broker, you can do so through our donatestock.com page. Click here to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

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