RVNAhealth Hires Director for New Offering

RVNAhealth is pleased to announce that Leslie Chiaramonte, MSN, BS, RN, CHPN, has joined the staff as director of the agency’s newly developing service to the community – Hospice by RVNA. In that role, she will lead a team of specialists certified in hospice and palliative care. A certified trainer for the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium, Chiaramonte will guide her staff through the education and certification process, ensuring the highest quality outcome. The addition of Hospice by RVNA means that RVNAhealth will soon offer the complete continuum of care – providing for patients of all ages, from birth to end of life.

Chiaramonte’s early experiences caring for patients with cancer have given her a unique perspective not only on curative patient care, but also on end-of-life care. She sees hospice – the care of patients in their last stages of a terminal illness – as a natural and potentially beautiful part of the life cycle. Those are not often words associated with dying, but Chiaramonte describes hospice care as a way to bring dignity and compassion to patients and their families during a difficult time. The focus then becomes offering care and comfort for the patient, plus education and support for the family who are helping to provide that care.

“What will set RVNAhealth apart from other hospice providers is that all of our nurses will be certified specialists in the field,” says Chiaramonte. “What’s more, RVNAhealth believes in an interdisciplinary approach, bringing our hospice nurses together with staff physicians and social workers, as well as chaplains in the community to offer complete care.”

Hospice by RVNA will also provide families with 13 months of bereavement support after their loved one has passed on. Studies have shown that families often experience the most difficulty on or just after the one-year anniversary. Hospice by RVNA will also be dedicated to supporting the family through this difficult time.

Chiaramonte was first exposed to hospice early in her nursing tenure while working in an oncology unit. She began to see it as an indispensable part of the cycle of care, and soon went on manage two hospice units in assisted living and senior residence communities in the Bronx, NY. A move to Florida to run two hospice units added to her experience, but also made her realize that the New York area was further along in its acceptance and development of the specialty. She returned to the New York metropolitan area to be closer to family and join RVNAhealth to develop and launch Hospice by RVNA in Connecticut.

“Hospice care enables a patient to live life to the fullest for as long as he or she lives,” says Chiaramonte. “RVNAhealth is gratified to be able to expand our services and meet that need in our community.”

For more information about RVNA, call 203-248-5555

Snow Date: Monday, March 19*

The winter Olympics may be over, but the competition in Ridgefield is about to heat up at RVNA’s 7^th Annual Spelling Bee on Wednesday, March 7, at the Ridgefield Playhouse.  While most of the town sleeps, 26 among us — 13 Spelling Bee contestants and their respective off-stage Lifelines — will, no doubt, be burning the midnight oil in a last-ditch effort to hone their skills and vocabularies before the big night.

In addition to the brave contestants who put themselves on the line in the name of fun and philanthropy, the unsung heroes behind the Spelling Bee are the local sponsors whose generous contributions make the event possible. Ticket sales to attendees make up the last critical component of the Bee’s success, making it a true community-wide effort.

Proceeds from the event support RVNA’s Nursing Education program. Each year, the organization spends roughly $40,000 on education and in-service training for its more than 80 nurses, therapists and home health aides who served 1,500 patients last year and made more than 48,000 home care visits.

The RVNAhealth Spelling Bee is a fun, family tradition for a great cause.  Join in the camaraderie, enjoy the competition, and help RVNAhealth continue to support our community. See the full list of contestants and sponsors, or to buy tickets.

* Please Note: The snow date for the event is Monday, March 19. Rvna will make an announcement on Tuesday afternoon as to whether or not the Bee will be postponed. Check back for further information.

Beginning in April, Medicare will start a year-long program to replace all current Medicare cards and issue new ID numbers. The new ID number will no longer be a beneficiary’s social security number. This change is part of an effort to better protect seniors from identity theft. Ironically, scammers are taking advantage of the situation to do just that.  Here’s what to watch out for:  Scammers call seniors posing as Medicare representatives and tell the seniors that they’ll be getting new Medicare cards. The scammer then says that a temporary card will be issued, and asks for personal information such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, or credit card information in order to process the temporary card. Callers may also ask for payment for the new card.

To protect yourself and your loved ones from becoming a victim, remember the following points:

• Medicare does all communication by mail unless you request otherwise. A representative will never call or visit you unless you have made prior arrangements.
• New Medicare cards will be sent automatically to all Medicare recipients. You do not have to do anything (make a request, pay, provide information) to receive the new card. Never agree to pay a fee or provide personal information in order to get your card.
• The process of issuing new cards is a lengthy one, so not everyone will receive the new card at the same time. There is no need to pay a “rush charge” or any other fee associated with getting a new card. Simply use your current card until your new one arrives.
• DO NOT share your Medicare number with anyone other than your doctor, pharmacist, other healthcare providers, and your supplemental insurance company.
• If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

For more information on Medicare, visit the government’s official Medicare site.

RVNA’s New Nutrition Class Can Show You How

Did you know that making a few diet and lifestyle changes might radically improve your heart health? What’s more, those healthy adjustments can have a trickle-down effect and improve wellness throughout your body. While it might be hard to believe that small improvements can have a big impact, it’s true.

Knowing that you should make healthy changes to your diet is one thing.  Knowing what those changes should be is another.  That’s where RVNAhealth comes in! Beginning on Tuesday, March 6, RVNA’s Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator, Meg Whitbeck, MS, RDN, will host “Feed Your Heart,” a 4-week nutrition class devoted to eating for a healthy heart.

“Many people don’t realize that a few diet and lifestyle changes can significantly improve their heart health and boost their overall wellness,” says Whitbeck.

“Feed Your Heart” will allow participants to explore different diet strategies that are used to treat or prevent heart disease, and determine which approach is best for them. The program combines food demonstrations, tastings, recipes, and additional resources so attendees will be armed with the tools they need to succeed at home.

“Participants should come ready to get pumped about feeding their hearts – and their whole body – right,” says Whitbeck.

“Feed Your Heart” will be held on Tuesdays, March 6 through March 27, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, in the RVNAhealth teaching kitchen, 27 Governor Street, Ridgefield.  The program costs $109 for all four classes, and includes all recipes, tastings, and additional resources. Pre-registration and payment are required. For more information, call 203-438-5555.

February is American Heart Month, and we’ll use this opportunity to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and what a person can do to make healthy life choices to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. We all know someone who had been affected by heart related illness. It remains the leading cause of death globally and takes the life of 2,300 Americans daily. While family history and age cannot be changed, individuals can take steps to lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 80 percent. It means making choices to live in a healthier way through diet and exercise. The American Heart Association has identified seven ways to help control the risk of heart disease:

1. Get active and stay active by exercising daily, or for 30 minutes at least five times a week.
2. Control cholesterol to help arteries remain clear and prevent blockages that can lead to heart disease and stroke.
3. Eat better by increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein and by reducing added sugars and saturated fats.
4. Manage high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.  Reducing sodium intake, getting regular exercise and managing stress can all help.
5. Lose weight, especially if much of it sits at your waist.  Even a 5 to 10 pound reduction can make a difference. Determine your body mass index to understand if you’re in the healthy range.
6. Reduce blood sugar to avoid developing diabetes, which often increases cardiovascular risk. Avoid simple sugars found in soda, candy and sugary desserts and take appropriate medication, such as insulin, if prescribed.
7. Stop smoking, which improves health in every way. Smoking damages the entire circulatory system and increases the risk for the full range of cardiovascular diseases.

While the gym scene can be intimidating, there are plenty of activities you can do outside the gym to keep yourself healthy and fit.  Regular exercise helps you feel better and live longer.  The Harvard Medical School recommends five activities to get or keep you in shape and lower your risk for disease.  Swimming is considered by some to be the perfect workout.  The buoyancy of water takes the strain off joints while still providing great exercise and improved mental state.  Water aerobics is another option.  Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that combines movement and relaxation which benefits the body and mind.  A series of graceful movements are done which can help with balance and mood.  Another beneficial workout is strength training.

Comfortably lifting weights keeps muscles strong and burns calories.  It can also help preserve brain function in later years.  Start light with just a pound or two and slowly increase weights over time.  Walking is a simple but powerful form of exercise.  Not only can it help you to stay trim, but it can improve cholesterol and blood pressure levels, strengthen bones and lower your risk for diseases like diabetes and heart disease.  It can also lift your mood and help with memory loss.  Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and can go a long way toward preventing incontinence.  While many women are familiar with these exercises, men can also benefit.  Lots of other activities that are part of our normal day count as exercise such as raking, vacuuming and playing with kids or grandkids.  The goal is to get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day and to do strength training twice a week.  If you do, you can consider yourself an “active” person!

What do a Ridgefield High School student, a social media consultant, an orthopedic surgeon, a comedian, and a police officer have in common? No, this isn’t the start of a bad joke. It’s a list of just some of the contestants vying for bragging rights in RVNA’s 7^th Annual Spelling Bee.  Scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, at 7 p.m., at the Ridgefield Playhouse, the event brings together members of the community for a fun evening of friendly competition to benefit a great cause – RVNAhealth Nursing Education.

Think of it as the traditional Scripps National Spelling Bee meets “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” In a fun twist on official spelling bee rules, contestants are allowed a “lifeline” in the audience to help them out with difficult words. If eliminated, they can “buy” themselves back into the competition for a donation. Audience members can also donate to get their favorite contestant back in the mix.

Judges for this year’s fundraiser are: Geoffrey Morris, editor-in-chief and publisher of TownVibe Media publications, including Ridgefield Magazine; Dean Miller, chair of the boards of Meals on Wheels of Ridgefield and the Ridgefield Library; and Vicki Mueller, retirement strategist at Charter Research & Investment Group, and chair of the board of RVNA.

Contestants from the community are:

• John Apinis, RN, BSN, RVNAhealth Director of Nursing Services
• Chris Augustine, Ridgefield Fire Department
• Deirdre Basile, Ph.D., Ridgefield Council of PTAs
• Lyndsay Clark, Kickfit CT
• Dr. John Dunleavy, OrthoConnecticut
• Kate Fitzpatrick, Kate Fitzpatrick Consulting
• Carol Gardell, Ridgefield Thrift Shop
• Amy Piantaggini, Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance
• Steve Scalzo, Ridgefield Little League
• Matt Stamatis, Ridgefield High School student
• Kate Tinsley, Ridgefield police officer
• Tim Washer, comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” writer
• Jonathan Winn, Thrown Stone Theater Company

This year’s Bee sponsors include: AR Kids; Audrey Road; BMW of Ridgefield; Dr. Blaine Langberg; Casey Energy; Cathie Bonner, Professional Skating Instructor; Cramer & Anderson Law Firm; Dr. Dana C. Jones; Fairfield County Bank; Fairfield County Financial Services; Hamlet Hub; Maida Design; Reynolds & Rowella, LLP; Ridgefield Academy; Ridgefield Fire Department; Ridgefield PBA; The Ridgefield Press; Ross Bread Shoppe & Coffee House; Study Works – Janie Larson; Tiger Sports; Turner Mechanical, Inc.; We Do Lines; and Young’s of Ridgefield.

Who will be the winner? It’s anyone’s game, but the real winner is RVNA’s Nursing Education program.  Funds raised through the Spelling Bee support RVNAhealth Nursing Education.  RVNAhealth spends approximately $40,000 per year on education and in-service training for its more than 80 nurses, therapists, and home health aides.  Last year, the agency served more than 1,500 patients, making well over 48,000 home care visits in 28 western Connecticut towns.

The RVNAhealth Spelling Bee promises to be fun for the whole family, while supporting an organization that serves so many in our own community and beyond.

RVNAhealth is pleased to announce that Ridgefielder John Apinis, RN, BSN, has joined the staff as the agency’s new Director of Nursing Services.  In that role, Apinis oversees a staff of 30 nurses, as well as CNAs, and office staff helping to deliver health care in the home for RVNAhealth’s more than 1,500 patients.  He will also collaborate with the directors of the agency’s other service areas  – HomeCare by RVNAhealth, Rehab by RVNAhealth, and the currently developing Hospice by RVNAhealth – to integrate all of RVNAhealth’s offerings and ensure that patients’ needs can be met throughout the continuum of care.

Apinis says that changes in the healthcare industry have meant an increasing focus on the critical role of home care.  “With a general trend toward shorter hospital stays, the need for homecare is growing,” he says.  “And, it can result in better, more cost-effective outcomes than a lengthy hospital stay.”

Apinis, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Fairfield University, entered the nursing field after a successful career in publishing.  He began his nursing career at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven, caring primarily for Vietnam and Korean War veterans, where he gained a profound respect for those who served our country.  From there, he moved on the Western Connecticut Health Network, working as an RN case manager in home health care.

Apinis calls his work in nursing gratifying.  “I love what I do. It has made me a better person,” he says. In his new role, he hopes to help ensure that RVNAhealth’s clinicians have the same positive experience delivering care in the field that he had.   “People don’t always know what home health care is until they need it,” he adds.  “But the work we do can have such a positive impact on our patients’ lives.”

A resident of Ridgefield for more than 20 years, Apinis and his wife, Wendy, have three children.

BMW of Ridgefield is no stranger to RVNA.   Led by Dealer Principal, Ed McGill, the local automobile dealership has been a loyal supporter of RVNA’s mission for more than a decade.  As a regular contributor to RVNA’s various annual fundraising efforts, BMW of Ridgefield played a role in RVNA’s “Campaign for Tomorrow,” which allowed the agency to move into its state-of-the-art Center for Exceptional Care on Governor Street in 2016.

“Throughout the years, we have been so fortunate to have BMW of Ridgefield’s support at many of our events,” says RVNAhealth President and CEO Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, CHCA.

This spring, BMW of Ridgefield will be adding even more support by becoming a Gold Sponsor of RVNA’s 44^th Annual Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, April 21, at East Ridge Middle School. The event is an important part of RVNA’s long-standing tradition of serving the health needs of the community. Over 100 exhibitors come together to share valuable health information, answer questions, and provide free screenings for everything from anemia and blood glucose, to vision, hearing, bone density, and more.  Last year, RVNAhealth and event exhibitors provided over 1,170 health screenings, and connected attendees with a wealth of fun and informative wellness resources, too.  These additional exhibits run the gamut from integrative medicine and massage to nutrition and balance exercises.

“We are fortunate to have so many generous supporters and exhibitors partnering with us to provide these crucial screenings and resources,” says Barbara Newland, RVNAhealth Director of Community Health & Wellness. “This collective effort helps us all on our path to achieving and maintaining optimal health.”

In addition to the Health & Wellness Fair, BMW of Ridgefield has committed to sponsor all of RVNA’s local events in 2018.  First up is the annual RVNAhealth Spelling Bee on Wednesday, March 7, at the Ridgefield Playhouse. In addition to signing on as a Queen Bee Sponsor, BMW of Ridgefield is giving the winner the opportunity to take a BMW home for a weekend of luxury driving. The dealership will also serve as a Silver Sponsor of the annual Spring Breakfast in April, and a Gold Sponsor of Autumn Dinner next fall, both events they’ve contributed to in the past.

As RVNAhealth works to add to its spectrum of services and complete the continuum of care, BMW of Ridgefield is there to lend even more support.  Ed McGill and his team have offered to host an event at the dealership to raise funds and awareness for the agency’s future plans of incorporating Hospice by RVNA, currently in development, to its continuum of care. This service will allow RVNAhealth to provide compassionate end-of-life services to its patients for continuity of care.

“It’s through dedicated donors like BMW of Ridgefield that we’re able to raise the funds that are vital to our ability to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our community,” says Santoro.  “We’re honored to be among the worthy organizations that Ed McGill and BMW of Ridgefield are committed to supporting.”

RVNAhealth Offers Flu Shots and Practical Tips to Keep You Healthy

Flu activity across the country continues to increase.  According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), cases of the flu rose sharply over the last two weeks,  and are twice as high as the same time period last year.  As of the first week in January (the most recent data available), 49 states had widespread flu activity, including Connecticut.  All eight counties in the state are experiencing flu, with Hartford and Fairfield counties reporting the highest number of cases.

Characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms such as fever and/or chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headaches, and body aches, the flu is not something to take lightly.  If not treated promptly, it can result in complications, including pneumonia and bronchitis, and may lead to hospitalization, even for otherwise healthy people. What’s also important to remember is that symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, and may not follow the expected pattern. In children, for example, vomiting and diarrhea may occur.

What can you do to protect yourself? “The flu shot, though not foolproof, is still your best defense,” says April Rodríguez, RN, Community Health Nurse Manager for RVNA.  While it’s true that you may still come down with the flu even after getting the shot, it doesn’t mean that there’s no benefit.  Having the vaccine can result in milder symptoms and a shorter duration of illness if you do get sick.  Plus, having the flu shot can also help protect those around you who are more vulnerable, such as small children and the elderly.

Beyond the flu shot, RVNAhealth nurses recommend other common-sense steps to keep yourself and those around you healthy:

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth without washing your hands first. This is a common way germs are spread.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
• Get plenty of rest and eat a healthy diet.

If you come down with flu-like symptoms, seek medical attention and be careful around others. You can spread it for as long as a week after you’re sick.  To help contain the spread, follow these tips:

• Limit your contact with other people as much as possible while you’re sick.
• Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (except to get medical care).
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it and wash your hands immediately. Even better, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

The good news is that there’s still time to get a flu shot and benefit from the protection it provides. RVNAhealth offers flu shots at its Center for Exceptional Care, 27 Governor Street in Ridgefield.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 203-438-5555