In addition to in-home rehabilitation therapies, RVNAhealth has a Rehabilitation & Wellness Center at our flagship at 27 Governor Street, and at RVNAhealth at GPC, both in Ridgefield, CT.
RVNAhealth is a private, nonprofit organization that has been providing exceptional home and community health care services, supports public health and safety, and has promoted the highest quality of life for over 100 years.
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Hometown: Brewster, NY
“I nominate Leila for being a stellar employee to the agency and wonderful caregiver to her clients. She has a natural ability to put her clients at ease wherever she goes.” – RVNAhealth Supervisor, Jessica Spears
Hometown: Danbury CT
“The support and care Tiffani provides our mother has been invaluable. Among the many ways Tiffani impacts our mother’s life is how she motivates her to keep up with her physical exercises, helping her memory by working with puzzles and workbooks, she gives her confidence to leave the house and accompany her with shopping and errands. She’s a genuinely kind and caring person with whom my parents are very comfortable and someone we trust implicitly. Always offering to help with laundry or daily tasks, assisting my mother at the doctor’s office. We have seen amazing improvements in my mother since Tiffani has been assisting her, we are eternally grateful to RVNAhealth for providing such an aid who is consistently going above and beyond.” – Family member, Michelle M. Ridgefield
Hometown: New Milford, CT
“The office staff and I would like to nominate Agnes for her help with a particular client in the Kent area. Agnes allowed us to rearrange her schedule, made sacrifices with her school schedule and committed to daily visits based on the Client’s needs despite the complexities of the case. She went above and beyond by being there for the Client even though it was not necessarily ideal for her schedule because the Client became very attached to her and had a true need.” – RVNAhealth Supervisor, Mel Wutke
“”I nominate Noxolo for her flexibility and willingness to see a client through hospice while also providing assistance to her husband. She provided excellent care to both despite the clients’ very different needs.”” – RVNAhealth Supervisor, Danielle
If you’re looking for a simple yet impactful way to boost your health this month, we’ve got just the suggestion for you—eat sauerkraut and yogurt, just not together 😊. Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, among others we will explore shortly, have remarkable benefits for your well-being.
Fermented foods are foods and beverages that are produced through controlled microbial growth and have been shown to have a profound impact on our health. The magic behind these fermented wonders lies in the process of fermentation, where bacteria and yeast break down sugars into lactic acid. This lactic acid bacteria, often referred to as probiotics or “good bacteria,” do wonders for your gut health, and in turn, your overall health and wellness. These foods not only improve digestion and help maintain a healthy body weight but also play a vital role in reducing inflammation and supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways.
To highlight this, a recent study from Stanford Medical School discovered that consuming fermented foods can assist in weight loss and reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. So, adding these probiotic-rich foods to your diet is a win-win for your taste buds and your health! Here are some examples of fermented foods that can help nurture your gut microbiome:
In the study highlighted above, the participants consumed up to 6 servings a day of fermented foods! Don’t worry, you do not need to go that far to experience the benefits. Aim for one serving of a fermented food per day. To help you get started, here’s a great recipe for Kimchi Egg Muffins – enjoy!
If you’re interested in learning more or need help with gut health issues, our RVNAhealth Nutritionist, Monica Marcello, RD, regularly holds informational presentations and cooking classes out in the communities we serve. You can also connect with Monica by signing up for her monthly nutrition newsletter or by contacting her with questions at nutrition@rvnahealth.org.
About Monica: Monica Marcello, MS, RD is RVNAhealth’s registered dietitian and nutrition educator who promotes holistic health, longevity, and quality of life. Monica’s areas of expertise include disease prevention and treatment for many chronic and acute conditions.
RVNAhealth will host its 23rd Annual Spring Breakfast on Friday, April 26, 2024 from 7:30am-9:00am at The Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. The Board of Directors, Spring Breakfast Committee, and friends of the organization look forward to celebrating the meaningful work of RVNAhealth and the continuum of care the agency provides throughout 35+ Connecticut communities.
Each year, the Spring Breakfast brings together 400 local business leaders, medical professionals, community groups, and RVNAhealth supporters to welcome spring and raise funds critical to patient care and program support. Funds raised allow RVNAhealth to care for patients and clients regardless of age, diagnosis, or financial circumstances and have a lasting impact on the lives of those served as well as their families. It is truly an inspiring morning and a great way to start the day!
We invite you to be moved by our impact speaker who will share insight into RVNAhealth’s dedication to providing exceptional care that has a lifechanging impact upon patients and their families. This firsthand account of an experience that any of us might find ourselves in is a true testament to the notion that we are all in this together, and we know we can’t do what we do without you!
You are invited to become a sponsor or host a table at this year’s event, which will include a delicious breakfast, live auction with travel and entertainment packages, and a raffle that includes dozens of prizes. You may purchase sponsorships or tables online at RVNAhealth.org or contact Debbie Campbell, Development Manager, at 203.438.5555, x1249 or dcampbell@rvnahealth.org.
Have you participated in any of our RVNAhealth Wellness Academy offerings? If you have, fantastic! If you have not, let us take a moment to invite you to check it out!
RVNAhealth has always been deeply rooted in providing more than just healthcare to the communities we serve. For years we’ve provided various educational programming at our offices or out in the community. The COVID pandemic unfortunately put a significant pause to those efforts. But in the fall of 2022, educational efforts were revived under the leadership of Kim Cafiero, RVNAhealth Marketing Director, and Lisa Fleming, Marketing Community Outreach. With a new name, the RVNAhealth “Wellness Academy” was launched and, wow, how we’ve grown!
From over 50 educational programming events and 1000 attendees in that first year, to now tracking towards 100+ events and doubling attendance in our second year back in full operation – the Wellness Academy has kept Cafiero’s and Fleming ‘s scheduling skills in top performing shape! “Ninety-five percent of our programming is offered free to the public and is delivered by RVNAhealth clinicians and health and wellness experts who willingly take time out of their day or evening schedules to present to the public. RVNAhealth is incredibly fortunate to have employees and relationships with other experts who are deeply passionate and educated in so many health and wellness areas. And we cannot go without recognizing our RVNAhealth donors, whose generosity also contributes greatly toward our ability to deliver this extensive amount of programming,” says Fleming.
The range of Wellness Academy topics provided are extensive and include topics such as: nutrition, exercise, osteoporosis prevention, medication management, brain health, fall prevention, Medicare enrollment, safety in the home, dementia, Parkinson’s disease management, and much more! In addition to educational classes, we also have an ongoing series of monthly support groups for bereavement, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and caregiver support. RVNAhealth Wellness Academy classes are offered year-round at our Ridgefield office and at select community locations across the various towns we serve.
The Wellness Academy listing of available classes can be found at the RVNAhealth calendar page. When viewing events, we recommend that you follow any registration instructions in order to be kept informed of any further classes details or changes (e.g. for possible weather delays in the winter). Additionally, be sure to follow our monthly Wellness Academy article in the RVNAhealth Pulse newsletter, where we list out all classes and support groups along with registration links for the coming month.
Here’s to lifelong learning! We hope to see you soon!
RVNAhealth is excited to announce the introduction of its new Dementia Education & Resources Program, launching officially in March! The new program is aimed at those diagnosed in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and for family members or caregivers at any stage of caring for a loved one. With RVNAhealth’s extensive experience providing care and healthcare services for those with dementia, the new Dementia Education & Resources Program will introduce a robust calendar of educational, therapeutic and support components to our communities – all free of charge.
Many find the staggering statistics around dementia surprising. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in three seniors, ages 65+, dies with a form of dementia. And even more surprising, many facing the diagnosis of dementia disease find there are very few resources to turn to for education, care, and support. Gigi Weiss, MSPT, RVNAhealth Senior Director of Rehabilitative Therapies and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) has witnessed the stories of dementia patients and their families firsthand. “Newly diagnosed dementia patients and their families often discover a harsh and frustrating reality of scattered resources. Many are left to face the battle on their own – one that can be frustrating, scary, and life-changing for both the individual and their loved ones and caregivers,” says Weiss. “This new program from RVNAhealth is intended to help fill that resources gap. We aim to provide regular education and therapeutic programs, and support groups to serve early to mid-stage dementia patients and loved ones and caregivers at all stages of the journey.”
The RVNAhealth Dementia Education & Resources Program kicks off formally at our Ridgefield office event on March 7th from 1:00-2:30pm (in-person or via Zoom) with a presentation by guest physician, Dr. Alison McElhone, Gerontologist from Stamford Health, who will speak about the importance of early evaluation in cognitive decline and dementia. Also, during this event, Weiss and other RVNAhealth dementia experts will present introductory education and and an overview of our new resources program, including the calendar lineup of internal and external dementia experts scheduled to present on topics ranging from nutritional impacts, to understanding the linkage with hearing loss, recommended home modifications, and more (see details below). To register to attend this event in-person or virtually, please view our event and follow the registration link.
Upcoming lineup of events following our kickoff:
Leading up to our March 7th formal kickoff, we are excited to also offer an educational event, “Helping You Meet The Dementia Challenge,” at the Ridgefield Library on February 15th from 1:30-2:30pm. Weiss and RVNAhealth’s Danielle Taibi, Home Health Aide Supervisor – both Certified Dementia Practitioners, will explain how to recognize the symptoms and stages of the condition, and discuss coping techniques that can be implemented during the early stages. The team will also discuss how to recognize when professional assistance and intervention may be necessary, along with strategies to make challenges and transitions more manageable. Please register HERE to attend this Feb 15th event.
RVNAhealth also continues its existing dedication to dementia support through its monthly Alzheimer’s Association-backed support groups. RVNAhealth’s own Melissa Wutke, HHA Supervisor, Certified Dementia Practitioner, facilitates an Alzheimer’s Association monthly caregiver support group at RVNAhealth in Ridgefield.
To stay in touch with us about details or to register for any of these or RVNAhealth’s other educational and program offerings, please check out our calendar of events regularly. And if you would like to subscribe to our RVNAhealth Dementia-specific communications, please sign up HERE.
“Living Well With Parkinson’s” …a name apropos for RVNAhealth’s first annual Parkinson’s Symposium, was held at the RVNAhealth Ridgefield office on Friday, January 26th. With over 60 attendees and nearly 20 healthcare experts presenting or hosting information tables, the three hour event successfully delivered an agenda packed with information for both newly and existing diagnosed Parkinson’s patients, loved ones and care partners.
The Parkinson’s Symposium was the brainchild of Dr. Kate Campbell, Director of RVNAhealth’s Parkinson’s Center and Outpatient Rehabilitation. “After nearly a year since the launch of our
Parkinson’s Center, I wanted to create an opportunity to bring together some of the best local experts from within RVNAhealth and other healthcare institutions. Our goals was to give the Parkinson’s community an afternoon to gather in one place and immerse themselves in learning and helpful discussion,” said Campbell. Main stage presentations included topics on the benefits of exercise, awake versus asleep deep brain stimulation, the importance of Movement Disorder Specialists, and the role of sleep in Parkinson’s. Breakout sessions gave participants an opportunity to customize their afternoon of PD learning. These options ranged from exercise demos, and cooking and nutrition, to information on clinical trials, mental health tips, and an overview from an organization dedicated to hiking trips for people with PD.
RVNAhealth would like to thank our visiting presenters: Dr. Zion Zibly and Dr. Sophie Holmes and Sophie Elliott, Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Sarah Buckingham, Stamford Health, and Dr. Leon Meytin, Hartford Healthcare. We would also like to add a tremendous thanks to our RVNAhealth Parkinson’s Center staff who lead presentations, exercise classes, nutrition discussions, and more! Finally, we thank our sponsors who helped to make this event possible: Abbott, Abbvie, APDA of Connecticut, Medtronic, and Supernus.
With a successful first Parkinson’s Symposium complete, there is little downtime for Campbell as she continues with plans for the Parkinson’s Center’s second year in operation. “There’s a lot to be excited about at the Parkinson’s Center – we are taking more of our presentations out into the community, we are testing out new and more exercise class options, and we are soon kicking off our second Parkinson’s Bootcamp cohort, where we’ll work intensely with about 10 individuals over the course of 8 weeks. If you haven’t heard about Bootcamp, you should! We are making real life change and enabling individuals with powerful tools to take control of their Parkinson’s diagnosis–contact us to learn more!” says Campbell. “We are passionate about offering these resources to the Parkinson’s community – we are a place for community, compassion, health and wellness, and a partner in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.”
For more information about the RVNAhealth Parkinson’s Center, check out our webpage, call 203-438-5555 ext 1082 or email ParkinsonsCenterLeaders@rvnahealth.org.
RVNAhealth has partnered with Wilton Meadows and The Greens at Cannondale for twenty-five years, since The Greens opened its 142-bed assisted living and memory care community in nearby Wilton.
The privately owned assisted living facility has sponsored our Wellness Fair since the beginning, enabling RVNAhealth to provide area seniors with free health screenings and vaccinations. Over time, The Greens/Wilton Meadows increased their support of our events and programs; they are now a member of RVNAhealth’s Governor Society of dedicated partners who commit $1,000 or more in annual support.
RVNAhealth caregivers spend a lot of time on the beautiful Cannondale Campus. Our agency provides skilled nursing, private-duty nursing, home health aides, and hospice care. We also manage an on-site physical therapy clinic to help residents maintain their strength and balance. We offer wellness programs for residents and this year we’ll be providing Dementia Caregiver Training and certification for staff at The Greens, too.
Ellen Casey, Senior Executive Director of The Greens is a firm believer in the many benefits of working with RVNAhealth: “Like The Greens, RVNAhealth is a private care provider that emphasizes quality and personal attention. Their excellent communication across levels of care helps our staff provide the highest quality, personalized services to our residents, even as their needs change,” she said. “RVNAhealth is truly part of our care team.”
The award-winning Cannondale Campus consists of The Greens at Cannondale Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, Wilton Meadows Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, and Nuvance Health’s Geriatric Assessment Program.
For more information about becoming a member of the RVNAhealth Governor Society, contact Jennifer Christensen, Donor Engagement Officer, at jchristensen@rvnahealth.org, or (203) 856-5137. For more information about the Greens, visit their website.
