News

Holidays after losing a loved one can be challenging and sometimes difficult. That’s why Lake Sunapee VNA is offering a free grief support program entitled “Handling the Holidays After a Loss” to help grieving community members explore ways to proactively plan and maneuver through major holidays.

Three very special volunteers have taken on the cheerful task of serving as this year’s “Volunteer Elves” for the Kearsarge Kids Christmas Program. Sheila Wallace, Debbie Seyfried and Betsy Kloeppel—all who volunteer in other capacities for LSRVNA, including in the office and at the Good Day Respite Program—have stepped up to help bring joy to area families in need during the holiday season.

The Greater Sullivan County Public Health Network, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Valley Regional Healthcare, New London Hospital, Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, Fall Mountain Regional School District, and the Medical Reserve Corps. met on October 2 at the Fall Mountain Regional High school to kick off the first school-based flu clinic of the season providing 101 students with their annual flu immunization. The agencies collaborate to offer school-based flu immunizations to potentially thousands of local students during the fall months.

Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice (LSRVNA) has been selected as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program for the month of October. Launched in 2015, the program is designed to support local non-profits through the sale of the reusable bags. For every bag purchased at the New London Hannaford during October, LSRVNA will receive a $1 donation.

Be a Sponsor of the Kids’ Christmas Project

Once again, Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice (LSRVNA) is coordinating the Kearsarge Community Kids’ Christmas Project, and there are two ways you can help bring joy during the holidays by supporting local families in need:

• Make a cash donation to help fulfill the wish lists of area children and families by mailing a check payable to LSRVNA Elf Fund to: LSRVNA, PO Box 2209, New London, NH 03257.
• Adopt a family and fulfill their wish list. Please call the "Elf Line" at 603-526-4077 ext. 356 to let us know your desire to help.

If you are interested in participating in either way, please contact LSRVNA no later than October 30th.

The Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice annual summer party held on August 22^nd at the New London Historical Society was a grand success because of the generosity of so many guests, donors and sponsors. A relaxing evening of perfect matches featured food and drink, family and friends, and a special video presentation starring LSRVNA staff and their laptops! The three-minute video (read on to find the link) was a light-hearted, fun way to present the need for laptop technology, an essential tool for caregivers and clinicians.

Lake Sunapee VNA will offer a new Diabetic Support Group in two locations beginning on September 4. It will be held on the first Tuesday of every month in Valley Regional Hospital’s Library Conference Room from 10:00-11:00am and in Newport Health Center’s Community Room from 12:00-1:00pm.

Jim Culhane, President & CEO of Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice and resident of Contoocook, has been elected Board President of the newly formed Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care Alliance of NH.

Lake Sunapee VNA Welcomes New Hospice & Palliative Care Director

Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice is pleased to welcome Diane Brace, MSN, RN, as its new Hospice & Palliative Care Director. A native of New Hampshire, Diane has more than 25 years of nursing experience with hospitals in the southern part of the state. She has worked in varied specialties from acute care (including med surg, cardiac telemetry, intensive care and the post anesthesia care unit) to an outpatient interventional pain center and other outpatient procedural clinics, such as endoscopy and urology.

Three area Veterans of the United States Army were honored recently by Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice (LSRVNA) as part of the national “We Honor Veterans” program. LSRVNA has been a We Honor Veterans Partner since 2011, which involves meeting specific requirements to enhance care for patients who served in the military. For those Veterans who are interested, that includes a special in-home recognition ceremony conducted by LSRVNA staff.