January 2020: Time for a Valley VNA Vocabulary Review
By Theresa Pichelmeyer, President & CEO, Valley VNA
Valley VNA Senior Care is an independent non-profit organization that was established by caring, activist Neenah citizens way back in 1908. As I meet with families and others in the community, I have come to realize that some of the words we use to describe our mission and identity may be a bit ambiguous. Here are a couple of terms I’d like to clarify—a little vocabulary review, if you will:
Valley VNA stands for Valley Visiting Nurse Association. Ida Heinke was hired in 1908 to visit and care for sick, injured, or aged Neenah people in their homes. The old-fashioned image of a registered nurse visiting families at home has been replaced with our current In-Home Care offerings to seniors who need assistance with personal cares and medication reminders. Today our caregivers are well-trained certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or personal care workers. In addition to In-Home Care, we have a 92-unit senior living community on the south side of Neenah that offers both independent, assisted living and memory care options. Valley VNA is a well-respected brand in the community, and we believe it’s a name worth keeping!
Ida Heinke was Valley VNA’s first visiting nurse.
We are a non-profit organization. But please don’t think for one minute that we operate solely off of charitable donations or cut corners with our staff training, cleanliness, facilities, or service offerings. Rather, our non-profit structure means we are accountable to a talented local volunteer board of directors. By law, the revenues we take in from residents and in-home care clients are automatically reinvested into our services, staff, and facilities. We do not send profits away to distant stakeholders whose sole purpose is to generate a return on their investment. When we do fundraising or apply for grants, we have to prove over and over again that we are a professional, quality-focused, creative, and efficient organization.
Valley VNA is set apart as Diamond Accredited for Quality through WALA.
After 112 years, we have a storied history—but we have never become outmoded. Have you ever visited Valley VNA? You really should stop in and see our bright and cheerful main entrance that blends into our main dining and gathering space. Our residents’ independent and assisted living apartments and suites are regularly updated with new colors and décor, and the courtyards, gardens, and other activity spaces are kept fresh, clean, and equipped for the latest in enrichment and wellness programming. We have a tradition of innovation and adaptation that keeps us vibrant and relevant.
You are always welcome to visit.
There are hundreds of other terms within the realm of long term care, and our team is happy to answer any and all of your questions. There won’t be a test at the end, but you’ll certainly see a difference in the way we do things at Valley VNA.
