Quarterly Newsletter. Social Media. Venture Forthe Delivers Holiday Cheer to Homebound Seniors. Inside this Issue

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1 Inside this Issue VFIcares Launches in Southern Tier....2 Annual Thanksgiving Dinner...3 Quarterly Newsletter Venture Forthe Delivers Holiday Cheer to Homebound Seniors Venture Forthe decorated and delivered 30 Christmas trees this holiday season to homebound seniors in Niagara County. We worked with the United Way and Hanci to identify seniors who had no family or supports and in need of a little holiday cheer. Venture Forthe purchased Christmas trees, asked employees to donate decorations and hand delivered all the trees. Venture Forthe wanted to give back to a population that is often forgotten at Christmas. Our agency is a regional home care provider so we know firsthand how hard the holidays can be on seniors; especially those that are alone. We hope these trees will bring some joy and brighten up the holidays for a very deserving group, said Nichole Salva, Communications Director. This year marks the launch of Venture Forthe s holiday initiative, which is intended to expand to all of the regional offices next year and continue to grow for years to come. We want to send a special thank you to all of the people that brought in decorations and to our Santas: Nicole Abdulla, Danielle Abdulla, Lisa Pacana, Dave Hogan, Sarah Tykowski, Anne Marie Dunning, Anthony Zito, Chris Roche, Jim Tretter, Drew Sullivan, Frank Maietta and Jason Tokarski. Client Spotlight...3 Regional Updates...4 VFI Participates in Statewide Initiative: DSRIP...5 VFI Expands Services Through New Contracts Alzheimer s Walks...7 Employee Spotlight...7 Special Points of Interest Sherman Walker Benefit PCA University Finishes 1st Class. Biggest Loser Competition Photo Gallery Social Media We want to connect with you! Find us on Facebook, Linkedin and Google+. We share company updates, events, industry news, tips, pictures and more! 1

2 Locations Niagara Falls: 3900 Packard Rd. Niagara Falls, NY Telephone: Olean: 242 N. Union St Olean, NY Telephone: Rochester: 687 Lee Road, Suite C 185 Rochester, NY Telephone: Jamestown: 21 East Third Street, Suite 221 Jamestown, NY Telephone: VFIcares Launches in the Southern Tier Venture Forthe launched VFIcares, an exciting new program designed to create a truly personalized experience for clients. We are currently piloting the program in the Southern Tier, with plans to expand to all regions in early So what does this mean in practice? More Face to Face Time with Nurses=More Personalized Care Better Trained and More Informed Aides= Higher Quality of Care Improved Communication= Better Relationships Over the last year we have seen exceptional growth both in the number of clients and caregivers who have joined the agency; with this growth comes change. We want to make sure it is change for the better. Our goal is to remain true to our mission and values but also continue to innovate upon our services and the delivery of care. VFIcares was developed by the leadership team and key stakeholders at Venture Forthe. We evaluated our current programs and processes and looked to industry research to create a comprehensive plan for improvement. Geoff Engel, Assistant Director of Nursing, and Stuart Burton, Quality Assurance RN, will oversee the implementation of the program. Should you have questions regarding the program, please feel free to call ext 187 for Geoff Engel or ext 252 for Stuart Burton. Finger Lakes: 85 Lafayette Ave Canandaigua, NY Telephone: Sherman Walker Fundraiser Structured Day Buffalo: 295 Main Street, Suite 101 Buffalo, NY Telephone: (716) ext 118 Structured Day Southern Tier: 4193 New York 19 Belmont, NY Telephone: (585) Venture Forthe came together to support a fellow employee who was diagnosed with cancer. Over 50 employees bought tickets to the fundraiser, which included a 50/50, basket raffle and live music. The event raised over $4,000 for the Walker family. Special thanks to Venture Forthe owners Jean and John Dziewit for hosting the event and for matching the donations, to Flora Colangelo for making the baskets and to all the staff for their support. 2

3 18th Annual Client & Family Thanksgiving Dinner Venture Forthe hosted its 18th annual client and family Thanksgiving dinner at the Volare Lodge on Sunday November 16th. The event had all the trimmings thanks to our amazing staff who helped shop, cook and serve the meal for approximately 300 clients. Live music, face painting, a full turkey dinner and balloon making were the order of the day. The event is something that we look forward to every year. It s a really special experience to see everyone working together and volunteering their time to create this memorable event, said Dave Hogan, Chief Operating Officer. Client Spotlight Chad Studley Chad Studley has been a client of Venture Forthe for more than 5 years. His lighthearted and kind spirit touches everyone he meets. He loves music and has been known to serenade the crowd at the annual Thanksgiving dinner. Chad loves to meet new people, but his ability to get out into his own community has been hindered by the long walk from his apartment to downtown. Chad is able, willing, and ready to walk almost anywhere if the distance is right, but for years he has thought about getting a motorized scooter to help him expand his ability to get out and about. A scooter wasn t a medical necessity and getting one never quite made it to the top of his savings list. However, Christmas came early for Chad and last month he received a scooter from some of the friends that he had made through Venture Forthe. Chad attends Venture Forthe s Day program, which is located in the Genesis Bible Church in Belmont NY. The Church received a donation of two scooters and Pastor Marc Chamberlin immediately thought of Chad. He is not quite ready for the road yet but plans to spend the winter months working with his ILST staff to develop additional safety procedures to ensure he is ready to go to town, when spring comes. 3

4 Regional Updates: Buffalo/Niagara Falls: We continue to see record growth in the region. We are providing care to more than 100 new clients and our workforce has grown 24% over the year. This growth has been made possible though partnerships, new contract agreements and the hard work of all of our dedicated staff. This dedication was never more evident than during Winter Storm Knife; employees at all levels went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our clients were safe and got the care they needed. Geoff Engel, RN and Jeremiah Anderson, HR Assistant spent 10 hours driving through the Southtowns relieving aides who had been stuck at homes some for more than 30 hours. They describe the scene as surreal, snow piled up as high as roof tops, cars unrecognizable, no human life for miles. However, in spite of these difficult circumstances, everyone pulled together and did so in good spirits. Rochester: The Rochester Office not only expanded into new larger space in 2014 but our business in the region grew 120% from the previous year. This can be contributed in part to the concentrated efforts and resources put into community outreach and staff recruitment. During 2014 over 150 community outreach events/presentations occurred in this region. New collaborations have been developed with community agencies who are now finding us a valuable resource for long-term care in the community. Special thanks to the Strong Memorial Social Work Department and the Visiting Nurse Services Social Workers who go above and beyond to connect their client's to community resources. It has been a pleasure working with these and other community partners. This expansion would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of our Rochester Staff who put client's needs as priority one. The Greater Rochester Region looks forward to a productive 2015 and maybe the prospect of outgrowing our space once again. Olean: The Southern Tier office has grown by over 60% this year and continues to expand it s footprint East into Steuben County. Since the office promoted Amy Wolfe to Recruiter we have seen a significant increase our training classes and new hires. In addition to the new personal care staff the office recently hired a new Registered Nurse, Rachel Johnson and new Service Coordinator Rene Judd. The office participated in the first ever Allegany/Western Steuben Rural Health Network Health Fair. The event was held at Alfred University and was attended by NY State Senator Kathy Young and US Congressman Tom Reed. Virtually all of Allegany County s health and wellness providers were represented at the health fair. Jamestown: Personal Care Aide Shawn Pfleuger was nominated for Aide of the Year at the Annual Chautauqua County Home Care Association Dinner. The event was attended by all the regional home care providers. It was a great honor to be represented by Shawn and the rest of our Jamestown office. Melanie Booth was recently hired as Outreach and Development Coordinator for the Southern Tier. Melanie will focus on outreach activities throughout Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. Melanie has more than 5 years of experience in marketing and healthcare. In her most recent position, she was involved in the roll out of the Affordable Care Act in Chautauqua County. She has held positions at the Resource Center in Jamestown and most recently at Chautauqua Opportunities. She has deep understanding of the county and will be an asset to the organization. We are excited to have her on our team as we continue to expand our services throughout the Southern Tier. 4

5 Venture Forthe Joins Statewide Initiative: DSRIP What is DSRIP? DSRIP is the main mechanism by which New York State will implement the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Waiver Amendment. DSRIP's purpose is to fundamentally restructure the health care delivery system by reinvesting in the Medicaid program, with the primary goal of reducing avoidable hospital use by 25% over 5 years. Up to $6.42 billion dollars are allocated to this program with payouts based upon achieving predefined results in system transformation, clinical management and population health. NYS plans to utilize Performing Provider Systems (PPS) established throughout the state to implement all of the desired changes. The Performing Provider Systems are made up of hospitals, MDs and community agencies. Venture Forthe has partnered and will play an active role in two PPSs, the Finger Lakes and Millennium PPS, these two Performing Provider Systems cover all of the counties in which we serve. If implemented correctly DSRIP presents a huge opportunity for the agency and most importantly the people that receive Medicaid benefits. The goal is to create a more coordinated and well informed system to provide individuals with better care and services. Photo Gallery 1st Annual Allegany/Western Steuben Rural Health Network Health Fair Halloween in Niagara Falls Annual Summit On Aging Conference The 3rd Our Community Fair at the YMCA in Rochester Annual Chautauqua County Homecare Association Dinner Jamestown Office Supports PCA Shawn Pfleuger YMCA Aerobic Marathon Fundraiser Rochester Office Participated and Raised over $100 for the event. 5

6 VFI Expands Services Through New Contracts Venture Forthe has long been known as a NYS Waiver Provider, while this remains true, over the past year we focused on expanding service capability under our LHCSA License. As the Healthcare Delivery System changes we want to make sure we are well positioned to adapt to these changes. Below are a list of contracts and/or partnerships that were established in Managed Care: Fidelis, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Univera, United Healthcare and Independent Health. Managed Long Term Care: Fidelis Care at Home, Centers Plan, ElderPlan/Homefirst, WellCare, icircle, Niagara Advantage, United Healthcare and First Choice. Other: Veterans Administration, Alzheimer s Association Respite Program, GBAUN Health Home, Niagara Memorial Health Home, Finger Lakes PPS and Millennium PPS-DSRIP, and Long Term Solutions. First Training Class Completed Congratulations and thank you to Venture Forthe s first class of Personal Care Aides who participated in the launch of PCA University and completed their training module: Cathy Cobin, Jeri Laird, Queena Mascho, Sally McDowell, Robin Stolinski, Chantina Wilson, Denise Townsend, Justin Davis, Nicole Laster, Lisa Skiver, Stephanie Marczynski, Dannielle McCoy, Justin Flemming, and Carol Lamont. Our next course begins on December 26th and focuses on transferring. To find out more information, please visit or pcau@ventureforthe.com. Biggest Loser Competition: VFI hosted a Biggest Loser competition that ran from early September until mid December. The winner received a trophy along with a cash prize of $145! 19 people participated and as a group lost over 180 pounds! The following were the top 3 "Losers" at the conclusion of the competition: 1. Robin Didas-Mott 2. Kristin Jedrewski 3. Jodi Schultz COMING SOON: JAMESTOWN SENIOR FAIR! When: Friday, January 30th 10am-1pm Where: Venture Forthe, 21 east Third Street, Suite 221. Jamestown, NY What: A free community resource fair for seniors. Local agencies, insurance providers, free health screenings, giveaways and more! Contact Melanie Booth at ext 196 for more info. 6

7 VFI Helps to Raise Awareness for Alzheimer's Throughout the end of September and October VFI participated in four regional events to support the Alzheimer s Association. In addition to the work we do with the Alzheimer s Association, we also offer a specialized Dementia Care Program. The program s goal is to keep people at home and independent for as long as possible. From Top Left: Sarah Tykowski and Hannah Bleichfeld, Support Flowers at the Buffalo Walk, Sarah Tykowski, Nichole Salva and Hannah Bleichfield at Buffalo Walk, Robin Didas Mott at the Geneseo Walk, Lisa Pacana, Anne Marie Dunning and Sarah Tykowski at the Lewiston Walk. Employee Spotlight Teronia has been with Venture Forthe for over a year and a half. She was new to home care but showed initiative from the very start. She has a desire to learn and wants to provide the best care possible. She asks questions and solicits feedback from her clients and her supervisors. Teronia Brooks Personal Care Aide Buffalo/Niagara Region Teronia is compassionate, she pays attention to the little things and goes the extra mile for her clients. Each morning before leaving her overnight shift she makes sure that her client has a piece of toast and some grapes waiting for her when she wakes up. These small things make a big difference and we want to thank her for the work she does. We are lucky to have you on our team! Certified Dementia Practitioners develop individualized plans that work on improving communication, managing behaviors and practical tips to improve the overall quality of life. For more information: VFI Volunteers Time For Caregivers Venture Forthe volunteered at the Erie County Caregiver Coalition and the Alzheimer s Disease Assistance Center s 4th Annual Caregiver Day. This year over 175 people attended the day long event, which provides respite and educational workshops for caregivers. Some of the topics included: Dealing with challenging behaviors An attorney talks with caregivers about legal and financial issues Managing difficult caregiver feelings: moving toward peace Dementia sensitivity training for the caregiver Caregiver communication- changes and challenges Coping with personal care issues Crossroads - understanding levels of care 7

8 Venture Forthe Inc Packard Rd Niagara Falls, NY Personal Care Aide Featured Employment Opportunities We are looking for caring and compassionate people to join our team of caregivers. Personal Care Aides are responsible for providing health and personal care tasks in the clients home. We will provide all necessary training and certification for qualified candidates. Immediate openings in Holland, Bemus, Clarence, Gasport and Arcade. Registered Nurse: The Registered Nurse is responsible for the direction, coordination and direct supervision of the agency's paraprofessional staff. This position provides in-field professional supervision and on the job training to personal care aides. The Registered Nurse also assists in the agency's continuing education/in services program and field competency testing of all clinical staff. We have immediate openings in Olean, Rochester and Niagara Falls. Community Integration Counselor This position is designed to help individuals more effectively cope with the adjustment process of living in the community with a TBI and/or other disabilities. Hours are flexible and may include daytime, evening and weekend shifts. We are currently looking for a qualified individuals in the Wellsville/Hornell area and Buffalo/Niagara Falls region. Please visit for complete list.