1. Volunteers are
seldom paid
not
because they
are
worthless but
because they
are priceless!
Inside this issue:
Greetings from
the Volunteer
Coordinator
1
Announcements 2
Caught you
Caring
2
Avenues to
Explore
3
Food for Thought 3
Time Sheet
Reminder
3
Book
Suggestions
4
Intriguing Info 4
Chaplin’s Corner 5
VNA Volunteer
Guidelines
6
2016 Greetings
Welcome August
May every day in this month
of August fill your heart
with sweet surprises!
Volunteer Updates:
Sharon Curole one of our beloved
VNA Hospice Pet Therapy
volunteers was invited to as a guest
on the talk show “Dying to Talk” on
the radio station ” The Pulse” with
host Buddy Phaneuf. Sharon
shared stories of the incredible
healing and comfort she and
Sophie (Sharon’s pet therapy dog)
provide patients and their loved
ones during a time in their lives that
this is really needed. This interview
will air on Saturday August 20th
8:00 am and again on Sunday
August 21st 8:30 am on Radio
Station 107.7 The Pulse. To listen
to the Podcasts of this show visit
107.7FM.
website: http://www.wtplfm.com/
VNA Pet Therapy volunteer Sharon Curole 2nd
from left along with L to R Madison Fortin,
Mandy Desmarais and Buddy Phaneuf
hosts of the radio show
Opportunities:
Please consider joining us for our
upcoming CARES meeting on
Wednesday August 10th here at the
VNA facility from 1 to 2pm. We will
be discussing our relational impact
on our patients and their families.
These meetings benefit all
volunteers regardless of how long
you have been one of our valued
volunteers or what type of
volunteering role you’re involved in
for the VNA. This is a time to share
and take away some extremely
useful tools in volunteering! The
CARES meetings are held four times
a year two are held in the evening
and two during the day.
Friendly Reminder:
Volunteers must not be involved with
direct physical patient care (this
includes lift assists). It is human
nature to want to help, but we must
remember this for the safety of all.
This is stated in your VNA Volunteer
Guidelines that are attached (page 6)
for your review.
Electronic Time Sheets:
Volunteer time sheets may be hand
written or typewritten. (Electronic
version of the time sheet will be
available beginning September 2016
and was sent as an attachment with
this month’s newsletter). You will be
able to complete those time sheets
on your computer. Please note: Even
the electronic version, DO NOT fax,
scan, or email the completed time
sheet. It must be mailed or
personally delivered as a printed
time sheet to the VNA office.
Thank you volunteers for all you do!
Sincerely,
Susan Jutras
Page 1
Volunteer
Newsletter

2. Announcements
Caught you Caring
Page 2 Volunteer Newsletter
A letter of gratitude!
VNA Hospice receives many letters of thanks and appreciation for the
outstanding care the VNA provided for their loved one. It is not often that
a patient writes to us to thank us for the care that is being provided to
them. We received a letter from a patient addressed to our VP that stated “I write this letter
because of the joy I have experienced these past few months from the VNA of Manchester &
Southern NH Hospice Services.” He thanks the VNA for the exceptional care he received
from our RN as well as our LNA. Also included in this letter was appreciation for one of our
valued volunteers. He stated “Diane Pictrowski, the volunteer has helped me affirm my faith
and even helped me to grow my faith. I have always respected any clergyperson I have met
and I think Diane could surpass most of them in her faith. It is a comfort to me when she
visits.” In his working career this patient was a manager for one of the largest companies in
the country and he really realized that staffing good competent
people can be a great challenge. He continues to say “I hope you
realize, at best, with these three people how fortunate you and the
VNA Hospice is.”
Diane also knows how to have fun, take a look at the picture to the
right of her at the 2015 Manchester RAD 5K Race “FUN FUN”.
Thank you Diane for the wonderful work
you do for the VNA!
Why do we Survey Volunteers?
Help us update your information: Have you moved? Changed your
volunteer’s status or program interest ? Has your availability to
volunteer changed? Gotten married? Has your contact information
changed?
Please help us keep our records up to date by completing the survey. You will be able to
do this electronically by filling out the survey and e-mailing it or regular mail to me. You
will also have the option to fill out the form by hand. You will receive a hard copy in this
month’s mailings as well as an electronic version in your monthly e-mail as an attachment
with the VNA Volunteer August newsletter. Please fill out and send back to me. I thank
you for your cooperation in helping to keep your volunteer information updated. If you
have questions or concerns please reach out to me.
Due Date October 1st 2016

3. Pharmacy Team Volunteers
When family/caregiver of our patients are unable to get to the pharmacy, VNA Hospice
Pharmacy Team Volunteers will pick up the much needed medication at a local pharmacy and
deliver to the patients home. The VNA will call in the prescription and it will be ready for pick up
and the payment for the prescription will have already been taken care of. For most
prescriptions the volunteer will have to provide a photo ID.
During normal business hours the Volunteer Coordinator will contact
volunteers, after hours or on weekend’s the patients hospice case
manager will contact volunteers directly.
The following information will be given to the volunteer:
 Patients full name and address
 Patients date of birth
 Patients phone number
 Name and address of pharmacy
 Time frame for delivery
Pharmacy Team Volunteers provide a much needed and appreciated service
Page 3
Avenues to Explore for Volunteers
Reminders
Friendly reminder for July and August timesheets!
Food for Thought
Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
ENJOY It’s Blueberry Season
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the first eight
ingredients. Combine the egg, yogurt and butter; stir into
dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries.
2. Coat muffin cups with cooking spray or use paper
liners; fill three-fourths full with batter. Bake at 400° for
18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the muffin
comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from
pan to a cooling rack. Serve warm.
3. Freeze option: Wrap muffins in foil; transfer to a
resalable plastic freezer bag. May be frozen for up to 3
months. To use frozen muffins: Remove foil. Thaw at
room temperature. Serve warm. Yield: 1 dozen.
Ingredients:
 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
 1 cup quick-cooking oats
 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
 2 teaspoons baking powder
 1/2 teaspoon salt
 1/2 teaspoon ground
cinnamon
 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
 1 large egg, lightly beaten
 1 cup (8 ounces) plain yogurt
 1/4 cup butter, melted
 1 cup fresh blueberries
2016 Greetings

4. “Simply Sane”
Author: Gerald May, MD
Most of us are "addicted to perfection". Always trying to become whom
we imagine others want us to become. This leads
to much anxiety, depression and loneliness.
"To thy own self be true". We have to care and be
gentle with our inner being if we want to go out into
the world and love and be loved.
Dr. May gives us direction on how to "let go and let
be", to get out of our ego, our own way and
become the person we were meant to become. At
times this might be seen as "selfish" but one has to understand that you
can't give to others what you are denying to give yourself, so "charity
begins at home".
Contributed by: Jackie St. Hilaire VNA Volunteer
This book
empathizes
us to have
self-compassion
“Be gentle to
yourself.”
Jackie St.Hilaire
Page 42016 Greetings
Book Suggestions
Intriguing Info
Surprising New Link
Between Alzheimer’s Disease
and the Immune System
Curtesy of: Living at Home Senior Care
There’s never been a more exciting time in the
world of Alzheimer’s research than now, and
new developments seem to be springing up
each time we turn around! The latest findings
are slated to have a huge impact in the quest
for treatments and a cure: the correlation
between Alzheimer’s and the body’s natural
immune response to infections.
While researchers have been working to
connect the dots between the beta amyloid
protein and Alzheimer’s, the most recent twist
in the puzzle comes from the discovery that this
protein is displaying the ability to fight off
infections in mice. If beta amyloid works the
same way in humans, getting rid of this
bacteria-fighting protein, as some drug trials
have tried, could be dangerous.
If this theory is correct, it follows that
Alzheimer’s is likely triggered by an
over-reactive immune response to a pathogen,
causing problems in older brains that are
unable to handle the overload.
While still inconclusive, the findings coincide
with what we already know about the
importance of exercise, proper sleep and a
healthy diet, expanding those benefits into the
realm of
potentially
preventing
Alzheimer’s.
It also paves
the way for
other possible
treatment
options, such
as inflamma-
tory reduction
medications
and vaccines.

5. Chuck Johnson
Spiritual/Bereavement
Coordinator
Phone:
603-663-4005
Fax:
603-641-4074
E-mail:
cjohnson2@elliot-hs.org
Website:
www.manchestervna.org
1070 Holt Ave. Suite 1400
Manchester, NH 03109
Susan Jutras
Coordinator of
Volunteer Resources
Phone:
603-663-4008
Fax:
603-641-4074
E-mail:
sjutras@elliot-hs.org
Website:
www.manchestervna.org
Chaplain’s Corner
Summer, contrasting with last month’s newsletter, is
waning with the length of daylight, “Heavy Sigh.”
But some exciting news!!! Hospice is adding a full time
Chaplain to our team!!! Theresa Bianchi will be starting
on August 22! Three cheers please…
“Hip, Hip, Hooray. Hip, Hip, Hooray. Hip, Hip, Hooray.”
 Our 8 week Adult Bereavement group had a delay (some folks were no
longer available/reachable for the start in July), so we are hoping it will
begin this month. Bob Robitaille and Mary Pinard will facilitate and
create a nurturing environment to support some folks from our Hospice
and our community to work through their grief needs.
Working with you all is such an inspiring and encouraging facet to this
Hospice Care. Thank you to many of you who send me emails or telephone
calls of encouragement or humor. It really does help me to focus and delve
deeply into this intense work.
Our Hospice CARE(S) team meeting is on August 10th from 1:00pm-
2:00pm here at Holt Avenue. Our focus will be discussing our Relational
impact upon our patients and their families. CARES team is for any and all
volunteers who want to collaborate with other volunteers to share, develop,
enhance and brainstorm how they are doing in their volunteering experi-
ence. Regardless of what type of volunteering role you contribute to/in, you
are cordially invited to this CARES Team meeting. Come on out and learn
what and how others are making an impact. (You can even share how your
Hospice experience is going.)
Below is a poem I wrote about Hospice and a bit of an apologetic to
encourage those uncertain of the benefit of Hospice Care
Hospice is for Victory by: Chuck John
Ever so blessed to know such caring people.
Ever so honored to be part of such a great
team of staff and volunteers.
Thank you, Chuck Johnson
HOSPICE SERVICES
VISITING NURSE
ASSOCIATION
OF MANCHESTER &
SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE
2016 Greetings Page 5
But what of this Hospice
To start they say I should do
But giving up is not for me
Nor for my family or friends too
But Hospice is for victory
Over pain and fear and dread
Hospice is for balancing
Heart, Hope and Head
When shock or fear or sadness
Is something that you feel
Remember: joy and life and love
Still - no less real
It’s hard for eyes to focus
On the ones who are so near
When my heart is drawn to ponder
Those gone who were so dear
And yet somehow to me closer
I think they sure must be
Cause now I see or hear them
Calling, they wait for me
To stay? To Leave?
Such a strange twist
This Journey, a winding one,
Travels through a mist
I know it ends on this side
But continues and starts anew
With slopes and turns again
Which Loved ones long to show
But giving up is not for me
Nor for my family or friends too
Yet giving in to what’s ahead
A balancing of Living tis true
And so with Hospice supporting us
Through days and nights some more
I’m starting to understand
I’m ready for what’s in store
Yes, Hospice is for Victory
For me and those I love
Those who are with me here
And those who wait above

6. VNA of Manchester & Southern NH, Inc.
Volunteer Guidelines
Please Do
 Do be dependable and faithful in your service.
 Do inform Volunteer Services if an emergency prevents you from keeping your
assignment.
 Do accept assignments graciously and perform them to the best of your ability.
 Do keep confidences; information about patients or staff is completely
confidential.
 Do abide by the policies and procedures of your service description.
 Do take any concerns or suggestions to the volunteer coordinator.
Please Don’t
 Don’t reveal information about a patient/family or mention names of patients
outside the agency.
 Don’t give any medication to a patient.
 Don’t accept gifts or gratuities from patients, their families or friends.
 Don’t be involved with direct physical patient care (this includes lift assists).
Volunteer Signature: _________________________Date: _______
Supervisor Signature: ________________________Date: _______