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2020 Annual ReportBuilding Better Lives for Older AdultsSenior Care

There is Beautiful Diversity at Valley VNACaring for older adults is an opportunity to celebratediversity. As we hold more conversations aboutrecognizing and valuing the different gifts andbackgrounds of every person, older people are stilloften lumped into imprecise and over-generalizedgroups like “seniors” or “retirees.” True, this is shorthandfor communicating a similar age group (usually peopleage 65 or older) but the talents, abilities, preferences,and personalities of this age group only expandfrom there.There are so many reasons to celebrate older adults,and this diversity is one of the best parts about livingand working at Valley VNA. The next time you havea chance to speak up for diversity, speak up for olderadults. Then take time to listen to their stories—you’ll be wiser and happier in the end.At Valley VNA, we come to know older adultswho have fascinating lives. We meet womenwho’ve raised big families and always worked fromhome, retired secretaries, pharmacists, and businessexecutives, and long-time teachers, college professors,milkmen, and postal carriers. We know veterans,expert cooks and bakers, woodworkers, musicians,world travelers, immigrants, politicians, and speakersof multiple languages.Our workforce is exceptional, multi-talented,and motivated. We’re fortunate to attract dedicatedemployees who are not only skilled and compassionate;many are simultaneously earning their degrees innursing and medicine while they work for Valley VNA.We flex to meet the scheduling needs of our peoplein order to create a culture of collaboration andpositive energy.Our Caring for Generations campaign is inspiredby the individual gifts and needs of each personwe encounter at Valley VNA. As we prepare to breakground on new apartments and refurbish existing ones,we are making safe and sunlit spaces designed to helppeople embrace their unique best lives—in service toour residents and our employees.ValleyVNA.org 2020 Annual ReportSincerely,Theresa PichelmeyerPresident & CEOFrank KearnyBoard ChairBoard of DirectorsDianne BergstromDenise BurkettTim GallowayFrank KearnyBoard ChairJoe McGraneSteve MortonFritz MerizonPaula McNeilMike RohrkastePaul SchulzPaul VerbetenTheresa PichelmeyerPresident & CEO

Designing for Dignity and DelightCaring for Generations Campaign Builds Better Living for Older AdultsOur project architects and designers have workedwith us to literally build compassion and dignityinto Valley VNA’s remodeling and expansion plansassociated with the Caring for Generations campaign.Groundbreaking for phase one of the project is slatedfor fall 2021. At press time, we are at 80 percent ofour campaign goal of 3,250,000. The second phasewill refurbish existing assisted living spaces withrevised floor plans, more natural light, and modernfinishes. Here are just a few examples of how we aredesigning for dignity—and delight: Create assisted living residents’ rooms to includesmall, private living and visiting spaces adjacent totheir customary sleeping space. Everyone likes socialinteraction, but we all like our downtime, too, andthese cozy places allow for things like small familyvisits, card games, or watching a nightly game show. Design new bathrooms with sliding doors, much likeold-fashioned barn doors, to eliminate big swingingdoors that get in the way when entering a room. It’sa simple and inspired upgrade that makes life easierand looks nice, too, especially for staff and those whouse wheelchairs or walkers. Invest in residentialstyle kitchensthat serve smallernumbers of residentsthan a large diningroom. These smallkitchens have awheel-up breakfastbar with the feel of amodern deli where residents can watch some of theactivity around their food prep in a more home-likesetting. Mealtime routines are a comforting rhythm toour days and engender warm conversations betweenresidents, families, and staff.The Valley VNA Difference We serve a legacy. Valley VNA Senior Care wasestablished by the citizens of Neenah and Menashain 1908 and remains a vibrant independent nonprofitcommunity organization. We areconnected toour community.We warmlywelcomeresidents, families,and co-workersfrom all walksof life. We workside-by-side andtreat one another as partners and friends. Our boardof directors and regulatory agencies hold us to thehighest standards of care and safety. We can make our own way—with your help.Caring for Generations is founded on the capacityof our organization to fund 50 percent of capitalexpenditures, with support for the other half frompeople in the community. It’s serious business basedon common sense—and never settling for anythingless than excellent care.Will You Help Us?To support the Caring for Generations capitalcampaign, please use the enclosed envelope, donateonline at www.valleyvna.org/caring-for-generations/,or contact Wendy Lloyd, Valley VNA Marketingand Development Director, at 920-727-5555or wendyl@valleyvna.org. Thank you for yourkind support.ValleyVNA.org 2020 Annual Report

The Heart and Soul of Valley VNAWe never forget the heart and soul of our organization is our people. Our best recommendations come fromthose who live and work at Valley VNA. Here are the stories of just a few of them, each of whom makes thisa very special place to make a life—and a living.Lauren HolinbeckDanielle GuagliardoValley VNA In-Home Care Caregiver, 5 yearsMoraine Technical College Nursing StudentValley VNA Global Caregiver (for both In-Home Careand Assisted Living), 3 years20-Year Medical ProfessionalLauren will earn her associate’sdegree in nursing (RN) fromMoraine Park Technical Collegein December 2021. She hasbeen an in-home care providerfor Valley VNA since 2016while attending school full time.One of her most meaningfulexperiences has been caringfor a woman who has sincepassed away, and now she isfortunate enough to care forthe husband—a family-caregiver relationship of five years.“VNA and our clients have very much shaped me, and Iwork for an awesome group of women leaders in InHome Care. I’ve developed strong communication andobservational skills that help me care for my clients astheir needs change.” In her free time, Lauren is a talentedphotographer and loves to spend time outdoors.Danielle was a nuclear medicinetechnologist for more than20 years in Milwaukee beforemoving to Neenah three yearsago for a change of pace andplace. She is happy how hercaregiving skills can help olderadults stay in their homes. “If aperson simply needs help to takea shower safely, that is a gift wecan give.” Another gift Danielleoffers is companionship and respite for spouses who areprimary caregivers. “We chat, or I give them a few hoursoff to run errands or see friends. These are much-neededmental health breaks for them.” Danielle lives with hersister in Neenah and loves travel with a goal of visitingall 50 states. She is a serious bookworm who lovesmystery novels.Dan KolandValley VNA Team Lead (nights), 2 yearsEMT and Pre-Med StudentDan earned his CNA license inhigh school and was a firefighterand EMT before he discovereda full-time health care career atVNA. He is currently pursuinghis pre-med biology degreethrough a collaborative programat Nicolet College and theUniversity of Wisconsin Oshkosh,after which he aspires to attendthe Medical College of Wisconsinat St. Norbert College—andhe even works part-time for an ambulance service innorthern Wisconsin when they need him! “I fell in lovewith my work and the residents at Valley VNA. The staffand the management are fantastic.” He also loves his twodogs, Eris, a German Shepherd, and Athena, a Bernadoodle.The three of them especially like to hang out at the beach.ValleyVNA.org 2020 Annual Report“I’m thrilled to hearthat Valley VNA’sCaring for Generationscampaign includesrenovation plans tobring more naturallight to residents,staff, and visitors.Research shows that natural light canhave a positive effect on sleep, mood,and behavior. It’s exciting to see thatValley VNA and its supporters recognizethe importance of good environmentaldesign for the well-being of everyonewho enters the building.”— Dr. Susan McFaddenProfessor Emerita of PsychologyUniversity of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Susan StantonAge 83Valley VNA resident since 2015Susan was born in the AlleganyMountains of Cumberland,Maryland, in 1938, the onlychild of her teacher-mother andengineer-father. Susan enteredthe convent at age 18 andbecame an Ursuline nun whoseprimary vocation was teaching.Twelve years later, while teaching summer school at NotreDame, she met and fell in love with Mark Stanton whowas then a Christian Brother, and they eventually married.Susan went on to have a 30-year teaching career in Englishand literature in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Today she lives atValley VNA in Neenah to be near her daughter, Sarah, andgrandsons Nicholas and Matthew. She especially enjoysreading and crocheting.Ruth Gresham“Because of theexcellent care myfamily has received,I will continue tosupport Valley VNAas a donor. I knowthat their missionof providing acontinuum of care,advocacy for senior rights, innovations inbringing in new caregivers, and passionfor introducing meaningful programs willprovide affordable, excellent senior carefor generations to come.”— Tim GallowayDonor and Board Member Valley VNA Senior CareCEO, Galloway Co.Age 105Valley VNA Resident since 2018Ruth was born at Henry FordHospital in Detroit in 1916and grew up to attend theprecursor to Wayne StateUniversity where she studiedscience, physics, chemistry, andmath. Upon graduation, shewas told she could not get ajob in a laboratory because there were no bathroomsfor women. Ruth went back to school earn her master’sdegree and become a math and science teacher. She andher husband Jim, a Kimberly-Clark researcher whom shemet at Wayne State, eventually moved to the Fox Valleywhere they raised their children, Carol, Janet, and Jim. Ruthwas hired at Wilson Junior High School in Appleton andbroke barriers when she was the first woman to wear apantsuit (not a dress) to work—and had to stand up toher principal when he told her to go home and change!Ruth and Jim traveled widely to Europe, Asia, and SouthAmerica, and they took their kids tent-camping all over theU.S. and Canada. Ruth is the recipient of the Golden EagletAward in 1935 (then the Girls Scouts’ highest honor), the1999 Dan P. Spaulding Volunteer Educator Award, andmany other well-deserved recognitions for her teaching,volunteering, and philanthropy. She has eight grandchildrenand 15 great-grandchildren. Ruth said, “Would I want to relive my life? Yes, that would be perfectly all right. I enjoyedit. Complaining doesn’t do any good. People want to bewith others who are happy and able to contribute.”You Were the LightOur Annual Love Light Dedication and Tree Lightingwas held virtually on Dec. 3, 2020, via Facebook Live.This special evening has been held for 29 years toremember our family members and friends who arewith us in spirit, and those who have touched our lives inspecial ways. Each year we invite supporters to dedicatean ornament and make a donation in support of ValleyVNA. The 2020 tree was decorated with more than 200ornaments and we surpassed last year’s total donations bya significant measure. Thank you for being our light duringa particularly difficult time.ValleyVNA.org 2020 Annual Report