Personal Care
Latest Personal Care News
A Monster Snowstorm Doesn’t Faze Our Team Members! See Photos, Video!
January 27, 2026–Wow, what a snowstorm we just had! And now, freezing temps! But that doesn’t keep us from providing care to our patients, members and clients! To see snowstorm photos and a selfie video from team members sent in, look here below! If you have a snowstorm photo you’d like to share, please submit it to Frontline here, and we’ll add it to the gallery. Ernesto Aglibot, Hospice RN, did not let an iced-over wiper stop him from seeing patients!
We Asked Our HHAs: What Achievement Made You Most Proud? Read the Responses!
January 27, 2026–Each month, our Home Health Aide team members have a chance to answer a different question related to their work, hobbies, and other topics. The HHAs who respond get entered into a monthly raffle where they have a chance to win a gift card, and a selection of that month’s responses is also shared with the rest of their HHA colleagues. This past month, the question they answered was, “What achievement made you most proud in 2025?” Nearly 300 HHAs replied, and their responses were incredibly heartfelt—as you can see from the following examples. This month’s raffle winners are Nora Delgado de Bailon, Gloria Kingston, and Lourdes Villagran. Building Strong and Trusting Relationships Building strong and trusting relationships with clients and family members was one of the most often-mentioned achievements… Being the “Go-to Person” for Smiles and Words of Encouragement Another achievement many HHAs mentioned for 2025 was being able to bring joy
Building Relationships—A Day in the Life of HHA Supervisor Sally Kirton
January 20, 2026–Sally Kirton is a Home Health Aide (HHA) Supervisor for VNS Health Personal Care. As an HHA Supervisor, she manages the Home Health Aide services of clients who live in Brooklyn and Staten Island—an area that includes some of New York City’s most out-of-the-way neighborhoods to travel to, such as Coney Island. Sally is responsible for ensuring that all her assigned clients—many of whom are also enrolled in one of our Health Plans—have the HHA support they need to live safely at home. This includes making sure a replacement is found when an HHA team member is unable to work that particular day, that new cases are appropriately staffed, and that both our clients and our HHA team members are satisfied—all of which requires a great deal of problem-solving and relationship-building. Back in September at our Personal Care Awards ceremony, Sally received our Supervisor Superstar Award. It’s easy to see why when
Team Members in the News: December Highlights!
January 13, 2026–December may be a time when much of the world slows down, but when it comes to great stories in the press, VNS Health was full speed ahead last month! From our MAP and MLTC health plans achieving 5 Stars to powerful accounts of care and compassion delivered at home, our organization continues to make headlines,—reflecting the many ways VNS Health team members go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others so that they can continue to live at home and in their communities. Team members featured in December news stories include: Associated Press Highlights VNS Health MAP Plan’s 5-Star Ratings The Associated Press reported that VNS Health’s dual-eligible Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) plan, VNS Health Total (HMO D-SNP), earned a five-star Overall Quality Rating from the New York State Department of Health for the second consecutive year—making it once again the only MAP plan in the state
Last Month We Asked: “What Is Your Favorite Holiday Tradition?”
December 15, 2025–Over 400 Home Health Aide team members responded to our November raffle question— “What is your favorite holiday tradition?” The responses were heartwarming. One tradition—spending time with loved ones—was a clear frontrunner for the most beloved part of the holiday season, getting named in 74% of responses. Many HHAs also mentioned decorating their homes (37%) and cooking special meals (51%). Not surprisingly, more than a third of those who responded said they enjoy dedicating their free time to helping others, with many expressing the joy they feel in assisting their clients with their own holiday traditions. As we do each month, we took the names of all the HHA team members who participated in the November raffle question, put them all together, and drew three at random. The winning team members, who each received $100, were Rosario Perez, Kemona Bailey and Claudia Guerron. Remember, to be included in our monthly
Documentary Highlights NORC Program and Aging Safely in Community
November 22, 2025–The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) has released Aging in Community: A New York First Model, a new documentary that offers an in-depth look at New York’s innovative Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) program. The film features the powerful story of transformative friendship between VNS Health Personal Care NORC nurse Jana Kozlowski and her patient Bess Friedman, a widow who is navigating the challenges of losing her husband. In the video, Bess credits the bond and friendship she shares with Jana for helping her regain her sense of worth. “Jana is everything you could dream of,” said Bess. “She really listens to you.” Through stories like that of Jana and Bess, the documentary showcases how NORCs provide a comprehensive network of social and health services that help older adults remain independent and age safely in the community of their choice. To view the film, visit NYSOFA’s NORC
Care That Connects: HHA Giselle Roman Shines on Fox 5’s “Native New Yorker”
November 7, 2025–On Friday, November 7, Giselle Roman, one of our Personal Care extraordinary home health aides, was featured on Fox5’s Native New Yorker, sharing a joyful dance with her 92-year-old patient, Olivia. This isn’t just care. It’s connection, compassion, and pure NYC spirit.
See the Photos, a Video, and a Recording of the 2025 VNS Health Annual Awards Ceremony!
November 4, 2025–On Monday, October 27, team members from across the organization gathered for a very special evening to celebrate 38 team members who were honored at our 2025 VNS Health Annual Awards Ceremony. Over 400 people also watched the celebration simultaneously through a live-stream link. Now you can see the celebration photos, watch a video about the event, and watch a recording of the full celebration. Congratulations to all the team members who were honored! Here is a video highlighting the event with Charity Shubert reporting! Here is a recording of the awards ceremony: To see our 2025 VNS Health Award winners and read their stories, click here! To see a complete list of all the nominees, click here!
Announcing Our 2025 VNS Health Award Winners!
October 27, 2025–Read Their Stories and See the Full List of Nominees! Last night, on Monday, October 27, team members from across the organization were recognized and celebrated as the very best of the best in exemplifying VNS Health’s mission and Core Values of Empathy, Integrity and Agility! The event included those who had received awards earlier in the year, as well as presentations to the newly announced winners of the Phyllis Mills Living Legend Award, the ESPRIT Awards, and the VNS Health Outstanding Team Performance Award. To see all the team members who were nominated for these awards, click here. Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners! Click on their names here below to read more about them and their award. Home Care Nurse Preceptor Team 2025 Outstanding Team Performance Award Teresa Lin 2025 Phyllis Mills Living Legend Award (Click here for the finalists.) Michael Alcantara 2025 ESPRIT Award Jonelle