Islamorada, Village of Islands recently presented Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of the Florida Keys (VNA/Hospice) with a proclamation celebrating that VNA/Hospice has remained the longest locally operated and only non-profit provider of home health and hospice care serving all residents of Monroe County.

Photo (L-R): Judith Cooley, CPA, VNA/Hospice Board Treasurer, Vice Mayor Deb Gillis, VNA/Hospice COO Kathleen Ryzoc.

VNA/Hospice has grown to be many families’ choice in providing dedicated and compassionate home health and hospice care for their loved ones. 2014 marks a tremendous milestone for the organization as they celebrate three strong decades of providing healthcare to all residents from Ocean Reef to Key West, including those in need. The latest data from the Department of Labor shows the demand for home care services continues to grow as America ages and baby boomers begin entering their golden years. During the past two years VNA/Hospice cared for approximately two thousand patients age 50 and over, and their families.

“While home health and hospice care each provide different services at different points in a patient’s life, they both are designed to give state-of-the-art medical care in the comfort of a patient’s own home,” said VNA/Hospice Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Ryzoc. “Home health services can help a patient recover from surgery or other illnesses and get a person back on the road to recovery. Hospice care can add more life to someone’s remaining days through symptom control. We are thankful for our 30 years of service to Monroe County and look forward to many more years of offering these special services to those in need.”

Topping off the celebration, VNA/Hospice recently received a perfect score from the Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA) during their recent home health state licensure and Federal Medicare certification reviews. “Our score on these reviews is an incredible demonstration of the hard work and commitment of our clinical staff in the field and our clinical managers and directors,” said VNA/Hospice President and CEO Jody Gross. “I am proud to be allowed to work with them in providing the best of home care in the Keys.”

VNA/Hospice also happens to be the only home health care agency in Monroe County that received Fazzi’s Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers National Award of Distinction (2013) for patient satisfaction placing them in the top 25% in the nation.

The Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of the Florida Keys’ 2014 Fourth of July Picnic will celebrate Independence day as well as the agency’s 30th Anniversary of offering home health and hospice services to the residents and visitors of the Florida Keys.

The Fourth of July Picnic, which raises funds to aid VNA/Hospice in fulfilling their mission of caring, is a long-held tradition for Keys’ locals and visitors and is held at the Casa Marina – A Waldorf Astoria Resort (1500 Reynolds Street).

The party begins when doors open at 5pm on Friday, July 4th. A dinner meal of typical BBQ cookout fare is included in the $25 (adults) and $10 (children ages 4-12) ticket prices. Entry without a meal is $10. Best Seats On The Beach admission ($125 per ticket) features reserved beachfront seats, exclusive dinner buffet with personal wait service, and cash bar. Free watermelon, popcorn and Pepsi products are offered with all admissions.

Bill Hoebee, a popular local radio personality, will emcee the festivities that include live musical performances, games, raffles and the largest silent auction in Key West.

In honor of VNA/Hospice’s 30 years, this year’s picnic features a special guest performer. Earl Bud Lee, an award-winning Nashville singer/songwriter (“Friends in Low Places,” “One Night at a Time”), will be performing with Skipper Kripitz and the house band to close the day’s entertainment, followed by the wonderful fireworks display provided by the Rotary Club of Key West.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the Casa Marina the day of the event from noon until 4:00 pm in the lobby as well as at the door. Earl Bmud Lee will be available for autographs and CD purchases from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm in the Casa Marina lobby. Advance tickets can be purchased at VNA/Hospice offices (1319 William Street), by phone (305-294-8812) or online (www.vnahospicekeys.org).