Jo Ellen Ricard named Employee of the Year at Franklin VNA & Hospice

FRANKLIN — April 24 marked the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Franklin VNA & Hospice. Staff members from home health aides to physical therapists and nurses met with the board of directors and their Executive Director Barbara Normandin to review the accomplishments and challenges of 2017 and to look forward to all the new opportunities 2018 is presenting to them.

Highlights of the evening included the announcement of newly elected Board President Robert Morin, Vice President Cheri Caruso, Treasurer Oscar Gala Grano and Secretary Susan Kubat.

The award for Employee of the Year, voted on by VNA staff, was bestowed upon to Senior Home Health Aide Jo Ellen Ricard. This incredible employee was recognized for working tirelessly as a home health aide in the field, as well as coordinating the home health aide and homemaker program. 

Ricard has been with the Franklin VNA & Hospice from birth. She was first seen as one of the Franklin VNA & Hospice’s Well-Baby visits.  Her career at the VNA has extended to over 37 years of helping countless patients achieve better health, as well as providing comfort to hospice patients and their families through difficult and emotional times. She was recognized as exemplifying the cradle-to-grave philosophy of caring at Franklin VNA& Hospice.

Barbara Normandin, Executive Director, said, "We remain your community VNA, offering home health care, hospice care, skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapies, medical social services, personal care and home-making services."

In a recap of some of the Franklin VNA & Hospice's community outreach and care she was proud of their accomplishments, including $166,021 of free and unreimbursed care, 14,500 home visits performed and over 2,000 hours of hospice care.

Normandin also discussed the upcoming Teuscher–Wilson Hospice Garden dedication ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. on June 9, to which both staff and the public are invited – a project made possible by much volunteered time and efforts, including that of the students of the Winnisquam Regional High School Agricultural Program, as well as a generous $1,500 grant from the Franklin Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #1280 and a substantial $5,000 donation from Watts Water Technologies. The garden will be open to anyone looking for a quiet place of contemplation and will be home to a memorial brick patio for which bricks are available on their website, www.FranklinVNA.org.

She concluded the evening by noting the VNA's recent perfect CMS home care survey results, CMS probe and educate review and 5-Star patient satisfaction survey results. Moving into its 73rd year, Franklin VNA & Hospice has a strong track record for patient care and is a true local provider of health care needs.