Dear fellow Hanoverians:
Please join me in congratulating the Hanover Visiting Nurse Association on
their 90th Birthday, Tuesday, January 15th, 2019! Below please find a
fabulous piece about their history in Hanover, and as written by Josephine
Koelsch, Hanover Visiting Nurse Board President, for the occasion.
“Beginning…
On January 15, 1929, proposed by Mrs. Harriet Latham and supported by the
Town of Hanover Selectmen, the Visiting Nurses Association was organized.
The objectives were expressed as follows: “To promote health, individual
and community, to prevent disease and to provide adequate nursing care for
the sick in their homes.”
Within the town, the achievements of the Association have been extensive.
For many years, (1929-1960), it raised funds to supply milk for school
children and at times, provide lunch. The VNA ran a Well Child
Conference, a dental clinic in the schools, as well as diphtheria, tonsil
and glaucoma clinics. It administered polio vaccine and TB tests. In
1960, classes were held to train baby sitters and teach the basics of home
nursing. The Association reached out to needy families, providing
Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. However, one of the highlights during
this era occurred in 1946, when the Bigelow family established a
scholarship awarding money to girls who were planning a career in nursing.
Many memorial gifts and funds allowed for the VNA to grow and continue in
upholding its original objectives.
Evolving…
The Hanover VNA, in the 1990s continued providing medical and social
services to the townspeople, often in unison with other organizations such
as the Police and Fire Departments…67 years after its formation!
Home nursing visits were provided to all Medicare eligible patients,
monthly clinics were held for all at the VNA office, nursing scholarships
to high school students and camperships were provided for many youngsters.
In the late 1990s, the community VNAs planned to merge, but Hanover
declined an offer to be part of the newly formed conglomerate. In so
doing, the recipients of Hanover VNA home visits could no longer apply for
Medicare coverage. However, the Hanover VNA continued visitations at no
cost to the patients. This outreaching provided medical care and comfort
to all in need, and continued throughout the coming years and into the
present.
Continuing…
The Hanover VNA believes that all persons living in our community deserve
to be treated with dignity and respect. With this premise forming the
framework of our goals, the VNA Board members, in conjunction with the
Hanover Visiting Nurses work to promote the wellbeing of Hanover residents.
They continue the mission and projects set forth throughout the past
years, providing assistance where needed.
The VNA now gives out three scholarships to high school students pursuing
medical careers, the monetary amount for camperships far exceeds the amount
offered over the past years, and the holiday gifting continues to enrich
the lives of many families.
The Annual Open Meeting invites all Hanover residents to attend. The
programs offer insight into a variety of health issues and are well
attended.
The yearly fundraiser is the primary means of support for the VNA; your
generosity enables them to serve the community of Hanover.”
For more information about the Hanover VNA, please contact Jo Koelsch at
djkoelsch@verizon.net .
For “Around Town on the Web”,
Cathy H-B
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