Aurora VNA Hopes to Expand Baskets of Hope Program

When Chris Brookes of Lake Geneva brought her mother home from the hospital, she was relieved to have support from the hospice program of Aurora Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin.

“The VNA had everything in place when we came home,” Brookes said. “All the equipment was here, and there was a Basket of Hope with lotions, soft pads for chairs, sponges for mouth wipes and a CD with very relaxing harp music. The VNA had the foresight and experience to know what we would need. The time and care that went into packing the basket was incredible.”

This year, Aurora VNA hopes to expand the Baskets of Hope project, begun with a grant from Our Hope of Burlington. The Aurora VNA is seeking corporate sponsorships. A business can sponsor a basket for as little as $100, but other levels are available. Burlington’s Fox River State Bank has stepped forward as the first sponsor. A basket and materials about the program will be on display at the bank at 241 E. Jefferson St. during May.

Jeff Schmid, vice president of operations at Fox River State Bank and a board member of Our Hope of Burlington, is an enthusiastic supporter of the baskets.

“As a corporate sponsor, we want to help create awareness not only about Baskets of Hope, but the need for such a program in our community,’’ he said.

“The baskets are beautiful, symbolic gifts from our caring community,” said Alison Keenan, registered nurse, Aurora Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin. “If you have a family member in hospice care, these baskets can be a great comfort, both physically and spiritually. These gifts are a reminder that others care about you and your loved one.”

Brookes, whose mother passed away in January 2007, agreed the basket proved to be a wise, thoughtful gift. “I needed to be with my mother 24/7 and couldn’t have gotten to a drug store. Having everything right there was so helpful.”

Hospice services provided by the VNA address patients’ physical, emotional, social, spiritual and financial needs, include nursing care, pain control and symptom management, durable medical equipment, respiratory and IV services, volunteer support, social services, personal care, and bereavement support for family and friends.

The Aurora Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin is a not-for-profit agency that has been committed to keeping people independent in their homes since 1907. The Aurora VNA is the most comprehensive source of home care services in eastern Wisconsin. Aurora VNA is part of Aurora Health Care, a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a nationally recognized leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care.

About Our Hope of Burlington:
Our Hope of Burlington, Inc. provided a generous grant to initiate the Aurora VNA of Wisconsin Baskets of Hope project, just one of many VNA hospice projects it has supported since it began in 1999.

Our Hope of Burlington has contributed more than $166,000 to the local VNA office, since 2000, including $60,000 to create an inpatient hospice suite at Memorial Hospital of Burlington.

Other funds over the years have been used to buy specialized equipment such as reclining wheelchairs to allow hospice patients to become more mobile as well as items typically not covered by insurance plans, such as bed alarms and baby monitors which provide support for family caregivers.

Our Hope of Burlington raises money for other area charitable programs, including the Aurora VNA Parish Nurse program, Aurora Burlington Clinic and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Since 2000, Our Hope of Burlington has donated $571,500 to support local charities.