News & Events

Ontario-Yates Hospice Memorial Butterfly Release

Monday, August 19, 2019

Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

Keuka College, Norton Chapel and Lawn

Keuka Park, NY 14478

Release a beautiful live butterfly honoring memories and remembering loved ones.

The butterfly is a fitting symbol of the cycle of life: birth, transition, healing and renewal.  You are invited to join us to celebrate life, commemorate a special occasion or remember those who have passed on.  The ceremony will include live music, inspirational messages, a public reading of the names of those being remembered, and the butterfly release. Butterflies are $10 each.

For more information, contact Jan DiDuro at Janice_DiDuro@URMC.Rochester.edu  or call 315-759-8225.

Finger Lakes Morning News - August 2019 Appearance - Hospice and Butterfly Release Event

Monday, August 12, 2019

Michele Wheeler, Manager of Hospice, and Karen Quartaro joined the Finger Lakes Morning News to talk about the myths and misconceptions about Hospice, how someone can get hospice services, and our upcoming Butterfly Release Memorial Event. #hospice #ontario #yates #butterfly #release #veterans

Finger Lakes Morning News - July 2019 Appearance - We Honor Veterans

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Jan DiDuro and Kimrose Healy were on the Finger Lakes Morning News on Finger Lakes News Radio 95.9 and 1240, WGVA to talk about the Ontario-Yates Hospice We Honor Veterans program for veterans going into hospice care.

Finger Lakes Morning News - June 2019 Appearance - Working at URMHC and Employee Satisfaction

Monday, June 10, 2019

Matt Futter and Pat Murphy were on the Finger Lakes Morning News on Finger Lakes News Radio 95.9 and 1240, WGVA to talk about creating a positive working atmosphere and career opportunities at UR Medicine Home Care.

Rochester Lancers & Lady Lancers Deliver For Meals On Wheels

Thursday, June 6, 2019

On Thursday, June 6, 2019, members of the Rochester Lancers and Lady Lancers helped deliver meals for Meals On Wheels. 

Goalie Brian Wilkin says it’s about more than just providing people with a healthy meal.

“Putting a big smile on their face, making their day, making them feel special as well,” he said. “Because, at the end of the day, it’ll be one of us in multiple years, so you want to give them the best so you can get it back.”

“I just love this city,” said goalie Kenna Jaie Kosinski, “and I think it will be a great opportunity to get out, get around and help people.”

UR Medicine Home Care Medical Director Dr. Thomas Caprio Awarded ‘Physician Champion’ Honor from NYS Home Care Association

Monday, May 20, 2019

UR Medicine Home Care Medical Director Dr. Thomas Caprio, M.D., received the Physician Champion Award from the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) on May 9.

“The vital role of physicians in our home care system is not widely known or understood,” said HCA President and CEO Al Cardillo. “Physician orders are required for Medicare and Medicaid-covered home care services. But beyond coverage requirements, physician involvement in home care is especially vital for connecting a patient’s primary care needs with the routine supports that home health aides, nurses, therapists and other clinicians provide to medically vulnerable patients at home every day.” 

Dr. Thomas Caprio, M.D., is an accomplished practitioner, successful administrator, engaging teacher and selfless volunteer. He is board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and hospice and palliative care medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow of the American Geriatrics Society, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He balances multiple teaching and administrative leadership positions at the University of Rochester. He has also contributed to the growing body of research examining home care and hospice outcomes for heart failure patients and the benefits of in-home rehabilitation services in reducing hospitalizations.

At UR Medicine Home Care, Dr. Caprio has applied his mastery of regulations to shepherd UR Medicine Home Care successfully through the rigors of state and federal oversight processes to ensure the highest standards of quality care. “Dr. Caprio’s passion and dedication to quality home health care is unwavering” says Jane Shukitis, President and & CEO at UR Medicine Home Care. “While his expertise, professional commitment, and accolades are extensive, his humanity is just as, if not more, noteworthy. To him, care for individuals is paramount, and Dr. Caprio’s gentle, compassionate and calming demeanor is a welcoming haven for patients and families.”

While Dr. Caprio’s daily commitments and official contributions to the field of home care are impressive, he volunteers his time “after-hours” at one of UR Medicine’s local community hospice comfort care homes to provide care to dying patients, raising funds to support the home, and training community volunteers.

He has served in leadership positions locally and nationally, including as President of the State Society on Aging of New York, the President of the National Association of Geriatric Education Centers, and President of the National Association for Geriatric Education. He was recently appointed as the Associate Editor for Clinical Education for the Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics Education.

“This example alone shows the incredible impact of physicians who are closely involved and attuned to the work and needs of community-based providers and their patients – in Dr. Caprio’s case, through an official capacity that surely extends well beyond his primary duties as medical director,” said Mr. Cardillo in his remarks at the May 9 award ceremony.

Ontario-Yates Hospice Achieves Level 4 of We Honor Veterans

Friday, April 19, 2019

Ontario-Yates Hospice recently achieved Partner Level Four for the We Honor Veterans program. Level Four is the highest partner level. Ontario-Yates Hospice has participated in the We Honor Veterans Program since 2016.

We Honor Veterans is a program through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. By voluntarily participating in We Honor Veterans, Ontario-Yates Hospice ensures every veteran in their hospice program receives the proper care and a hero’s welcome home. During a moving ceremony, OYH publicly acknowledges the patient’s military service and presents a flag pin, a personalized certificate and a flag blanket. They also meet veterans’ unique medical and emotional concerns that can result from combat, and connect families to organizations that can uncover veterans’ benefits.

There are four levels of the We Honor Veterans Program. Each level requires staff and volunteer training and education, community presentations, recruitment of veteran volunteers and specific data collection and reporting. OYH is also required to have strong relationships with Veteran Services Organizations such as American Legions and the VA in Canandaigua. OYH achieved the honor of Level 4 in March 2019.

OYH staff and volunteers often go above and beyond for their patients. On Saturday, February 16, 2019, one of our Ontario-Yates Hospice (OYH) patient’s and his fiancée were married with the help of the OYH team. The ceremony was held at the bride and groom’s home and the groom was pleased to be able to marry the love of his life before his ended. “It was just amazing how the OYH team, volunteers and staff pulled together so quickly to make this happen” quoted Jan DiDuro, Bereavement Coordinator at OYH . “It took lots of texts, phone calls and flexibility and as a result everything went very smoothly. The family was SO appreciative and so honored with our love and attention. It truly was a beautiful and everlasting memory, and one for the hospice books.”

Rochester Amerks deliver for Meals On Wheels

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

On Tuesday, March 5, 2019, players from the Rochester Amerks helped deliver meals for Meals On Wheels as part of the national campaign, March for Meals. Amerks players Nathan Paetsch  and Kyle  Criscuolo along with our volunteers helped deliver meals in one of the many apartment complexes that we deliver in Monroe County. March for Meals is a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meals On Wheels and our senior neighbors who rely on the vital service to remain healthy and independent at home. This annual awareness and action campaign is coordinated each year by Meals on Wheels America.

Finger Lakes Morning News - February 2019 Appearance - Quality of Care at UR Medicine Home Care

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Margaret Wiant, Director of Public Relations at UR Medicine Home Care, and Jessica Middleton, Director of Performance Improvement, joined Ted Baker to talk about the quality of care and performance improvement initiatives at UR Medicine Home Care. Margaret also spoke about Visiting Nurse Service, our former name, celebrating 100 years in the community.

Harley School Students Create Valentines for Meals On Wheels Recipients

Monday, February 11, 2019

(Story courtesy of WROC Channel 8 in Rochester)

With Valentine's Day next week, a group of students from Harley's Lower School crafted hundreds of valentines for recipients of Meals on Wheels. Kindergartners and first graders have been doing this for the past ten years. The cards will be distributed to Meals on Wheels recipients along with their meals in the days leading up to Valentine's Day. Meals on Wheels Director Margaret Schweizer says all the participants love the valentines. "Oh they absolutely love it. When I go out and do a route I notice they keep these valentines hung up all year long. I'll see these valentines hanging on the refrigerator or on their front doors, it just brightens their day," Schweizer says. Meals on Wheels delivers around 250,000 meals per year to seniors and home bound residents who cannot get to a store or stand in a kitchen for long periods of time.

Visiting Nurse Service Celebrates 100 Years with Kick-off Event

Friday, February 1, 2019

On Thursday, January 31st, 2019 UR Medicine Home Care celebrated their roots by kicking off their 100th anniversary of their former name, Visiting Nurse Service. The event was held at the Flaum Atrium and included members of UR Medicine Home Care, representatives from URMC and elected public officials. Some of those public officials included Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and New York State Senator Joseph Robach. The program was led by UR Medicine Home Care’s President and CEO, Jane Shukitis, as she gave a brief history about the organization. Jane said, “It was wonderful to welcome so many people from our board, staff, URMC colleagues and elected officials to join us to celebrate the kick-off of our 100-year anniversary. We have a lot to celebrate as we reflect with pride on 100 years of caring. We are proud of our legacy name of Visiting Nurse Service and its great history as a premier home care agency in our community”. Visiting Nurse Service began as the Public Health Nursing Association as a result of the flu epidemic in 1918. PHNA was officially created in 1919, later changing the name to Visiting Nurse Service in 1940. Over the past 100 years, Visiting Nurse Service, now UR Medicine Home Care, services have grown beyond nursing. Currently, they offer skilled nursing, rehabilitation, home health aide care, palliative care, assistive technology, telehealth, hospice, bereavement, Meals On Wheels and much more. The agency has grown beyond just the programs as well. In the 2010’s Visiting Nurse Service affiliated with Finger Lakes Visiting Nurse Service expanding coverage from one county to seven. The agency rebranded becoming UR Medicine Home Care, creating closer direct ties to URMC and working in better partnership with the URMC system.

Finger Lakes Morning News January 2019 Appearance - Fall Prevention & Winter Safety

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Karen Quartaro from Finger Lakes Visiting Nurse Service, a program of UR Medicine Home Care, joined WGVA in Geneva, NY to talk about fall prevention, winter safety, and our Personal Emergency Response System.

Meals On Wheels on WARM 101.3

Thursday, January 3, 2019

At the end of 2018, members from our Meals On Wheels program were on WARM 101.3 in Rochester, NY and spoke about Meals On Wheels in the Rochester community, how it works, and the celebration of our 60th anniversary.