VNA of Middlesex-East is sad to report that Mr. Richard C. "Dick" Sawtelle passed away on Monday, October 31, 2011 at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House at age 74.

Mr. Sawtelle was a life-long resident of Melrose and an exceedingly generous man, offering help to the elderly and those less fortunate when he could. After watching the nurses care so deeply for his ill mother, he became our major supporter and benefactor and was instrumental in the opening of our Hospice House that bears his family's name.

A well known and successful business man, Sawtelle owned and managed the family real estate property, the Melrose Towers Shopping Plaza. He and his late father also built summer camps on Cobbett's Pond in Windham NH. He loved bird watching, nature, birdhouses, and enjoying summers on the Pond in Windham.

We have never had a greater friend and supporter in the history of the agency. He will be greatly missed.

Visually impaired people can be challenged with activities that others take for granted such as cooking, shopping, writing checks, watching TV or reading. These tasks can be made easier, however, with help from VNA of Middlesex-East's new Low Vision Program. The program is designed to help patients with low vision regain independence and improve quality of their life. Our clinicians assess patient needs and teach them adaptive techniques that will improve their ability to carry out tasks of daily living with more confidence. Clinicians also help those with low vision connect to community resources for additional assistance and support.

Low vision is defined as vision that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. It can be caused by age-related macular degeneration, Bechet's disease, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular holes, and retinal detachment.

In addition to teaching adaptive techniques, the program also helps patients determine what type of adaptive equipment can help including optical aids such as magnifiers and tinted lenses and non optical aids that use sound and touch to compensate for vision loss. A grant from the TSB Charitable Foundation has made it possible to offer a number of these items free of charge to patients in need.

For more information about the program, contact Donna Silva, OT at (781) 224-3399.

Return trips to the hospital by elderly patients is a national problem with almost 28% of Medicare beneficiaries discharged from a hospital rehospitalized within 30 days and 34% rehospitalized after 90 days. VNA of Middlesex-East is working hard to prevent these readmissions with much success. We consistently have the lowest hospital readmission rate in the state with an average rate of 11 to 13% compared to a state average of 27% and national average of 28%. Proper discharge planning, patient education, telehealth and on-call support have worked to help our patients manage recovery and chronic diseases at home without return trips to the hospital. Our continued efforts to reduce avoidable rehospitalizations promise to improve quality of life for our elders while saving costs for the healthcare system.

Our 19th Annual Auction held on Saturday, November 5 at the Crestview in Woburn was another great success and raised over $95,000 for the Sawtelle Family Hospice House. This major fundraiser was attended by 300 guests and featured a reception, dinner and over 100 donated items in a silent and live auction. Hospice Volunteer Joe Proulx was the event's honoree.

Many local community members and businesses lent their support with sponsorships and program book ads. Major sponsors included Long Term Pharmacy, Reading Co-operative Bank, Richard Sawtelle-Towers Plaza, StonehamBank, Keith Dissel-ARK Insurance, Pat Black, Stoneham Savings Bank, The Savings Bank, Cyrus & Elaine Linscott, Dole & Bailey and Medline.