Happy 100th, VNA

It has grown to become VNA Community Healthcare in Guilford today, but many Branford residents still can clearly recall when the area's visiting nurse association (VNA) was housed in the little brick building on Kirkham Street-and some may even remember its first home, in a house on South Main Street.

On May 25, a gathering of well-wishers, families of clients, and other supporters joined VNA Community Healthcare in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the program that got its start right here in Branford.

Joining the dignitaries and speakers at the big party at Woodwinds in Branford was Nancy Gaylord, great-granddaughter of the founder of the program, Dr. Charles W. Gaylord.

Back in 1910, as Branford's health officer, Dr. Gaylord recognized a need for a nursing agency. The town was just 6,000 residents strong at the time. On

Nov. 1, 1910, the association's first nurse, Miss Maude Britt, was hired at the rate of $65 a month. Nurse Britt made 123 house calls in her first month of work, including assisting Dr. Gaylord with an all-night visit, including an operation, on a young boy with diphtheria.

Ten years after the Branford Visiting Nurse Association was established, the Guilford Visiting Nurse Association got its start in 1920. Back then, the area VNA's top priorities included responding to a tuberculosis outbreak (in Branford, 1910) and treating childhood epidemics of measles and mumps. Today, the association continues to work on public health issues (such as flu vaccinations), but its core work is helping patients manage conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's.

As the VNA program grew, the Branford and Guilford associations joined to become VNA Community Healthcare located in Guilford.

"VNA Community Healthcare is comprised of these organizations, but we now provide care throughout the shoreline and Greater New Haven county," explained Michelle Ferguson, marketing coordinator for VNA Community Healthcare.

VNA Community Healthcare serves Branford, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Hamden, Killingworth, Madison, North Branford, North Haven, Northford, Old Saybrook and Westbrook.

Its home health services include home health care nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides, psychiatric nursing care, maternal child health, private duty nursing, and social work.

At the VNA's 100th birthday celebration, VNA Community Healthcare Vice President Roger Landry put the growth of the organization into perspective by pointing out it all started in Branford with one doctor's dream, one hired nurse, and just $48.50 in the organization's treasury.