Quality Visiting Nurse Services & Hospice Care in New York

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses or traumatic injuries. One donation can help save more than one life. Please donate blood on Friday June 6 at VNS & Hospice of Suffolk administrative offices located at 505 Main Street, Northport. This event is hosted by Stony Brook University Hospital Blood Donor Center and VNS & Hospice of Suffolk.

The 25th Annual “Run for the Health of It” 5K celebrated a milestone year with a record number of 530 participants, highlighting the community’s strong support for hospice care and services.

 “The 25th Annual Run for the Health of It 5K is a record-breaker—we have our highest number of runners, walkers, and sponsors in the history of the event. This year’s 5K is especially meaningful. The funds raised will be used to expand the Memorial Garden at Hospice House. For over 20 years, this garden has been a place of comfort and remembrance – for patients, families, staff, and volunteers,” said Silvia Cota, CEO of Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice of Suffolk.

Bert Jablon, a 98-year-old fitness enthusiast from Syosset, was among the participants, continuing his tradition of running that began at age 50. Jablon maintains a rigorous workout routine seven days a week and is a beloved figure in the local running community. “Running is a democratic sport, with a small d, where you can meet people from all levels of life,” said Jablon.

In honor of Hospice Awareness Month, we share personal experiences of how hospice helped families see how much can be shared at the end of life and with the peace of knowing that everything possible was done towards achieving a peaceful death for their loved one.

“My childhood friend Jeff was in his 40s, with a wife and two small children when he spent his final days at Hospice House surrounded by family and friends. From the full use of the House’s kitchen, living room, and patio to sharing a stereo so Jeff and Jodi could slow dance, Hospice House opened their doors and was supportive in every way. Aware that Jeff was in the final stages before passing, his primary nurse chose to sleep in her car outside Hospice House that night. When he passed away, she was there within minutes to console his family.”

Watch HERE or read HERE to learn more about how VNS & Hospice of Suffolk has helped families

VNSHS is proud and honored to once again receive a 4.5 star quality rating and 4.0 star patient satisfaction survey rating from the CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This rating places VNSHS at the top of Certified Home Health Agencies in our service area.

You have a choice in home health care and hospice providers. Choose Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, a trusted leader in compassionate care of the highest quality since it was founded in 1952.

Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk is pleased to announce the appointment of Silvia Cota, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN as its new Chief Executive Officer. Silvia Cota brings extensive leadership experience in healthcare administration to her new role at VNSHS. She succeeds Linda Taylor, who has served as CEO since 1981.

“We are thrilled to welcome Silvia Cota as our new CEO,” said John Lynch, President of the
VNSHS Board of Directors. “Her unique blend of clinical and management skills, coupled with her dedication to compassionate patient care, make her the ideal leader for our organization.”

Cota is highly regarded by her previous colleagues, who describe her as a dedicated and
compassionate leader. She is known for her diligent efforts to promote best practices in patient care and her deep commitment to both staff and colleagues.

As CEO, Cota will oversee all operations of VNSHS, which provides essential home health and
hospice services to residents across Suffolk County. She will focus on expanding access to high-quality care, enhancing community partnerships, and ensuring VNSHS remains at the forefront of home health innovation.

“I am honored to join the dedicated team at Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk,” said
Cota. “This organization has a long history of providing vital services to our community. I look
forward to building on that legacy and working together to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Suffolk County residents.”

Cota’s leadership is expected to bring a fresh perspective to VNSHS while continuing and
strengthening the organization’s proud tradition of compassionate, quality home health and
hospice care.

Prior to joining VNSHS, Cota has held progressive leadership roles at Lenox Hill Hospital, and she has most recently served as Director of Patient Care Services at South Shore University Hospital, part of the Northwell Health System. She is a Registered Nurse, and she holds an MBA, BSN and is a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN).

Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk’s Fashion Show at SYMI on February 11th was another sold-out success and raised more than $12,000. This annual event is a celebration of fashion and philanthropy, with the net proceeds benefiting Hospice House in East Northport. In 2004, Hospice House was founded as the first freestanding inpatient hospice on Long Island. Today, VNS & Hospice of Suffolk’s home hospice and Hospice House provide compassionate end-of-life care to over 700 patients each year.

SYMI, owned by Irena Angeliades and Michael Wieczorek, was the perfect venue to showcase the fashions from The Community Thrift Shop while more than 160 guests savored a multi course lunch featuring authentic Greek cuisine.

The fashion show would not be possible without The Community Thrift Shop. The Shop serves as a hub where volunteers and community members come together, sharing laughter, stories and bargains on women’s men’s, and children’s apparel and accessories as well as home goods. The average price of an item is just over $8.   Shares Sue Murphy Thrift Shop Manager, “More than 70 volunteers are the heart and soul of The Community Thrift Shop. They greet every shopper and countless donations with a smile and gratitude.  Last year, The Community Thrift Shop was pleased to contribute $60,000 to advance the mission of VNS & Hospice of Suffolk. ”

A roarin’ good time was had by all at the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk (VNSHS) Benefit featuring Grammy Award Winner Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks. Held at the Founder’s Room in Huntington on October 20^th,  more than 150 guests danced and enjoyed vintage 1920s and 30s music performed by Giordano and his 11 piece band while raising $45,000 for Hospice House. The event commemorated the 20^th Anniversary of VNSHS’ Hospice House, NY’s first freestanding inpatient hospice which has provided compassionate, end of life care to more than 6,500 patients and their families

On Friday September 20^th, Hospice House hosted our Annual Memorial Garden Open House, where friends and family gathered to view their newly installed bricks and pavers in memory of their loved ones.

There were tears and hugs, shared grief, mixed with laughter and happy memories.  Some reconnected with hospice staff and volunteers they recognized from their hospice journey. All guests were able to light a candle in memory of their loved one, and all left with a memento of seeds to plant in memory of their loved one.

Special thank you to Buttercooky Bakery, Copenhagen, The Flower Basket, Harvest Bakery and IGA of Northport for their generous support.

VNSHS is proud to present Maddie Gallagher with the Helen Strobl Memorial Scholarship. Annually VNSHS awards this scholarship to a Northport High School senior who has demonstrated academic achievement and is pursuing a career in the field of nursing. This scholarship is in honor of the first VNSHS Executive Director, who was a Baccalaureate and Masters nursing graduate and proponent of higher education for nurses.

When Maddie was in middle school, her father was diagnosed with cancer which eventually claimed his life. It was at Hospice House where she spent her final days with her father. The comfort and care that VNSHS home hospice and Hospice House nurses and staff provided inspired Maddie to pursue a career in nursing.

Her father passed away on September 8, 2020, just as Maddie was entering high school. The Hospice House staff continued to call and provide support to the Gallagher family.

To show their support of VNSHS, the Gallagher’s formed a team to support the VNSHS 5K held every May. When Maddie became a high school senior, she learned of and applied for the Helen Strobl Scholarship. Upon being awarded the scholarship, Maddie who will be attending Fairfield University shared “For VNSHS to choose me after I have been looking up to them for so long, clearly they saw something in me that I saw in them years ago.”

More than 150 golfers, guests and volunteers came together at the 20th Annual Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk Golf Classic at Indian Hills Golf Club on August 5th to raise more than $70,000 for Hospice House.

During the Classic, VNSHS recognizes a respected leader in their field who has given back to both VNSHS and the Community. VNSHS was honored to present Rich Boziwick with the 2024 Outstanding Community Service Award. Mr. Boziwick is the owner and President of family business R. P. Luce & Company Inc., headquartered in Northport since 1990. With 30-plus years of experience in private and public endeavors, Boziwick has had the opportunity to work with many local groups. He was recently appointed a Trustee of Northport Village and has been a member of the Village Planning Board for over 25 years. He has been associated both as a runner and volunteer with the Great Cow Harbor 10K Run since the mid-1980s and is presently the Race Director. Rick and his wife Janet are residents of Northport where they raised their 3 children.

The Golf Classic is the largest fundraiser of VNSHS. Since its inception in 2005, the Classic has raised more than $1.4 million. Today, the Classic raises funding and awareness for Hospice House which runs at an annual operating deficit of $500,000. The net proceeds of the Classic are vital to closing this funding gap and VNSHS’ ability to help families facing a health care crisis.