Quality Visiting Nurse Services & Hospice Care in New York

Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk (VNSHS) is excited to announce the 2026 Helen Strobl Memorial Scholarship award recipient: Caitlin Lopez.
She was awarded the Helen Strobl Memorial Scholarship, an annual scholarship presented to a graduating Northport High School senior, who demonstrates academic achievement and is pursuing a career in nursing. The scholarship is awarded in honor of Helen Strobl, the first Executive Director of Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, who was a Baccalaureate and Masters nursing graduate herself, and a champion of higher education for nurses. Caitlin will be studying nursing in the fall at Fairfield College.

Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk is proud to also announce the inaugural recipients of the Linda Taylor Scholarship, a new award established in honor of Linda Taylor, the former CEO of Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk and a passionate advocate for healthcare and community service. This year, two outstanding graduates of Walt Whitman High School, Linda’s alma mater, were each awarded a scholarship.
Yaritza Chavez earned the award for her dedication to academic achievement and personal growth. Graduating a full year early, Yaritza is the first in her family to attend college and has demonstrated strong leadership through her involvement in the Latino Heritage Club.
Lauren Knudsen was awarded in recognition of her exceptional compassion, academic excellence, and commitment to helping others. In a letter to the scholarship committee, Lauren shared her gratitude for the award, writing, “I feel honored to have been chosen as a recipient. It means a lot to know that people believe in my future and are willing to invest in students like me. Your kindness and generosity have made a real difference, and I am incredibly grateful. Thank you again for your support and for helping me work toward my goal of becoming a nurse. I hope to one day pay this kindness forward by caring for others and making a positive difference in my community.”

The 22nd Annual Golf Classic is canceled on August 3rd due to weather. A rain date will be provided shortly. The Classic brings together more than 125 guests including corporations at The Hamlet in support of Hospice House.

The day kicks off with brunch at 10:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at noon, on course lunch and beverages. The day concludes with a cocktail and buffet reception, awards, prizes, raffles and a Million Dollar Shootout – six qualifying golfers during regular play return for a high-stakes shot on Hole 9 and the chance to walk away with $1 million! 

Foursomes are $1,750 each and individual spots are also available. Sponsorships range from $500 to $7,500. Tee signs are $150 each.

Please contact Susan Bruder at 631.930.9310 or [email protected] with questions or to reserve your spot.

What an incredible event at Pickleball Heaven!

Our 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament was a smashing success thanks to our generous sponsors, enthusiastic teams and raffle donors. Together we came out in support of Hospice House and compassionate end-of-life care for our patients and their families. We are so grateful to everyone who made this event a success – on an off the court!  A very special thank you to Lisa Rosenberg for her leadership and support and to Pickleball Heaven, The Academy of Pickeball and Lucky Shot Pickleball for making the day enjoyable for all who attended. 

Northport, NY – February 24, 2026 − Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk has been named a Best Home Health agency for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition comes as part of U.S. News’ first-ever evaluation of home health providers, identifying the top-performing agencies in the United States.

With more than three million patients turning to home health agencies each year, this debut analysis offers a much-needed, independent view of quality. By prioritizing patient outcomes and consumer experience for a predominantly senior population, these ratings provide clarity for families, in consultation with their physicians, making crucial care decisions. Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk earned the “High Performing” designation – the highest level of recognition – for exceeding expectations in care quality and patient experience based on U.S. News’ methodology.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as one of the nation’s Best Home Health agencies by U.S. News & World Report in their inaugural ratings. This distinction is a testament to the unwavering dedication, compassion, and professionalism of our entire team – our nurses, therapists, aides, and support staff – who go above and beyond every day to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care in the comfort of their homes. Their commitment to excellence, innovation, and patient‑centered service is at the heart of everything we do.

Our mission has always been to help individuals and families live as independently and fully as possible, and this recognition affirms the impact of that work. We are profoundly grateful to our patients and their families for their trust, and to our community partners, physicians, and hospitals for their ongoing collaboration. We will continue to work closely with them to deliver the highest quality care for their patients. Together, we will continue striving to set the standard for home health care in Suffolk County,” said Silvia Cota, Chief Executive Officer of Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk.

In the first edition of Best Home Health, U.S. News evaluated more than 12,000 agencies. Just 17% of the agencies U.S. News rated were awarded the Best Home Health designation from U.S. News.

“Earning the Best Home Health distinction is a significant achievement, as it is reserved only for those agencies that satisfy U.S. News’ standards of care quality and patient experience,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News.

The Best Home Health methodology developed by U.S. News leverages two data sets from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Data on care quality measures, including timely initiation of care and outcomes such as potentially preventable hospitalizations, were combined with patient experience surveys to produce the ratings. The ratings and underlying data for each agency, published on USNews.com, provide consumers with the trusted data and clarity they need to confidently choose, in consultation with their health care providers, the right care for a family member or themselves.

Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk’s Fashion Show at The Hamlet Golf & Country Club in Commack was another sold-out success, raising more than $16,000. This annual event is a celebration of fashion and philanthropy, with net proceeds benefiting Hospice House in East Northport. Founded in 2004, Hospice House provides compassionate end of life care to more than 700 patients each year.

Fashions modeled at this event are from The Community Thrift Shop, which serves as a hub where volunteers and community members come together to share laughter, stories, and bargains on men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, accessories, and home goods. The shop’s more than 70 volunteers greet shoppers and donors alike with gratitude and a smile. The Community Thrift Shop is instrumental to VNS & Hospice of Suffolk, last year contributing $60,000 to advance its mission.

Congratulations to Connie Alexander, Hospice Director of Patient Services, on being recognized as one of City & State NY’s Responsible 100 leaders.

This award recognizes executives in New York who share a commitment to making the world a better place.

Learn more about Connie’s role at VNSHS and the other  City & State NY Responsible 100 leaders