Letter-Archbishop Thomas Wenski-Member Sole Catholic Health Services-et al

8/20/2019 Letter-Archbishop Thomas Wenski-Member Sole Catholic Health Services-et al.

1/20

Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski Mr. Ralph E. Lawson, FHFMA, CPA, Chairman

Archbishop of Miami Sr. Elizabeth Worley SSJ, Vice Chairman/Secretary

Archdiocese of Miami Rev. Msgr. Tomas Marin, Assistant Secretary

Member Sole, Catholic Health Services Mr. J. Patrick Fitzgerald, Legal Counsel

9401 Biscayne Boulevard Mr. Joseph M. Catania, President and CEO

Miami Shores, FL 33138 Catholic Health Services, 4790 North State Road 7VIA UPS No. 1Z64589FP294652373 Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319

VIA UPS No. 1Z64589FP292178783

Today’s date: November 28, 2014

“Catholic Health Services is a ministry of the Archdiocese of Miami and the largest post

acute provider in the southeast United States. We provide a full continuum of healthcare

and social services to the southeast Florida community. We serve more than 6,500 people

on a daily basis with over 7,500 new patients per year and operate 30 facilities in

Broward and Miami-Dade counties.” - http://www.catholichealthservices.org/

RE: No response, Catholic Health Services, contact for Home Health Services

Dear Most Reverend Wenski,

Sister Worley, Rev. Msgr. Marin,

Messrs. Lawson, Fitzgerald, and Catania:

Please respond to my August 5, 2014 email to Catholic Health Services, text below, sent on

behalf of my friend Valerie E. Maddix, 16355 SW 153rd

Court, Miami, FL 33187 (enclosed).

I am emailing Catholic Health Services for Home Health Services on behalf of my good friend Valerie Maddix who is caring for her 87 year-old mother at home. Valerie is

overwhelmed and needs immediate assistance. Valerie herself is sixty-five (65) years old,

and has cared for both parents until her father’s death in December 2012. Valerie does

not have a computer, so I am doing what I can by email to assist her. Valerie uses a

computer at the library when she has time.

Valerie’s mother is mostly bedridden, and shows signs of dementia from what I

understand. Her mother is Florence Yee Kee, who may have Vista healthcare Medicare

HMO. Valerie’s contact information is below. Valerie needs immediate respite, and

spoke about hospice care for her mother for a week to give Valerie respite. Unfortunately

Valerie’s mother demands her presence when she goes to hospital or nursing home,which happens often, and requires Valerie to sleep in the room, either in a chair or on the

floor. This only adds to Valerie’s exhaustion.

If you are able to assist Valerie Maddix, please contact her or me. I am concerned for

Valerie’s well-being, and regret that I live in Ocala, which is hundreds of miles from

Valerie in Miami.


2/20

Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski November 28, 2014

Archbishop of Miami, Member Sole, Catholic Health Services Page - 2

Since sending my email August 5, 2014 to Catholic Health Services, Valerie has revealed other

difficulties caring for her mother as sole caregiver.

• Her mother is no longer sufficiently mobile to ride in an ordinary vehicle.

• Trips to the doctor require special transportation to accommodate a stretcher or wheelchair.

• Due to incontinence, Valerie must diaper and toilet her mother.

Valerie does not have other immediate family. Most relatives are in England, her place of birth.

There is a separate issue with a neighbor and vicious dogs that have attacked Valerie’s pet and

damaged her home and property. So far the authorities have not been able to provide relief.

This is Valerie’s contact information:

Valerie E. Maddix Telephone:

16355 SW 153rd

Court Cell phone:

Miami, Florida 33187

I know first-hand the difficulties caring for a terminally ill parent, and the challenge of getting

assistance, whether paid or volunteer. My mother Penelope died of Alzheimer’s September 16,

2009. Penny was an unremarried widow and member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Ocala,

Florida, as was my father until his death in 2002. The following letters are enclosed:

Letter to Ms. Diane Filiaggi, RN, Parish Nurse, November 28, 2008

Client Agreement, Respite Manuel, National Counsel of Catholic Women, Feb-04-2009

Letter to Fr. Patrick J. O'Doherty, Pastor, Queen of Peace, September 26, 2009

Letter to Rev. Thomas Stabile, T.O.R., Fort Worth, Texas, October 2, 2009

Reply letter from Fr. Tom Stabile, T.O.R., Fort Worth, Texas, October 7, 2009

Letter to Ms. Diane Filiaggi, RN, Parish Nurse, March 8, 2010

I know Valerie desperately needs assistance and respite. Previous contact with the Florida

Department of Elder Affairs was not useful. Time is of the essence. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Neil J. Gillespie

8092 SW 115th Loop Telephone: 352-854-7807Ocala, Florida 34481 Email: [email protected]

Enclosures

cc: Mr. J. Patrick Fitzgerald, email [email protected], J. Patrick Fitzgerald & Associates P.A.

cc: Catholic Health Services, email [email protected]

cc: Valerie E. Maddix, via UPS No. 1Z64589FP291607598


3/20

Neil Gillespie

From: "Neil Gillespie" To: Cc: "Neil Gillespie" Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2014 6:19 PMSubject: Contact Us - Home Health

Page 1 of 1

8/5/2014

Catholic Health Services4790 North State Road 7Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319Phone: 954.484.1515Fax: 954.484.5416

I am emailing Catholic Health Services for Home Health Services on behalf of my good friend ValerieMaddix who is caring for her 87 year-old mother at home. Valerie is overwhelmed and needs immediateassistance. Valerie herself is sixty-five (65) years old, and has cared for both parents until her fatherdeath in December 2012. Valerie does not have a computer, so I am doing what I can by email to assisther. Valerie uses a computer at the library when she has time.

Valerie’s mother is mostly bedridden, and shows signs of dementia from what I understand. Her motheris Florence Yee Kee, who may have Vista healthcare Medicare HMO. Valerie’s contact information is below. Valerie needs immediate respite, and spoke about hospice care for her mother for a week to giveValerie respite. Unfortunately Valerie’s mother demands her presence when she goes to hospital ornursing home, which happens often, and requires Valerie to sleep in the room, either in a chair or on thefloor. This only adds to Valerie’s exhaustion.

Valerie E. Maddix

16355 SW 153rd Court

Miami, Florida 33187Telephone:

Cell phone:

If you are able to assist Valerie Maddix, please contact her or me. I am concerned for Valerie’s well- being, and regret that I live in Ocala, which is hundreds of miles from Valerie in Miami.

Sincerely,

Neil J. Gillespie8092 SW 115th LoopOcala, Florida 34481Phone: (352) 854-7807

Email: [email protected]


4/20

VIA UPS No. 1Z64589FP296162103 August 5, 2014

Valerie E. Maddix

16355 SW 153rd Court

Miami, FL 33187-5203

Dear Valerie,

I hope you are feeling better, you sounded depressed the other day. I found a home healthcare

provider that may be able to help you care for your mother, Catholic Health Services. Enclosed

you find a printout of Catholic Health Services’ website home page.

http://www.catholichealthservices.org/about-us/catholic-health-services.aspx?nd=43.

Catholic Health Services

4790 North State Road 7

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319

Phone: 954.484.1515

Fax: 954.484.5416

“Catholic Health Services is a ministry of the Archdiocese of Miami and the largest post acute

provider in the southeast United States. We provide a full continuum of healthcare and social

services to the southeast Florida community. We serve more than 6,000 people on a daily basis

with over 7,500 new patients per year and operate 30 facilities in Broward and Miami-Dadecounties.”

Catholic Health Services offers home health services according to its website, see enclosed. I

sent them an email about your situation, [email protected]. I’ll let you know the response.

Otherwise I enclosed some reading material to lift your spirits, and a small journal for yourself.

Hopefully I can visit you soon in person. Love, Neil.

Neil J. Gillespie

8092 SW 115th LoopOcala, Florida 34481

Phone: (352) 854-7807

Email: [email protected]


5/20

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Weight: 2.00 lbs

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Delivered On: 12/02/2014 12:18 P.M.

Delivered To: 9401 BISCAYNE BLVDMIAMI SHORES, FL, US 33138

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6/20

Proof of Delivery


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Weight: 2.00 lbs


Delivered On: 12/01/2014 1:23 P.M.

Delivered To: 4790 N STATE ROAD 7LAUDERDALE LAKES, FL, US 33319

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7/20

Proof of Delivery


Service: UPS Ground

Weight: 2.00 lbs


Delivered On: 12/01/2014 4:09 P.M.

Delivered To: 16355 SW 153RD CTMIAMI, FL, US 33187

Left At: Porch

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8/20

November 28, 2008

Ms. Diane Filiaggi, RN, Parish Nurse

Queen ofPeace Catholic Church

6455 SW State Road 200

Ocala, Florida 34476

Dear Ms. Filiaggi,

My mother, Penelope Gillespie, is a member ofQueen ofPeace parish. Penny is

currently in stage 5+ Alzheimer s dementia. Penny sees

Dr.

Gaya and his office

suggested I contact Penny s church.

Penny currently lives at home and I

m

her live-in primary caregiver. Penny complains of

being board and feeling useless. I have taken Penny to Summerville West, Strive, and the

adult day care center at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, but she does not want to return

to those facilities. What resources could you suggest for mom?

Can you recommend someone who provides in-home activities for enjoyment, exercise, or

to play games, etc.? Mom is friendly and gets along with people, but she is shy. She is 78.

Thank you for your consideration.


9/20

i

CLIENT

AGREEMENT

. . #",' /

I j ~ - ,

~ ; / I

.- \» ..hereby agree to hold harmless and free from any liability

or

claim from myself,

my

:

family, estate

or

any

other

actual

or

potential interested party,

the

RESPITE program

of

the

- ~ j /

National Council

of

Catholic

Women

and

the Arch/Diocese

oro ?2.,?,


10/20

RBSPITI

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form In home 1 pel 8OD

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of each visit.

a R e c e r ~ Name:

FamOyMember'l Name: _

Where

fa.mBy

member

C8D

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auched:

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11/20

Sharingthe Care

MakesaDifference

in

yourcommunityneed

naregularbasis. Youcan

in

severalways:

Givethefamilycaregivertimeout

whileyoustaywiththehomebound

person.

Provideservicestothehomebound

personsuchascompanionship,

assurance,letterwriting,listening

andotherformsof recreationand

support.

Yourservicesw ll not include

baby-sitting,therapy,administering

medicationsorotherformsof

healthcare.

For More Information

Please Contact...

TheDioceseof Orlando

RespectLifeOffice

4 72464819

ThediocesanCouncil

of

CatholicWomenandtheRespectLife

O fIce

of heDiocese

of

Crtadnoarenotliablefor theservices

performed

by

RespiteVolunteers. fterreceivingtrsinlng,

RespitevolunteersmaybeenrolledandInsuredby theNational

Councilof CatholicWomenor by thevolunteerInsursnce

coverage

of

theDiocese.

Respite

Sharing the are

2

Sharing the are

Councilof CatholicWomen

inpartnershipwith

Dioceseof Orlando


12/20

t is Respite

present time

one out

of every four

homes

homebound person being

cared

for by a

member. Most often

these caregivers are

members

who have other full-time

RESPITE, Sharing the are is

and

companionship

trained individuals at

no

cost.

the Ministry to the

Sick

program

whose

is on the homebound person, Respite is a

focused on the caregiver.

Respite

short-term relief for the caregiver that

day, 7-day a week responsibility.

Or1ando Diocesan Coundl of catholic

collaboration with the

Respect Life

the

Diocese

of Or1ando has formed a

to

provide this service for our

of Catholic Women

has

a long-standing position in

support

who care for their chronically ill or

members

at

home.

The NCCWs

RESPITE program began in 1982 with

22 women representing 6 parishes,

in

the

Washington Archdiocese. By 1984 it had grown to

51

dioceses representing

190

parishes

and 3200

volunteers.

hy Respite

Persons who are

homebound

have the desire and

need to remain independent

and

self-sufficient.

Families provide 80 of the care given in the home.

Family caregivers frequently experience

exhaustion, isolation, loss offreedom, fear, gUilt and

grief. Respite

care lightens the stress

and

enhances the quality of life to both the caregiver

and

care receiver.

Program oals

•

To

offer a training

program which

ensures that

the participants have

the

basic knowledge

and

skills to provide respite

care.

• To provide short-term respite care to

help

maintain family equilibrium.

• To provide respite care at no cost to the

family.

• To inform and/or refer a family to additional

support

services.

Respite Volunteers

Volunteers are the foundation

the Respite rogram

• The volunteer needs

to

demonstrate a

warm interest in and have an

understanding attitude toward the

homebound and

a

desire

to

be

of

servi

• The volunteer needs

to

demonstrate

patience, sensitivity

and good

listening

skills.

• The volunteer

will

partidpate in

the

trai

program to

learn

more

about care givin

acquire basic skills

necessary

to assist

frail person in activities of daily living an

recognize and respond to

emergency situations. Opportunities fo

follow-up training and volunteer

suppo

will be

provided on a regular basis.

• The volunteer will meet the recording

reqUirements

of activites and time

volunteered .

• All volunteers are required by diocesan

policy to be fingerprinted and

have

a

background check.


13/20

September 26, 2009

Fr. Patrick J. O'Doherty, Pastor

Queen

of

Peace Catholic Church



Dear Father O'Doherty,

This is an inquiry about what kind

of service may be available for my mother Penelope

Gillespie who died September 16, 2009. Penny was a member of Queen of Peace for

many years, as was her husband Cornelius who died in 2002 and had a service at Queen

of Peace. A copy of the obituary from the Ocala Star-Banner is enclosed.

Penny suffered from Alzheimer's dementia and I have been caring for her at home since

2005. n late February 2009 Penny and I visited her son Mark and wife Jody in Fort

Worth, Texas, where she was joined by her daughter Elizabeth for a reunion. They cared

for Penny while I returned home for a much needed break. Penny was due to return home

to Ocala in August but her dementia worsened and she died in Fort Worth. This was

unexpected as her doctor thought she had a few more years.

Penny received Last Rights and the Sacrament

of

the Sick from Father Thomas Stabile,

T.O.R., Pastor of St. Andrews Catholic Church in Fort Worth

on

September 13,2009.

Penny was a fine mother and loved by her family. While Mom was not very active in the

Church, I would like to know what service may be available either at Queen of

Peace

or

at Florida National Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with my father. I have Mom s

cremated remains at home for placement in the columbarium with dad. We have not yet

set a date for the committal service.

Enclosed is a photo of Penny with her sister Kass n front of their childhood home n

Philadelphia taken n 2006 during a family reunion. There is another of Penny and Kass

taken as children about 1934 in front of their home. Also enclosed is a photo of Penny

and family n front of Transfiguration of Our Lord Catholic Church (1905-2000), where

Penny went to grade school, attended weekly service, and later married my father.

~ e l

/

Neil J. · espie

8092 SW 115

th

Loop


Telephone: (352) 854-7807

via hand delivery

enclosures


14/20

48 IOCALASTAR-BANNER ITHURSDAY, SEP'l'EMBER24,2009

GILLESPIE, PENELOPE

"PENNY" 78

Ocala - Penelope "Penny"

M.

Gillespie, 78, died Wednesday,'

Sept. 1(), 2009 ·of demen·tla at

Odyssey

House Hospice

In

Ft

Worth; ·Texas.·· A native; of

PhlladelphJa,

Penny·

lived In

Levittown

PA

and worked at

the John Wanamaker store.

Penny came to Ocala

In

1993

with her husband, Cornelius,

who preceded her In death In

2002. was a member 0;

the Queen of:.Peace Catholic

Churth. Penny will be laid to

rest with her husband at the

. Florida National Cemetery

In

.

.Bushnell, Florida. Survivors

In

elude sons Nell Gillespie,

.Ocala, Mark· Gillespie, Fort

Worth; daughter Elizabeth

Bauerle, St.

Charles,

IL; sister

Ka.thryn Camm, Philadelphia

PA; and brother Jack Diver, SIl

ver Springs,

MD;


15/20

Penny Gillespie, 1930-2009

October 2, 2009

Rev. Thomas Stabile, T.O.R. - Pastor

St. Andrew Catholic Church

3717 Stadium Drive

Fort Worth, Texas 76109-3798

Dear Father Tom,

Thank you for administering Last Rights and the Sacrament

o

the Sick to my mother,

Penelope Gillespie on September 13, 2009 at SW Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Penny was visiting her son Mark and his wife Jody when Alzheimer s took a

tur

for the

worse. For several years I was Penny s caregiver at her home in Ocala, Florida.

Enclosed is a token o our family s appreciation for your ministry. Penny began her

Catholic faith at Transfiguration o Our Lord Catholic Church in Philadelphia where she went to

grade school, attended weekly service, and later married my father. Thank you for bringing her

home to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,


16/20

Saint

Andrew

Catholic Church

3717 Stadium Drive -

Fort

Worth Texas 76109

817-927-5383

Fax

817-927-8507

Neil

J.

Gillespie

8092 SW 115

th

Loop

Ocala, FL 34481

October 7 2009

Dear Neil,

Thank you for the letter, memorial card and money order. I always wonder how a

person is doing after I visit, but don t always here from the family. I was delighted to

receive your kind letter.

You are welcome for my visit and for administering the Sacrament o the Sick to

Penny. I understand you were her primary caregiver so it must have been tough for you

to be so far away. Mark and Jody explained what had happened.

Just to let you know, all donations we receive for our ministry to the sick

or

for the

celebration

o

the Sacraments are put into the funds to support

our

Social Ministry

Outreach (food pantry and other assistance) and the Liturgy and Music Ministry.

God give you peace as you recover from your loss.

~ ~ T f ~

Fr.

Tom Stabile, T.O.R.


17/20

Neil

J

Gillespie

8092 SW 115

th

Loop


Telephone: (352) 854-7807

email: [email protected]

March 8, 2010


Queen ofPeace Catholic Church



Dear Ms. Filiaggi,

You visited our home in Oak Run in December 2008 to see my mother Penny Gillespie

who was a member ofQueen ofPeace parish and in stage 5+ Alzheimer's. I am sorry to

report that mom died September 16, 2009 while visiting family in Fort Worth, Texas.

Father O'Doherty held a wake service for Penny in the chapel October 14, 2009.

The reason for this letter is to provide useful information for the care of the elderly and

some suggestions that may help others. When you visited last year I had been caring for

mom since 2005 and was exhausted.

In

February 2009 my brother agreed to provide care

at his home in Texas to give

me

respite.

Are you aware of the Veterans Administration VA) pension programs, including Aid

Attendance, and Housebound benefits? Penny was eligible for cash benefits of over

$1,000 per month as a surviving spouse ofan eligible veteran. This VA pension

information is online at www.vba.va.govlbln/21/Pensionlvetpen.htm.

Unfortunately we were not aware of this program until shortly before Penny's death. We

lost years

of

benefits that could have made a difference in Penny's life. Apparently this is

not unusual. Enclosed is a letter from Debbie Burak, founder ofVeteranAid.org about the

delay in receiving VA benefits that inspired her to create VeteranAid.org.

There is another intangible benefit

of

VA benefits, it gives families permission to

employ a home healthcare agency to help the disabled parent who needs assistance with

bathing, feeding, and dressing. Some members

of

our family were resistant to employing

others to help mom at home, viewing it untoward since they believed it was their duty,

but a duty which they eventually neglected because of the amount ofwork involved. A

payment by the VA for that purpose can legitimize the expense. It also acknowledges the

service to our country provided by the veteran and is an earned benefit, not welfare.


18/20


Page - 2

Queen

of

Peace Catholic Church

March 8, 2010

Medicare has a number of excellent publications that would have made a significant

difference in Penny's life had I known about them. Here are some of the Medicare

publications available online,

just

Google the title to find them. Copies are enclosed.

a. Medicare Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home

b. Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care

c. Medicare and Home Health Care

There is also an online Medicare

Nursing Home ompare Tool

that lets you compare

several nursing homes. This would have made a difference

in

Penny's care and added

quality to her life had I known about i t before she entered Southwest Nursing and

Rehabilitation Center in Fort Worth, which I later learned was poorly rated. The Medicare

Nursing Home ompare Tool

found an excellent Alzheimer's specialized facility a short

distance away that would have been much better for Penny.

Lastly is the issue

of

respite for primary caregivers. A letter to

my

parents from Father

O'Doherty when they frrst registered with the parish says that over 99% of the

parishioners are non-Floridians. This is true for our family too. Our nearest relatives live

over 1000 miles away. This isolation was detrimental to Penny's care and my respite.

As you know I contacted the Queen ofPeace respite ministry and Mary Dombek visited

Penny

in

February 2009 for two hours. e were grateful for Mary's help and I later sent

her a card expressing

my

gratitude. However after several years

of

caregiving a two hour

respite is not nearly enough. And the time spent preparing for a short respite almost

negates the benefit. It would help to have lists

of

home healthcare agencies. Your referral

to Patricia Martin was great, except she was under contract with Champion Home Health

Care, Inc. (Sherri Kalishman) an agency with an onerous contract. For example, the

contract had a 50,000 liquidated damages clause ifwe hired Patricia Martin directly.

We used Florida Palliative Home Care once and I would recommend it. We also hired an

independent home healthcare worker, Beth Bosse, who happens to be a member ofQueen

of

Peace. I found Beth through her ad in the Oak Run newsletter and recommend her.

Another one advertised is Comfort Keepers, which claims over 550 independently owned

and operated offices worldwide. http://www.comfortkeepers.com/HOME.html

The Catholic Church teaches the value

of

protecting life which becomes more poignant

when the life is vulnerable due to dementia. The things discussed in this letter are fairly

simple but would have gone a long way

in protecting Penny's life. I regret not being

aware

of

this information. Please pass this information

on

to others ifyou find it helpful.


19/20


20/20

The Story o VeteranAid org

By Debbie Burak

I'm often asked

the

question why I have taken this mission on.

t

is a

9-year

journey

of how I arrived

at

this point but as with many things, it is the climatic

ending

of

a movie

or

a good book

that

has

the most impact

and drives

the point

home. In

this

case

it

was

the

ending of

my

mother's life

that

became so pivotal

for

me.

I spent the last 10 days of her life at her bedside in Hospice, and watched how this

life we take for granted slips qUietly out of a room. How our survival instincts give

way

to

resignation and acceptance that this fight is over.

I looked into the eyes of

my

dying mother who continuously asked if her check from

the VA had come so that there would be money to bury her instead of cremation.

The answer was always

the

same No Even in

her

weakened state she would

have known if I had lied and said yes. I couldn't do

that

to her

or to

me.

My parent's

time

in assisted living began as a result

of

a fire

that

rendered

them

homeless in a

matter of

minutes. My mother had been trapped in an 8ft enclosed

patio with no exit, and at the last minute two angels came to her rescue. One

jumped inside the patio while the other straddled the wall and together

they

pushed

and pulled her

up and over

the

wall

to

safety.

Monies had long been exhausted

for their

care, and

they

had

not

planned well

enough

to

bear

the

burden of so many years in the care

of

others. So while

her

question about

the

check coming from the VA may seem insignificant, it would have

allowed us to honor her burial wishes. Her fear of facing another fire was more than

any of us could endure.

I

thought

about how different this ending could have been, how

different things

would have been

for

both

my

parents

if

we had known about Aid and Attendance

from the beginning.

$160,000 would have gone a long way

to

have made

their

lives better, and to help

lessen

the

financial hardship placed upon

our

family over 9 years. I

thought about

all

the

inquires

to the

VA

for

benefits for them, and repeatedly being told

there

was

nothing, when all along there was.

To now have the pension awarded to my mother and be denied to the very end, to

the

last breath, yes,

it

was a defining

moment

in

my

life.

One

of the

last things

my mother

said

to my

sister and I was

to

promise

her that

we

would make certain

that

she was really dead before we let

them put her in.

We

promised and we made sure.

I also promised something else

that day, and that was to make certain that she did

not wait

in vain. That there would be a greater good

that

would come from

this

sorrow. f one veteran and

their

family have better choices, then she made a

difference.

I prefer

to

believe that this is her

gift

to give, and I am simply the messenger.

Documents

Letter-Archbishop Thomas Wenski-Member Sole Catholic Health Services-et al