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Granting Wishes
“I was inspired by a video called ‘What You See When You Look at Me,’ which features seniors holding up signs with words like ‘frail’ and ‘weak,’” says Darcey Jezycki, community relations director at Piners Nursing and Guest Homes in Napa (pictured here with Piners resident Helen Kurilla). “But then the music starts to build and the messages change to reflect these people’s accomplishments over their lifetimes.
“It made me want to give them something back” (vimeo.com/74885374).
Taking a cue from similar organizations around the country, Jezycki has founded Senior Wish (think Make-a-Wish for our aging generation). Napa County residents age 65 or older can fill out a form to apply for the program and possibly have their wish granted.
So far, in this first year of the program, Jezycki has received 45 wishes and is in the process of working with a volunteer outreach committee to narrow that down. They started by separating “needs” from “wishes” and passing the needs to Share the Care, a Napa-based program run through the Volunteer Center of Napa Valley. “Next, we have to look at what’s actually possible,” says Jezycki.
“For the most part, they’re fairly modest—and often not about money. We’re hoping that we can get enough attention that people in the community can help us make the right connections,” to make some of them happen. One participant, for example, has lost a leg to diabetes but would like to ride a horse. Other requests have been as small as a DVD player or as extravagant as a trip to Argentina or a cottage in Napa Valley.
So how will Senior Wish fulfill its mission? With community support. “It’s really open to anyone—individuals, companies or organizations—that’s touched by these stories and wants to help,” says Jezycki.
The top wishes chosen will be announced at the Celebrating Seniors event in October. “We’d like to fulfill as many as possible,” says Jezycki. For more information, contact napavalleyallianceonaging.com/senior-wish.
Outstanding Orthopedics
For the second straight year, two North Bay hospitals have been named to the list of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics by WomenCertified Inc. Both Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital were recognized again in the annual Women’s Choice Awards, which are based on surveys of thousands of women, as well as research conducted in partnership with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, on what drives the consumer experience for women versus men.The Women’s Choice Award program for America’s Best Hospitals for 
Orthopedics is determined first by identifying hospitals that provide comprehensive orthopedic services and a minimum number of arthroscopy, joint replacement and spine surgery services, as well as onsite MRI and physical therapy. Those hospitals were then judged on their HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) results for patient recommendations and post-operative recovery. The award-winning hospitals not only performed well clinically with regard to orthopedic care measures, but also have a high recommendation rate—a measure that’s very important to women when choosing a hospital.
Orthopedics is determined first by identifying hospitals that provide comprehensive orthopedic services and a minimum number of arthroscopy, joint replacement and spine surgery services, as well as onsite MRI and physical therapy. Those hospitals were then judged on their HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) results for patient recommendations and post-operative recovery. The award-winning hospitals not only performed well clinically with regard to orthopedic care measures, but also have a high recommendation rate—a measure that’s very important to women when choosing a hospital.
