It seems like home should be the safest place on earth, but that is where most accidents and injuries occur. In fact, the home is the second most common location of unintentional fatal injuries. (Traveling via motor vehicles is number one.) Adults 65 and over are the highest risk groups for home injury, both fatal and nonfatal. As we age,…
Last May, when Jenifer Mina’s husband passed away, she had never felt so alone. “You just walk out of the hospital all by yourself and that’s the end and everything falls in a hole,” she says. And then a day or a week later – Jenifer doesn’t remember precisely when or where – she was introduced to VNA Bereavement Counselor…
VNA & Hospice Foundation hosted its premier “Preserving A Legacy” ribbon cutting ceremony on April 13, 2022, to celebrate the recently completed renovation of VNA Hospice House and to honor the generous people who made it possible, including the very first person to support the project, Lorne Waxlax, who happily contributed $1 million dollars. “I like to do a lot…
One of our very own, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Lisa Sellers, was nominated for a 2022 Women Who Rock Awards by the weVENTURE Women’s Business Center (WBC) at Florida Tech’s Bisk College of Business. The theme this year was “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” in recognition of “the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during the pandemic and a…
Practically from the time we’re born, we experience stress. We have to, it’s how we’re hard-wired. And there’s a good reason for this; early humans were hunter-gatherers and had to protect themselves from predators, and stress was their bodies’ way of alerting them via a fight-or-flight response to these potential dangers. In other words, stress kept them alive. Physiologically, when…
There is no right or wrong way to say farewell or grieve. The goal is to avoid regret and remorse; to manage what we can and let go of what is beyond our control. And when a loved one passes, to realize you are not alone, especially with the assistance of VNA hospice. From bereavement counselors to support groups, VNA…
Everyone participates in New Year’s resolutions. What are some good resolutions for seniors? New Year’s resolutions are a good way of incorporating good habits into our daily lives. For seniors, it’s an opportunity to promote healthy living. Here are some ideas of resolutions to help seniors improve the quality of life. Resolution #1 – Create a safer home environment Falls…
Abaco Binkley, an Advance Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) for VNA, recently received her Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner certification. She is now one of only 1,000 individuals nationwide to earn this certification. An integral part of the advance care planning team, she helps patients understand all the options available to them for their care, including hospice care,…
Sara Bumgarner, VNA volunteer manager, has been recently been awarded the credential, Certified in Volunteer Administration, it entitles her to use the designation (CVA). This certification is the only internationally recognized credential in the field and is valid for a 5-year period before renewal. Sara discussed the impact of this certification, “The CVA requirements for continuing education not only expand educational…
By Mabel Ortiz, MM, MT-BC, Music Therapist For many, the month of November is the start of a season of holidays and festivities. November is also known to be the month when we gather and celebrate with grateful hearts. But having an attitude of gratitude should not only be reserved for a season; it should also be cherished throughout the year,…