Dr. Kerry Mahan, associate medical director at Ann's Haven VNA

Her husband, the late Denton radiologist Dr. Robert Lockwood, was appreciative of the care and support they received from the community.  He joined with other professionals and volunteers to form an organization that would make the medical, spiritual, psychological, and assistive care of hospice available to other terminally ill patients in Denton County. In 1980 that goal became a reality when Ann’s Haven Hospice opened.

Today, Ann’s Haven VNA has a new associate medical director, Dr. Kerry Mahan, as well as a new address at 325 W. McKinney Street, Suite 101 in Denton. “Times may have changed, but not our long tradition of care and trust in the Denton community,” states Robert Carpenter, president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association.

Additional information about Ann’s Haven VNA can be obtained by calling 940-349-5900 or going online at www.vnatexas.org.

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

The Visiting Nurse Association's Hospice program will be displaying its annual "Light Up a Life" trees in December. Donations to “Light Up a Life” help the Visiting Nurse Association provide hospice care to patients and their families in Northeast Texas.

The Visiting Nurse Association is displaying its annual “Light Up a Life” trees in December to honor the memory of family members and other loved ones.

“Light Up a Life” trees in the Visiting Nurse Association’s branch offices in Dallas, Denton, McKinney, Kaufman, and Fort Worth are being decorated with white paper doves inscribed with the names of honorees. A paper dove bearing the name of a loved one can be placed on one of the trees for a $20 donation to the Visiting Nurse Association’s Hospice program.

Funds raised from “Light Up a Life” are used to provide hospice services to terminally ill patients and their families in Northeast Texas who lack resources for needed care.

Donations to “Light Up a Life” can be made by contacting the following offices of the Visiting Nurse Association:

• Visiting Nurse Association (Dallas County) – (214) 689-2672
• Ann’s Haven VNA (Denton County) – (940) 349-5900
• Visiting Nurse Association of Collin County – (972) 562-0140
• Visiting Nurse Association of Kaufman County – (972) 962-7500
• Visiting Nurse Association of Tarrant County – (817) 654-4494

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

The annual observance pays tribute to the invaluable role that home care and hospice workers play in the lives of millions of Americans, and also in the economy in our country. Every American is affected in some way by the efforts of those indomitable spirits who care for those who cannot care for themselves.

Not only do these “quiet heroes” provide care and comfort, they also make it possible for the frail, disabled, sick, and dying to continue to live fully and with dignity in the familiar surroundings of their own homes.

Seventy-eight million Baby Boomers have begun to retire and a large percentage of them will eventually require assistance to continue living independently at home. Home care professionals will be providing this needed, high-quality care.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and give thanks for our many blessings, please remember the home care and hospice professionals who make a difference every day in the lives of thousands of patients and their families in Northeast Texas.

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

Volunteers and donations are needed for the Visiting Nurse Association’s Holiday Gift Wrap.

Volunteers of all ages are needed to wrap presents and assemble gift bags that will be delivered during the Christmas season to VNA’s Meals on Wheels recipients and hospice patients. Nearly 4000 gift bags will help make the holidays brighter for frail elderly, sick, and disabled residents of Dallas County.

Lend a hand and meet WRR “Classic Café” host Tempie Lindsey at the Holiday Gift Wrap from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on December 1!

Donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and similar personal care items are also needed for the gift bags. Schools, churches, civic organizations, and other groups are welcome to help with drives to collect these items, too.

For additional information about the Visiting Nurse Association’s Holiday Gift Wrap, call 214-689-2209.

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

Nancy Crowe, physical therapist and chief operating officer for the Visiting Nurse Association, performs a safety assessment in the home of a patient.

The effects of falling can also be emotionally debilitating, creating fears about walking or leaving the house. Fear of falling can severely impair independent living, as well as social functioning.

The two most common areas in the home where injuries occur are the bathroom and kitchen. Taking a few precautions, though, can help the elderly avoid many of these accidents, according to Nancy Crowe, a physical therapist and chief operating officer for the Visiting Nurse Association.

Nancy offers the following 10 tips for preventing falls in the home:

· Use non-slip mats or apply textured strips in the bathtub and on shower floors.

· Install grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower.

· Immediately clean up spilled liquids and food from kitchen floors.

· Do not stand on chairs, boxes, or other makeshift items to reach high shelves or to replace light bulbs. Use a stepstool with a handrail.

· Avoid placing small throw rugs on hard wood, linoleum, and tile floors, or apply rubber matting or double-faced adhesive tape to the backs of the rugs.

· Do not rush to answer the door or phone.

· Check lighting on stairs to make sure each step is well lit and that the edge of the steps is clearly visible when going up and down. All staircases should have lights and handrails.

· Make sure hallways and passageways between rooms are well lit and uncluttered.

· Use nightlights to illuminate hallways and rooms.

· Keep a flashlight near the bed.

Family members can help reduce the risks of an elderly relative falling at home by becoming aware of these and other possible hazards, and helping correct them.

It is also important to make sure that phone numbers of the police and fire departments are readily available, along with a neighbor’s number. At least one phone at home should be easily accessible in the event that a person falls and is unable to stand.

“Most of the factors involved in home falls can be fixed, provided you are aware of potential dangers,“ Nancy states. “By making just a few modifications and taking some precautions, it is possible to minimize injuries in the home,” she adds.

The Visiting Nurse Association has joined with other health and wellness providers as part of the Texas Falls Prevention Coalition, created in 2007 by the Texas Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The group’s mission is to “Promote, implement and evaluate evidence-based programs and policies that help reduce risk factors of falls and injuries in older adults; provide education and resources to increase public awareness, mobilize communities and effect policy change for a falls-free Texas.”

The Texas Falls Prevention Coalition is working to establish a statewide network to share information, identify needs in fall prevention services and resources, and advocate for policies that support fall prevention.

As part of this effort to reduce falls by the elderly, physical therapists with the Visiting Nurse Association make assessments and recommendations about safety hazards when they visit the homes of patients. It’s an important part of VNA’s mission to provide the care that makes it possible for the elderly to continue to live independently in the safety and comfort of their homes.

Additional information about VNA rehabilitation therapies and other home care services can be obtained by calling Elaine Harrison, R.N., at (972) 533-4676 or going online at www.vnatexas.org.

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

Exposure to high temperatures can lead to a severe loss of salt and water in the body, resulting in heat exhaustion. When the body can no longer cool itself by sweating, a life threatening condition called heat stroke may develop.

Elderly individuals with low fixed incomes are especially at risk because they may avoid using air conditioners and fans to cool their homes due to worries about high electric bills. Making the situation worse, doors and windows are sometimes kept shut, cutting off ventilation in the house.

The Visiting Nurse Association has suggestions for reducing the incidence of heat-caused illnesses:

· Drink plenty of fluids each day. Drinking water helps cool the body’s temperature.

· Avoid turning on the stove or large oven. Instead, use a microwave or toaster-type oven to prepare food.

· Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. If it’s necessary to go outside, wear a hat or sunbonnet. Avoid being outdoors between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., when the heat is most intense.

· Wear light-colored cotton clothing or cotton blends that are loose fitting. Avoid both outer and undergarments that are tight.

· Close blinds and window shades during the day to block out sunlight.

· In addition to an air conditioner, electric floor and ceiling fans can be used to circulate air that will help cool the body.

· Instead of turning off air conditioners and fans because of fears about high electric bills, individuals should contact their utility company to learn about assistance that may be available to low-income customers during the hot summer months.

· Individuals 65 years of age and older should have a friend or relative check on them or call twice a day during a heat wave.

“These recommendations are particularly important for those most at risk – the homebound elderly,” advises Shelley Dodd, R.N., branch supervisor of the Visiting Nurse Association’s Tarrant County office in Fort Worth. “Taking a few precautions is key to staying well,” she adds.

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

Today, home care plays an even greater role in the health and well being of patients of all ages and is an integral part of America’s health care system for the elderly.

Highly trained nurses and other health professionals, using advanced health care technologies and skills, make it possible for patients to now receive care at home that once required traveling to clinics and hospitals. Cardio-vascular disease, lymphedema, dysphasia, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and other disease can be treated by skilled home care professionals.

Through the use of telehealth home monitors, nurses are able to electronically check up on patients at home between visits and reduce the need for emergency room admissions and hospitalizations.

Electronic clipboards allow nurses to chart vital patient health data during home visits, which can be relayed quickly to patients’ physicians for decisions about their care. These and other new technologies make it possible for many patients to be cared for in their homes, reducing the burden on hospitals and nursing facilities.

Home care is less expensive than other forms of health care. The average Medicare charges per day in a hospital and skilled nursing facility are estimated at $1,500 and $475, respectively. The average Medicare charge per home care visit is estimated to be $150.

As a cost-effective means of providing high quality health care and supportive services in the dignity and comfort of a patient’s home, home care also helps keep families together.

Many patients, though, are unaware that home care services, including hospice, are Medicare and Medicaid covered benefits. Many private insurance policies also cover these services.

Medicare pays for in-home care for patients who are homebound and under the care of a physician. These services include skilled nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapies; and personal care assistance, as well as medical supplies and equipment. Except for hospice care, health services received in the home are covered only for short periods of time and not on an on-going basis. Most often, the care is provided to patients recovering from acute illness, injury, or surgery. The services must be authorized and periodically reviewed by the patient’s physician, and be provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency.

Many individuals purchase “Medigap” insurance to cover expenses not paid by Medicare. Medigap insurance usually pays for certain personal care services when the policyholder is receiving Medicare-covered skilled home health services. The patient’s physician must order the services as part of a plan of care. As with Medicare, Medigap insurance is not designed to cover long-term care.

Medicare also covers in-home hospice services for terminally ill patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less. Services include palliative care nursing, medications, medical social work, and personal care assistance. Hospice care must be authorized by the patient and the patient’s physician.

Medicaid also covers home care services, which can be of longer duration than what is provided by Medicare. Skilled nursing, rehabilitative therapies, and medical social services, in addition to medial supplies and equipment must be authorized by the patient’s physician. In Texas, Medicaid also covers the same range of hospice services that Medicare does.

Coverage of home care services by private insurance varies from policy to policy. Home care services are typically covered for acute needs on a short-term basis. Usually there are deductibles and co-pays made by the patient for the services. Long-term care insurance policies are also available for purchase to cover extended home care, if needed.

Most private insurance plans also cover comprehensive hospice care. Individuals should review their health insurance plans to be certain what home care services they are eligible for.

Community-funded care, paid for by charitable donations and state and local taxes, may also provide home health and supportive services. Based on eligibility criteria, including the patient’s financial circumstances, all or part of needed home care services may be covered. Information about community-funded care can be obtained from hospital discharge planners, social workers, local offices on aging, and the United Way.

Information about receiving home care services from the Visiting Nurse Association can be obtained by calling 1-800-225-5862 or going online at www.vnatexas.org.

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

Seniors, though, can regain strength with the help of a physical therapist. Physical therapists are known to work with patients recovering from illness or surgery and those with neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, among others. Physical therapy has been used successfully to treat lymphedema, a painful swelling of the extremities.

Physical therapy can improve the functional ability of older adults through strength and balance training. Strength training helps prevent the loss of bone density and muscle mass that leads to frailty and physical disability. When combined with balance training, it can significantly reduce the high risk of falls for the elderly. Between one third and one half of the senior population falls at least once a year, often causing hip fractures, other injuries, or death. Falling is the number one cause of injury in the home for the elderly.

Research funded by the National Institute on Aging and published in The New England Journal of Medicine provides additional evidence that physical therapy can reduce and even prevent the functional decline of frail elderly individuals who receive a program designed to improve their balance, strength, and movement.

Dr. Thomas M. Gill, associate professor of internal medicine and geriatrics at the Yale School of Medicine and principal author of the study, looked at whether activities necessary for independent daily living – walking, bathing, using the toilet, grooming, dressing, getting up from a chair, and eating – improved with physical therapy. Results of his research showed that frail elderly individuals who followed a six-month physical therapy program and continued with exercises saw a 45 percent reduction in disability compared with others who did not participate.

Patients who received a program in physical therapy also had fewer fall-related injuries and were less likely to move into nursing homes. Dr. Gill concluded that “prehabilitation” or preventive physical therapy for the elderly could reduce health care expenses and nursing home admissions.

”Many elderly and their families often do not know that physical therapy can help an aged relative maintain independent living,” states Valerie Turner, a physical therapist with the Visiting Nurse Association.
“Seniors gain not only balance and strength, but also a renewed sense of confidence in their level of functioning, which results in a safer home environment,” she adds.

Before starting an exercise program, it’s important to first consult with a physician.

For additional information about the benefits of physical therapy for the elderly, as well as career opportunities available for physical therapists at the Visiting Nurse Association, contact Nancy Crowe at (214) 689-2224 or crowen@vnatexas.org

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

Nursing has been in existence in the United States for more than a century.  Home care nursing began in the 1880s, when public health nurses traveled to patients’ homes to care for the ill, teach family members how to provide care, suggest ways to improve health, and comfort the dying.  It was a time dominated by infectious diseases and high death rates.

The arrival of the trained nurse eased the family’s burden of caring for the sick at home.  Nurses also assisted new mothers by providing them with necessary prenatal care, helping with home deliveries, and educating them on how to care for their babies.  The Visiting Nurse Association has been part of the proud profession of home care nursing since 1934.

There are more than three million registered nurses in the United States.  The number of Americans age 65 and older is projected to increase to more than 70 million by 2030.  As America’s elderly population rapidly grows, nurses will play a pivotal role in the future of America’s health care system.

National Nurses Week seeks to raise public awareness of the importance of nursing to America’s health care and of the need for more people to consider entering the field as a profession.

National Nurses Week is also an opportunity for all Americans to take a moment and appreciate nursing professionals, who each day bring care and comfort to the frail, sick, disabled, and dying.

Although nurses are officially honored during this week of celebration, their invaluable contribution to our society continues each and every day of the year.  Thank you, nurses!

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association

Volunteering a unique feature of the American character that seems unremarkable to those living in our country. Throughout the history of the United States, volunteers have answered the call to service during times of need, whether domestic or abroad.

More than just devoting time to a cause, a volunteer’s work demonstrates a commitment to its mission. To improve the well being of the elderly, sick, and dying is among the highest values of any community.

The Visiting Nurse Association will be honoring its Meals on Wheels, hospice, and Eldercare Friends volunteers at a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 21 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. Additional information about the luncheon can be obtained by contacting Betsy Cox, VNA’s director of volunteers, at 214-689-2210 or coxbe@vnatexas.org.

– Robert Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visiting Nurse Association