November is Home Care and Hospice Month, the perfect time to celebrate – and thank profusely – all the wonderful, compassionate caregivers throughout the country who dedicate their lives to others. As a home care and hospice organization, we at the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast (VNA) send a special shout-out to all of our amazing caregivers who are known for their compassion and skill. For them, being a caregiver isn’t a job, it’s a vocation.
Some patients receiving home care require just a few days or weeks for issues like post-surgery wound care or short-term physical therapy, while others need long-term care for chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s or COPD.
Typically, a doctor’s referral is needed for home care, and it is often covered by insurance. But for those patients who are under or uninsured, the VNA & Hospice Foundation is able to cover the cost of their care through donations made by our generous donors to the VNA’s charitable care program, ensuring that all patients receive the high-quality care they deserve.
Hospice is another VNA program the Foundation is only able to support through the generosity of our donors. Philanthropic support provides care for those who are too young for Medicare (which pays for hospice) and are under or uninsured. Hospice is a special kind of home care for people who no longer expect a cure for their illness. What’s unique and indeed beautiful about hospice is its focus on quality of life, offering those affected by a life-limiting illness peace of mind. At the VNA, symptom and pain management are cornerstones of our care, in addition to unique services such as music therapy.
Hospice care usually takes place in the comfort of your home but can be provided in any environment in which you live, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. But, when care can no longer be managed at home, and if you live in Indian River County, the beautiful VNA Hospice House is an option.
Hospice is traditionally thought to be for those who are in the last six months of life, but some individuals receive hospice services for years if their disease process is slow. In addition, if they suddenly start to improve significantly, then they will be discharged from hospice care.
Because hospice is focused on living, people who utilize hospice services earlier have more time to discuss goals and create an optimal plan of care designed around their wishes. This not only provides the hospice patient with peace of mind but their loved ones as well. What’s more, hospice’s focus on quality of life helps ensure that whatever remaining time a person has left on this earth will be serene.
Caring for hospice patients takes a special kind of caregiver, so once again, let’s thank all those hospice caregivers, and all home care caregivers, for giving so much of their heart, talent and soul to their jobs. And also a big thank you to all of our donors who support the VNA & Hospice Foundation—without your generosity, we could not take care of the residents of Indian River County needing home health and hospice care who are uninsured or underinsured, ensuring healthcare equality for all. Thank you!
*If you’d like to learn more about the Visiting Nurse Association’s services including home care and hospice, visit vnatc.com
*If you’d like to learn more about the VNA & Hospice Foundation and how you can help support it, visit vnatc.org.
This information is for educational purposes. Please consult your physician for any medical issues. The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is committed to bringing trusted and quality home care to Indian River and Brevard County patients. For more information about VNA services, call 772-567-5551 or visit www.vnatc.com.
