The Visiting Nurse Association of Florida (VNA) participated in a community outreach event at the Kane Center recently to help promote awareness about local home health services that are available to senior citizens and their families.
The event was coordinated by Thaysha Dutes and Natalie Darling, two South University nursing students who regularly work with seniors at the Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital.
“The number one thing I hear from patients getting ready to leave the hospital is that they aren’t sure who to turn to or where to go,” said Thaysha. “I wanted to let the community know there are resources out there that they may not be aware of.”
The event highlighted local Alzheimer’s, stroke, and home healthcare organizations and the services they provide to those who have become immobilized due to their current health condition. Representatives from Encompass Health, Alzheimer’s Community Care, Total Home Health, the Kane Center, and the Coalition for Independent Living Options also spoke at the event.
Andy Palacios, VNA Administrator, and other staff members were on-hand to discuss the home health services provided by the VNA that can be of great benefit to seniors and their families, such as Alzheimer and dementia monitoring, in-home doctor visits through Visiting Physicians of the Treasure Coast, home health aides, family caregiver relief, and care management solutions to help ensure patients’ continuity of care and help them avoid re-hospitalization. The VNA’s charitable arm, the Visiting Nurse Foundation, operates a mobile medical clinic, the Florence Nightingale Express, which provides free medical care to those in need, including Alzheimer’s and dementia screening.
The VNA also owns and operates three assisted living communities, Grand Oaks of Palm City, Grand Oaks of Jensen Beach, and Grand Oaks of Okeechobee. The communities in Palm City and Jensen Beach have separate Memory Care centers that are designed to meet the unique needs of those experiencing memory loss related to Alzheimer’s or dementia. Grand Oaks of Jensen Beach also hosts the Memory Café every month, which is an uplifting program full of activities for members of the local community who are experiencing memory loss, as well as their family, friends, and caregivers. For more information about Memory Café, please contact Nancy Firpo Ginden at nancy.firpo@vnaflorida.org.
After the presentation, staff members answered questions about the insurance options accepted by the VNA, which includes Veteran’s Benefits (the VNA is a VA Preferred Provider), Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, long-term care insurance, and personal pay.
The VNA is proud to support outreach programs that help educate and inform the community about local home health, companionship, and support services that are available.
