Comprehensive Healthcare. We’re There. VNA Today Volume 24 • No. 2 • 2009 CEO’s Chat By Jim Newbrough President/CEO Home Healthcare: Understanding Your Options If you or a loved one has recently experienced surgery or an injury, you are sure to have questions about the help available as you recover. The questions become more complex if your loved one has recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness, such as heart failure, COPD, diabetes, or hypertension, because these conditions require life-long management. Perhaps most confusing of all though are the array of home healthcare options available once you’ve decided to be cared for in your own home. Here, we will highlight the different types of home care available through the VNA of the Treasure Coast. Skilled Care Skilled care includes medical care, medication management, rehabilitation, and education provided by nurses (RNs or LPNs) or by physical, speech, or occupational therapists. Skilled care is provided on an intermittent basis, meaning a nurse or therapist may visit you at home several times each week, but will not provide around-the-clock care. Skilled care (as well as supportive care by a home health aide, dietitian, and/or a medical social worker) is generally paid for through Medicare Part A, Medicaid, or a private insurer. To receive skilled care through Medicare, patients must be “homebound,” meaning they can leave the home only with great difculty, and a physician must order home care for them. You can also receive skilled care by paying a private-duty nursing agency to provide it, though a physician’s order is still required. Home Health Aides Home health aides provide assistance with dressing, bathing, feeding, getting into and out of bed, offering medication reminders, and taking vital signs. Their services are paid for by Medicare when part of a larger home care plan of treatment, or they can be obtained by paying privately for an agency such as VNA’s Nightingale Private Duty Nursing to provide them. (continued on page 2) “Change starts when someone sees the next step.” —William Henry Drayton Over the past few months, we at the VNA of the Treasure Coast have been going through a great deal of change. Much of this change has, in fact, been the result of someone “seeing the next step,” namely, our dedicated associates, who now number over 500. The VNA has a long history of providing home health and hospice care throughout our community, but as our community continues to change, the healthcare needs of area residents will begin to change as well. As President & CEO of the VNA, one of my goals is to ensure that our organization is positioned to meet these emerging needs, from an increase in the prevalence of chronic illness, to more demand for bereavement support services, to the growing number of area residents struggling to pay for home health and hospice care. Fortunately, our home health, hospice, and private duty teams have the experience, expertise, and amazing dedication to patient care that will allow them to rise to the occasion. Knowing the challenges ahead, we’ve been busy building a leadership team that can help our organization take the next step. Over the past few months we’ve added some new leaders to our team, including directors of Home Care, Hospice Care, Private Duty Nursing, Education, and Business Development/Sales. These associates join the experienced team that has been leading our organization successfully. Working together, these professionals will help the VNA take its next steps forward. We will be introducing you to our leadership team and other associates in the months ahead. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know them, just as I have. The Newsletter of the Visiting Nurse Association www.vnatc.com • 1110 35th Lane • Vero Beach, FL 32960 • 772.567.5551 • 800.749.5760 Correction: In the previous issue of VNA Today, we incorrectly identied the sponsor for VNA Hospice’s Camp Chrysalis. The children’s bereavement day camp, which was held on April 18th, was sponsored by the Clint S. Malone Memorial Fund.
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Mary DeBonis Learns to Dance
Born in Shelton, Connecticut, Mary DeBonis lived in New York City,Brooklyn, and Long Island, worked for Chase Manhattan Bank for nineears as a supervisor, had two wonderful marriages, and three years ago
moved to Vero Beach where she now lives with her daughter, son-in-law,nd their one dog. Mary’s avocation is painting. She has many beautiful
watercolor and oil paintings on her walls, mostly of family members butlso of beautiful, colorful landscapes. Art is in her genes. Her son was a
protégé of Salvador Dali. Some of her grandchildren paint as well.
These days, Mary keeps a busy schedule, thanks to Nightingale PrivateDuty Nursing’s Friends with Wheels Companion Program. Pat Gabbard,
Nightingale companion, goes with Mary to the Irish-American Clubweekly for dinner and dancing. Pat also accompanies Mary to the SeniorCenter where they listen to music and dance. “I never danced a day in my ife before coming to Vero,”aid Mary. After her late
husband passed away, theVNA Hospice bereavement
roup invited Mary to joinhem, and there she meteveral people who wereoing through the same
xperience. “I learnedbout some of the activitiesn Vero from talking withthers in my bereavementroup,” she said. Now her
daughter says Mary is aband groupie,” followinghe band from place to place just so she can listen and dance to their
music! “She’s getting a lot of enjoyment out of life,” Mary’s daughterdded.
“If you don’t try something, you’ll never get anywhere.” This is Mary’swise advice to anyone who might be thinking of venturing out but might
e a little reluctant. “When I went to my rst dinner dance, I told them I
ouldn’t dance, but they convinced me that I could, with some help. Andnow I can’t stay away.”
When they’re not busy dancing or listening to music, Pat and Mary gohopping, go out to eat, and even play a few slot machines! It’s perfectly
harmless, says Mary. We only play for a nickel and all our winnings aren gift cards…so we can’t get into too much trouble! “Pat is a real jewel,”
Mary said. “She’s made my life so much brighter.”
About the Friends with Wheels Program
Nightingale’s Friends with Wheels companion program is designedo assist individuals who need a little help at home so that they canemain independent and continue their daily activities. Some other
xamples of companion services include: driving and accompanyinglients to appointments, the grocery, or to run errands; going to lunchogether; taking a scenic drive; going to a concert or movie; doing light
housekeeping; helping to prepare a meal; and playing cards or a game.Nightingale companion services can be customized to help the clientmaintain their normal daily activities.
As part of the Friends with Wheels program, a Registered Nurselso comes to visit periodically to make sure everything is runningmoothly. At these visits, the RN can detect medical issues that needo be addressed, bring them to the patient/family’s attention, and helproubleshoot solutions.
COPES Meeting Schedule
The VNA’s Caregiver Ongoing PracticalEducation & Support (COPES) program offerspractical training and support to those caring fsick loved one. The program is free of charge, aall are welcome to attend.
Third Thursday of every month
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church1405 Louisiana Avenue, Sebastian
Third Thursday of every month
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Clare Bridge Cottage of Vero Beach
420 4th Court, Vero Beach
Bereavement Support Group
Meeting Schedule
VNA bereavement counselors offer guidance
and support to individuals and families who hexperienced the loss of a loved one. Services aprovided free of charge. All are welcome to att
1st and 4th Tuesday
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Crossroads Christian Fellowship
Fellowship Hall
10205 US Highway 1, Sebastian
This is a general bereavement group.
2nd Wednesday
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Harbor ChaseLibrary
4150 Indian River Boulevard, Vero Beach
This is a general bereavement group.
Wednesday
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Classroom #4
1850 6th Avenue, Vero Beach
This is a general bereavement group.
Thursdays
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.Sebastian River Medical Center
Conference Room
13695 US Highway 1, Sebastian
This is a general bereavement group.
Thursdays
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Community Church of Vero Beach
Library
1901 23rd Street, Vero Beach
This group is for parents who are coping with the
loss of a child.
Companion Pat Gabbard with Mary DeBonis
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http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/vna-today-may-09 4/4Medicare Certified • License #HHA21276095/HHA213870961/HPC5038096/HHA299991281 • Hospice License Issued In 1986
How To Obtain VNA Services
You can have a VNA nurse visit you athome by calling our ofce or asking yourdoctor to call for you. If you are in thehospital, ask the discharge planner to callus. Always use our full name—VisitingNurse Association or VNA Hospice—if youask someone to call for you. Following thecall, a nurse will visit you at home and, after
establishing a plan of care with you and yourdoctor, will begin making regular visits.
ndian River County:772.567.5551 or 800.749.5760
Brevard County:321.752.7550 or 888.771.0260
*VNA accepts payment fromMedicare/Medicaid, PrivatePay, Private Insurance,Workers’ Compensation andVeterans’ Assistance.
NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATIO
U.S. POSTAG
VERO BEACH,
PERMIT #24
PAID
1110 35th Lane • Vero Beach, FL • 32960
www.vnatc.com
Mailing Information
f you receive multiple mailings, would likeo update your address, or would like to beemoved from our mailing list, please call
772.978.5546.
Twenty-three years in the army, andsixty-seven countries later, LieutenantColonel Jack Taylor and family settledin Vero Beach. In 1970 Col. Taylor
began a twenty-year career with the American Cancer Society and now sits on the orginization’s Board of Directors. In 1975 he helped foundand sat on the rst VNA & HospiceFoundation Board of Directors,
watching the organization grow fromone nurse to the vibrant organizationit is today.
After almost sixty-ve years of marriage, Jack’s wife Olivepassed away in early 2008, and the Colonel’s health wasailing. “I was recently hospitalized with congestive heartailure, and quite frankly I didn’t think I was going to get out. I
was thinking, ‘this is the end,’ because I had pneumonia…andhey gave me blood transfusions. I was fairly convinced that I
was never going to go bird watching again.” (Bird watching isack’s passion.)
Thankfully, Jack was discharged home, and the VNA wasble to equip him with an in-home telemonitoring system. Theasy-to-use monitor prompts him to take his pulse, weight,lood pressure and blood oxygen levels each day, asks medical
information about him, and allows him to transmit these
readings to a VNA nurse. If his vital signs or weight fall out
of acceptable ranges identied by his doctor, Jack’s nurse o
doctor can take action to intervene. “I had almost a depress
before I went into the hospital and wasn’t eating well, but n
I’m more conscious of that and am starting to eat well.”
These days, Jack tends to his orchid house and is out by 7:00 a.m. once a week for bird watching from a golf cart. In November, 2008, Jack was given the high honorof “Environmental Citizen” by the Pelican Island Audubon
Society for twelve years of spotting, surveying, recording, a
making notes of the birds on the Indian River Club golf cou
Jack ew to Kentucky in December, and will travel toLondon in June where he will place Olive’s ashes in the
churchyard where they were married. Then, it’s on to birdin
in Scotland and straight to Colorado for his grandson’s
wedding.
Jack is more proactive in his healthcare regimens
due to telehealth monitoring and just a few weeks after
hospitalization, he began to enjoy an overwhelming increas
quality of life. Also, he can’t sing enough praises about his V
caregivers. “They are really ne young ladies that are comin
around, from the physical therapists to the nurses and the
specialists. It’s just been great!” he says.
Home Telehealth Helps VNA Patient’s Hopes Take Flight
Lieutenant Colonel Jack Taylor
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