Aging Well with VNA

Understanding Palliative Care

For anyone experiencing serious illness and their loved ones, navigating care options and symptom management can be overwhelming.  In this episode of Aging Well with VNA, you’ll hear from VNA’s Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Olivia Rogers, RN, BSN, CHPN, CHPO, MBA, and Managing Director of Marketing, Sarah Harris, about a supportive palliative care program, VNA Care Choices.  You’ll learn more about who could benefit from one or all of the following offerings: physician-directed c...

Tips and Advice From a Senior Living Specialist

The journey of finding the right living and care solutions for an aging loved one can be daunting. Paul Markowitz, of Senior Living Specialists, breaks down the types of senior living options and explains what questions families should ask when making this important decision. 

Aging Well with VNA | Lunch and Learn - Understanding Pediatric Hospice with Dr. Kelly Newcomer

Aging Well With VNA - Understanding Types of Care

Planning for aging, illness and care can seem like a daunting task, but understanding options and discussing your wishes in advance of a crisis can bring peace for you and your loved ones.  Join Elder Care Attorney, Lori Leu, and podcast host, Kersten Rettig, for an informative discussion about short-term and long-term care, insurance options and how to plan for care.   Resource Links: National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys: www.naela.org National Elder Law Foundation: www.nelf.org Seni...

VNA Lunch & Learn - A Look Back and a Look Forward with Palliative Care

VNA clinical leaders, Olivia Rogers and Sarah Miles, review data released from Medicare related to VNA’s participation in a Medicare pilot for home-based palliative care. Join us as we discuss the success of the program in terms of patient outcomes locally and nationally. Learn how this data, along with new regulations at the state level, are informing VNA’s future palliative care service.  Featuring Olivia Rogers, RN, BSN, CHPN, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, VNA Sarah Miles, RN, B...

Aging Well With VNA - Navigating a Terminal Diagnosis

Host Kersten Rettig visits with geriatric specialist, Kate Taylor, DNP, FNP-C, CPPS, about how patients and families can navigate the often confusing, stressful time after receiving a terminal diagnosis.   You’ll hear advice from bucket lists, to communicating with family and caregivers, and how to prepare emotionally and logistically for what lies ahead.  This important conversation will be helpful for anyone currently experiencing serious illness for themselves or a loved one or those work...

Two Pioneering Advocates Share Passion For Culinary Cultural Heritage and Feeding the Hungry

This podcast is a little different from our previous episodes.  In this episode, we host two culinary greats to discuss their passion for food and feeding the hungry.   Toni Tipton-Martin is a culinary journalist, author and a pioneering advocate for the preservation and education of cultural heritage as it relates to cooking, food, and community.  Also joining us is Chris Williams, a classically trained chef, restaurateur, and most recently, founder of the nonprofit organization, Lucile’s ...

Future of Palliative And Hospice Care - VNA Texas Lunch and Learn - Audio Only

Join the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) for a virtual Lunch and Learn featuring experts in the field of Hospice and Palliative Care. There have been many recent changes in this ever-expanding industry, which, like everything else, has been impacted by the pandemic. Our panelists will discuss what the future of serious illness care will look like in the years to come. Moderator: Chris Culak, VP/Chief Strategy & Development Officer VNA Texas Panelists: Dr. Mark Casanova, MD, Sup...

Difficult Conversations - A physician’s perspective on hearing and communicating a serious diagnosis.

VNA Associate Medical Director, Mary Anne Chacko, MD, PhD, shares her experience with difficult conversations after a medical diagnosis with patients and as a patient with podcast host, Kersten Rettig. Dr. Chacko provides guidance on how to listen, ask questions and what to avoid in preparing for medical discussions. 

Difficult Conversations - A physician’s perspective on hearing and communicating a serious diagnosis.

VNA Associate Medical Director, Mary Anne Chacko, MD, PhD, shares her experience with difficult conversations after a medical diagnosis with patients and as a patient with podcast host, Kersten Rettig. Dr. Chacko provides guidance on how to listen, ask questions and what to avoid in preparing for medical discussions. 

Aging Well with VNA - Servicios de Hospicio: Lo que necesita saber.

In this VNA podcast, A Hospice Doctor and Nurse share about the hospice benefit. Dr. Kelley Newcomer and Nurse Luz Bueno have worked in hospice for many years and discuss how hospice and palliative care can benefit patients and their families.  En este podcast de VNA, un médico y una enfermera de hospicio comparten sobre el beneficio de hospicio. La Dra. Kelley Newcomer y la enfermera Luz Bueno han trabajado en el hospicio durante muchos años y analizan cómo medicina paliativa  y el hospici...

Aging Well with VNA - The Process of Grieving Amidst Uncertainty

Grief is a complex journey and one we will all experience.  Bereavement is the process of coping with grief and loss. Feelings of grief and loss can happen at any time throughout the course of an illness—for the patient and their loved ones. How each individual deals with grief is unique. In this episode of Aging Well With VNA, you’ll hear from two experienced, trained social worker/counselors at VNA talking about the types of grief, what is “normal”, and how the pandemic has changed the way...

Aging Well with VNA - The Process of Grieving Amidst Uncertainty

Grief is a complex journey and one we will all experience.  Bereavement is the process of coping with grief and loss. Feelings of grief and loss can happen at any time throughout the course of an illness—for the patient and their loved ones. How each individual deals with grief is unique. In this episode of Aging Well With VNA, you’ll hear from two experienced, trained social worker/counselors at VNA talking about the types of grief, what is “normal”, and how the pandemic has changed the way...

The Covid-19 Vaccine - Myths & Facts Q&A with Medical Professionals and Community Leaders

Thank you for listening to the Aging Well with VNA Podcast.  In this episode, you’ll hear from a panel of medical professionals and community leaders sharing their expertise and insight into the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine as well as overcoming access issues and cultural skepticism. The panel addresses some common questions, concerns and myths that have emerged about COVID-19 vaccines.  Panel moderated by Olivia Rogers, RN, BSN, CHPN, VNA Chief Nursing Officer Joseph Chang, MD, MBA,...

Aging Well with VNA - A Heart For Service

In the early 1930s, public school nurse Lillian Becket led a small group of volunteer nurses into the poorest sections of Dallas and surrounding area to provide desperately needed care to women and children during the Great Depression. In this episode of the Aging Well with VNA podcast, you’ll hear from the grandchildren of Lillian about their grandmother’s heart for service and how she helped found the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. 

Impact of COVID-19 on Under-resourced Communities

Community leaders offer their expertise and insight into the needs of and challenges for underserved populations during the pandemic. Join us to listen as they share their experiences and ideas on how to better serve our community and meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors.  Panel moderated by Olivia Rogers, RN, BSN, CHPN, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, Visiting Nurse Association of Texas   Panel Members: Stacie Anderson, Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) ...

Aging well from a geriatrician’s point of view

In our latest Aging Well With VNA Podcast, hear from VNA Medical Director and Geriatrician Dr. Neeta Nayak about her perspective on aging.  Dr. Nayak stresses the importance of preparation and planning on behalf of patients and their families.  “You buy insurance before you have an auto accident.  You wear a seatbelt before an crash.  Preparing for end of life is no different,” says Dr. Nayak.  She explains that preparing for end of life is like buying the most important insurance you’ll eve...

Aging Well with VNA - How do I honor you?

Anxiety, fear and confusion are often common emotions when planning for senior housing and long-term care. Gerontologist Dr. Mary Norman discusses the levels of care available and how to pay for and plan for the right type of long-term care for yourself and loved ones.  She points out that the most important question to begin with is “how can I honor you?” Being well informed and trusting your gut are vital indicators in choosing the right solution.  Dr. Norman discusses how to establish a c...

Aging Well with VNA - Start early

Hear from a dedicated son about how his family worked together to fulfill their parents’ aging wishes. From moving them out of their childhood home in New York to senior living in Texas to managing falls and illness, learn from Doug about his experience with caring for aging parents.  He speaks to the financial and emotional requirements of selecting the right senior living facility, which professionals to seek support from and what care options are best.  He praises and thanks his parents f...

Aging Well with VNA - Planning for your future after a dementia diagnosis

VNA’s Kersten Rettig visits with Jim Atkins, a surviving spouse of an Alzheimer’s patient, about how they planned for a future with Alzheimer’s.  Jim shares how he and his wife worked together to put legal, financial, and end-of-life plans in place before the disease robbed her of her memory.  Tune in to hear his touching story of how he carried out her wishes and where he got the help he needed to navigate this terrible disease.  

Protecting Your Future: A legal perspective on aging well from Certified Elder Care Attorney, Lori Leu.

Planning for your future or helping a loved one plan for long-term care needs can be daunting.  There are many important choices to consider. You’ll need to make decisions to ensure you and your loved ones’ needs are met and your wishes are honored. From knowing how to fund long-term care to understanding what medical documents to have in place, tune in to hear what steps you need to take to protect your future.  

Protecting Your Future: A legal perspective on aging well from Certified Elder Care Attorney, Lori Leu.

Planning for your future or helping a loved one plan for long-term care needs can be daunting.  There are many important choices to consider. You’ll need to make decisions to ensure you and your loved ones’ needs are met and your wishes are honored. From knowing how to fund long-term care to understanding what medical documents to have in place, tune in to hear what steps you need to take to protect your future.  

I thought hospice was a dirty word.

Often times people associate the word “hospice” with imminent death. However, for those who have experienced the support that hospice care provides, know it is a true gift for patients and their loved ones.  Hear from Olivia Rogers, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for VNA, about what hospice is and how it helps seriously ill patients live life to its fullest.  For more information please visit vnatexas.org. To speak with a member of our team directly please call: 1-800-CALL-VNA