Aging Well with VNA

In this insightful episode of Aging Well with VNA, Rev. Dr. Chris Girata, Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, shares his perspectives on aging with grace and purpose. Drawing from his extensive experience in ministry, Rev. Girata discusses the spiritual, emotional, and communal aspects of growing older. He emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and service in navigating the challenges and embracing the opportunities that come with aging. Whether you're seeking inspiration for your own journey or looking to support loved ones, this conversation offers valuable insights into living a fulfilling life at any age. Learn more about the Visiting Nurse Association, including how to get involved and volunteer, at www.vnatexas.org  Learn more about The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata at https://www.saintmichael.org/about/clergy-staff/

In a recent lunch and learn, VNA Medical Director, Dr. Newcomer, detailed her work leading the Hospice and Palliative Care Fellows program at VNA. These vital, immersive training programs provide fellows with experience working with physicians, nurses, and the interdisciplinary teams within the hospice (adult and pediatric) programs, and also make in-home patient visits. Fellows, Dr. Raseman and Dr. King, also shared what they have learned and how their experience will shape their future medical careers.Featuring:Kelley F. Newcomer, MD, FAAHPM, VNA Medical Director of Adult and Pediatric HospiceVNA Fellows Kate Raseman, MD and Andrea King, MD

Join podcast host, Kersten Rettig, in a deep-dive conversation with two experts in the field of palliative care, Dr. Kate Taylor and Dr. Cheryl Thaxton, from the College of Nursing at the UNT Health Science Center.  You'll hear perspectives from both adult and pediatric palliative care, resources for caregivers, and how clinical staff come alongside patients and families during serious illness.  Show Notes and Resources:Courageous Parent Network – A nonprofit organization working to equip and empower those caring for children with a serious medical condition. Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance – A nonprofit organization focused on perinatal and neonatal bereavement care.The Warm Place - The WARM Place provides a safe, compassionate space for children and their families grieving the death loss of a loved one. VNA Bereavement Support – Support for family members of patients and community members experiencing grief and loss.My Wishes Booklet - My Wishes is a booklet written in everyday language that helps children express how they want to be cared for in case they become seriously ill. Dr. Kate Taylor is a certified FNP with over 25 years of healthcare experience, including previous service as an Army Nurse Corps officer. She currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Clinical and Outreach Affairs for the College of Nursing and is an Assistant Professor, as well as adjunct faculty for the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. She is actively involved in a geriatrics primary care and house calls program and has a focus on advance care planning. Dr. Taylor engages in professional organizations, holding roles such as Secretary of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Practice Leadership Network and Legislative Ambassador for Texas Nurse Practitioners. She also serves as a board member for Dementia Friendly Fort Worth. Additionally, Dr. Taylor teaches interprofessional learners on local, national, and international platforms.  Dr. Taylor is a distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS). She holds the Tarrant Area Gerontological Society's Mildred O. Hogstel Award and the Texas Nurse Practitioner's Visionary Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to patient care and education.Cheryl Thaxton, DNP, APRN, CPNP, FNP-BC, CHPPN, FPCN, FAANP, FAAN is dual board certified in pediatrics and family practice as a nurse practitioner. Dr. Thaxton currently serves as the Founding Associate Dean, Regents Professor, and Chair of Graduate Studies for the College of Nursing (CON) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth. She has over 33 years of experience in nursing care of patients across the lifespan which includes several years of experience in critical care, palliative and hospice care, primary care, nursing leadership, curriculum development, and graduate program development/evaluation. Dr. Thaxton has devoted several years of her career to researching the specific needs of children and adults with life-limiting illnesses. She was part of a team of nursing faculty led by Dr. Betty Ferrell that helped to implement the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Curriculum, an evidence-based palliative and hospice nursing initiative. Dr. Thaxton has a plethora of publications in the literature, podium presentations, and other notable scholarly activities. In 2021, Dr. Thaxton received the DFW Great 100 Nurses Awa

Hear from W. Stephen Love, President & CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council about the work they do in North Texas in promoting equitable health access and outcomes, training, and clinical collaboration.  Mr. Love shares stories of promise and hope in our healthcare system and how we can all live healthier, happier lives when we have access to good preventative and acute care. Show notes:Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council - The mission of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council is to drive evidence-based improvement in patient care and health equity throughout the region.Compassionomics - The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence That Caring Makes a Difference. Written by Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH and Anthony Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE.

Join Aging Well With VNA Podcast Host, Kersten Rettig, in her conversation with Resource Center CEO, Cece Cox, J.D., where they explore the unique challenges and opportunities for our LGBTQIA+ older adult neighbors.  Cece shares insights into systemic barriers and discrimination and how that impacts the LGBTQIA+ community, especially as it relates to aging, asset accumulation, healthcare, and housing.  You'll hear about resources available and how we can all be better allies.  Episode Links:Resource Center – Resource Center pursues societal equity by proudly offering LGBTQIA+ affirming resources designed to improve health and wellness, strengthen families and communities, and provide transformative education and advocacy.  Oak Lawn Place – LGBTQIA+ affirming, affordable independent housing for seniors 214-272-9528SAGE Care – VNA Hospice Care is SAGECare Certified to serve the LGBTQ+ community with cultural competencyLegal Hospice of Texas – Provides free legal services to clients in 16 North Texas CountiesCoalition for Aging LGBT – A nonprofit with a mission to improve and protect the quality of life of older LGBT adults in North Texas through community engagement and advocacy education.Human Rights Campaign – resources for education and advocacy

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 care, psychosocial support, symptom management, RN care coordination, medication reviews, advanced care planning, in-home care planning, and child-life specialist support.  They will also explore who is eligible for this program and when is it a good time to consider. You can learn more about VNA Care Choices here:  https://www.vnatexas.org/our-services/vna-care-choices/

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. 

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.orgNational Elder Law Foundation: www.nelf.orgSenior Source Elder Financial Safety Center:  https://theseniorsource.org/what-we-do/financial-assistance-for-older-adults-in-dallas/financial-help-for-elders/VNA Advanced Care Planning Resources:  https://www.vnatexas.org/for-current-patients-family-members/advanced-care-planning-2/Wellness Center for Older Adults:  www.wcoa.orgLori Leu:  www.leulawfirm.com

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. FeaturingOlivia Rogers, RN, BSN, CHPN, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, VNASarah Miles, RN, BSN, Director of Quality and Palliative Care, VNA

In this episode, podcast host Kersten Rettig visits with VNA Managing Director of Marketing, Sarah Harris, about what hospice provides patients and families. You'll hear tips and resources for selecting the right hospice provider and how to research options.

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 working on advanced care plans.  

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 1913 in Houston, whose mission is to feed those in need while addressing food insecurity and food waste. Both are headlining VNA's upcoming signature fundraising events: Chris, at the Cocktails in the Kitchen event and Toni at our Celebrity Chef event in March 2022. Throughout her career, Toni Tipton-Martin has used cultural heritage and cooking to build community.  She is Editor in Chief of Cook's Country by America's Test Kitchen, a PBS television show host, a two-time James Beard Award winner for her books on African American cooking, and she recently was awarded the prestigious Julia Child Award, which is given to an individual (or team) who has made a profound and significant difference in the way America cooks, eats, and drinks. Toni's latest book, Jubilee: Recipes From Two Centuries of African American Cooking, brings to life 125 dishes from the African American cookbooks in her rare collection. Jubilee is a James Beard Award winner, earned the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Book of the Year Award, and was named one of the “Cookbooks You Need for 2020” by the New York Times. In 2008, Toni founded the SANDE Youth Project, a 501c3 organization, whose mission was to increase wellness by celebrating cultural heritage, community role models and ancestral recipes. In 2021, the organization was re-named the Toni Tipton-Martin Foundation and its mission was re-engineered in an effort to help the next generation of aspiring women gain knowledge and skills in the areas of food and cultural heritage writing. Chef Chris Williams is the Founder and Owner of Lucille's Hospitality Group in Houston, Texas. Classically trained in French, Mediterranean, West Indian and East African cuisine, Chef Williams has made a name for himself serving up well-refined Southern food with international infusions at his restaurant Lucille's—opened as a tribute to his great grandmother and culinary pioneer Lucille B. Smith. Chef Williams has served as the lone culinary cultural ambassador for the USA for three years, advancing food diplomacy in destinations like Croatia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. He is also a member of the Southern Food Ways Alliance, an organization that documents, studies, and explores the diverse food cultures of the changing American South.Williams' most recent endeavor, Lucille's 1913, is a nonprofit he founded. The organization mimics the ethos of his restaurant group and its namesake: functioning as a conscious community collective that is building a vertically integrated ecosystem to combat food insecurity and waste; creating training and employment opportunities in traditionally under-resourced neighborhoods; and empowering communities to discover a self-sustainable livelihood through food.  To date, Chef Chris and the Lucille's 1913 team have provided more than 350,000 meals to Houstonians in need since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams is part of Restaurant Hospitality's coveted 2021 Rising Star class and most recently was named to Bon Appetit's inaugural “Heads of the Table” Awards List, which honors the trailblazing, community-building, future-making leaders changing the restaurant industry. 

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 TexasPanelists:Dr. Mark Casanova, MD, Supportive & Palliative Care, Baylor University Medical CenterDr. Kelley Newcomer, MD, VNA Medical Director, UTSW Asst Professor-Internal MedicineSarah Miles, RN, BSN, VNA Director of QualityClaudia Shook, LMSW, ACM-SW, APHSW-C, Supportive & Palliative Care, Baylor University Medical

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. 

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 hospicio VNA  pueden beneficiar a los pacientes y sus familias. 

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 we grieve.  The VNA grief support team is here to help you navigate change and loss and help establish a foundation of healthy grieving. Tune in to hear more about the personal and unique journey of grieving.

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 OfficerJoseph Chang, MD, MBA, FACOG, Chief Medical Officer at Parkland Hospital and Gynecology faculty at University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterKristina Hernandez, DO, Associate Medical Director, Visiting Nurse Association of TexasBenaye Wadkins Rogers, CEO and President, Crossroads Community ServicesMarcus Zavala, Pharm.D., BCSCP, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Perrone PharmacyRecording from live webinar held on March 2, 2021.

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.

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) Project Lead, Methodist Health System Dr. Mark Casanova, MD, Chairman of Supportive and Palliative Care and the Institutional Ethics Committee at Baylor University Medical Center Chris Culak, Vice President, Chief of Strategy and Development, Visiting Nurse Association of Texas Ivan Esquivel, Clinic Manager, Brother Bill’s Helping Hand Dr. Terry J. Flowers, Ph.D., Headmaster and Executive Director of St. Phillip's School and Community Center India J. Holliday, LCSW, CCM, Palliative Care Bereavement Specialist, Parkland Health & Hospital System Marissa Castro Mikoy, President & CEO, Jubilee Park & Community Center

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 ever purchase and the best way to prevent chaos for yourself and your family. Tune in to learn more about how you can set a vision for yourself on how you want to handle serious illness and aging.

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 care team and find the needed support for family caregivers.

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 for getting a plan in place, which has been invaluable for Doug and his siblings as they manage their parent’s care. You’ll get a glimpse into the daily struggles and successes and how to cope with the challenges of caring for aging parents.

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.

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.

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