November is recognized as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. In 2020, about three quarters of the Medicare patients who used hospice in the United States were age 65 and over (NHPCO Facts and Figures, 2022 Edition). According to Indian River Indicators provided by the Indian River Community Foundation, 33% of the residents of Indian River County are over the age of 65. As a large part of our community ages, it’s important to understand the type of care that is available if someone becomes affected by a life-limiting illness and hospice care is deemed appropriate.

As the only hospice provider in Indian River County, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) provides compassionate, innovative care of the highest quality, setting the standard for patients and caregivers, and we extend that care to the uninsured and underinsured in our community. In addition, we strive to collaborate as a team to provide excellent care so that patients experience optimal quality of life at all times. VNA Hospice Care is about living fully through the care provided by an interdisciplinary team wherever a patient calls home.

As a non-profit organization, the VNA relies on our loyal donors to provide the funding needed to provide our services to our community. Because of the generosity of our donors, the VNA is able to provide additional hospice programs and services, including Project Wish, Bereavement Services and the VNA Hospice House, for our hospice patients and their families. The financial support we receive from our donors demonstrates that they understand what hospice care is and the importance of it.  The funding we receive towards these hospice related programs, no matter the amount, allows the VNA to provide the care needed to help our patients navigate this emotional journey with dignity and respect.

At the VNA & Hospice Foundation, we want to recognize National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. To the people in our community who understand the importance of delivering quality hospice care to those with a life-limiting illness, thank you for providing the necessary funding so our clinicians can serve these patients every day. Every single donation made to VNA Hospice’s programs and services goes toward creating an experience with not only the highest quality of healthcare but also one that brings peace and comfort to our patients and their families.

For more information about what hospice care is from the NHPCO, go to https://www.nhpco.org/.

To learn more about the hospice programs and services supported by donations to the VNA & Hospice Foundation, go to https://vnatc.org/programs/.

Sources: Indian River Indicators, provided by the Indian River Community Foundation: https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/indian-river-cna

NHPCO Facts & Figures (2022 Edition): https://www.nhpco.org/wp-content/uploads/NHPCO-Facts-Figures-2022.pdf