Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

Apr 11 2017
Advance Directives for Healthcare – What You Need to Know Now

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No one wants to consider being incapable of making their own healthcare decisions, but it’s important to reflect on these issues BEFORE a crisis. Doing this ahead of time makes it easier for loved ones who are faced with making tough decisions on your behalf. An advance directive, or living will, is a written record of your wishes concerning medical care, if you become incapacitated.


Making decisions ahead of time requires you to know what treatments are available and what the implications of these treatments are.

Here’s a breakdown of issues covered by Advanced Directives for Healthcare.

Understanding Treatment Options

  • Resuscitation – How much or little aid do you want to maintain your life? If your heart stops, do you want CPR administered? Your preferences may be based on your condition, beliefs, and values, so consider different scenarios to help you determine what’s best for you.
  • Life Sustaining Treatments – Understanding what treatments are available will help you decide what you’re comfortable utilizing. For instance, some life-threatening conditions may necessitate that you be connected to a ventilator to breathe or a feeding tube to absorb nutrition.

 

Choosing a Healthcare Agent

  • Who will make critical healthcare decisions for you? If you become incapacitated and lose your ability to comprehend or communicate health care choices, it’s important to have a designated person who will represent your wishes. Have an honest conversation about your personal beliefs and values. This may be difficult, but doing this ahead of time makes it easier for your loved ones to make decisions that reflect your wishes

 

It’s helpful to consider these issues ahead of time. You may want to consult with your doctor or any healthcare professional, family members and/or a trusted friend, or legal counsel who can provide resources and feedback to ensure you feel comfortable with your choices. For more information about having these conversations and to find helpful tools and resources, go to http://bit.ly/2oSUnrW.

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Visiting Nurse celebrated our Home Health Physical Therapists this week in recognition of PT Appreciation Month!
For more than 78 years, we’ve served Atlanta, helping patients regain strength, improve mobility and maintain independence at home. We are grateful to our PTs for the skill, compassion and dedication they bring to our patients every day.
To all of our PTs/PTAs, thank you for the work you do, the lives you touch and the difference you make for Visiting Nurse and the families we serve!
#ptappreciationmonth#homehealthcare#physicaltherapy#visitingnursehealthsystem #agingathome

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Visiting Nurse celebrated our Home Health Physical Therapists this week in recognition of PT Appreciation Month! For more than 78 years, we’ve served Atlanta, helping patients regain strength, improve mobility and maintain independence at home. We are grateful to our PTs for the skill, compassion and dedication they bring to our patients every day. To all of our PTs/PTAs, thank you for the work you do, the lives you touch and the difference you make for Visiting Nurse and the families we serve! #ptappreciationmonth#homehealthcare#physicaltherapy#visitingnursehealthsystem #agingathome

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The hidden caregiving crisis is a workforce issue, and a critical part of the ongoing conversation about the future of aging at home.
We’d like to thank everyone who joined us today for the Visiting Nurse Healthcare Champions Event: Leadership Conversations That Drive Change, hosted by Genuine Parts Company.
A special thank-you to Genuine Parts Company’s Renay Blumenthal, Sr. Director, Corporate Giving & Community Relations, for leading the day’s event with a warm welcome, and kicking off the day’s amazing line up of speakers.
Honored to have this event moderated by Crystal Edmonson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle, we are very grateful for our panelists for sharing their leadership expertise and perspectives on the growing demands facing working family caregivers and how employers can help support them:
• Rachel Cannady, Senior Associate Director, Caregiving, The Carter Center
• Keisha Olinger, Region Leader, Marsh People and Investments, Mid-South
• Eric Barker, Analyst, Senior Health & Welfare, Southern Company
Thank you to our own President and CEO, Dorothy Davis, for speaking today, and continuing to bring community leaders together to keep this important conversation going, critical to addressing the future of healthcare in our communities. At Visiting Nurse, we see firsthand how family caregivers help older adults remain safe, comfortable and independent at home. Yet balancing caregiving responsibilities with work and family life can create significant challenges for our own employees, employers and families.
Supporting caregivers is essential to helping seniors age with dignity in the place they call home. By bringing business and community leaders together, we can raise awareness, explore meaningful workplace solutions and strengthen the support systems families need. Because caring for those who care for others matters, too.
Thank you to Genuine Parts Company for hosting this important conversation and Huntington Bank for sponsoring our Healthcare Champions series. Together, we can help build healthier workplaces, stronger families and more supportive communities for Georgia’s aging population.

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The hidden caregiving crisis is a workforce issue, and a critical part of the ongoing conversation about the future of aging at home. We’d like to thank everyone who joined us today for the Visiting Nurse Healthcare Champions Event: Leadership Conversations That Drive Change, hosted by Genuine Parts Company. A special thank-you to Genuine Parts Company’s Renay Blumenthal, Sr. Director, Corporate Giving & Community Relations, for leading the day’s event with a warm welcome, and kicking off the day’s amazing line up of speakers. Honored to have this event moderated by Crystal Edmonson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle, we are very grateful for our panelists for sharing their leadership expertise and perspectives on the growing demands facing working family caregivers and how employers can help support them: • Rachel Cannady, Senior Associate Director, Caregiving, The Carter Center • Keisha Olinger, Region Leader, Marsh People and Investments, Mid-South • Eric Barker, Analyst, Senior Health & Welfare, Southern Company Thank you to our own President and CEO, Dorothy Davis, for speaking today, and continuing to bring community leaders together to keep this important conversation going, critical to addressing the future of healthcare in our communities. At Visiting Nurse, we see firsthand how family caregivers help older adults remain safe, comfortable and independent at home. Yet balancing caregiving responsibilities with work and family life can create significant challenges for our own employees, employers and families. Supporting caregivers is essential to helping seniors age with dignity in the place they call home. By bringing business and community leaders together, we can raise awareness, explore meaningful workplace solutions and strengthen the support systems families need. Because caring for those who care for others matters, too. Thank you to Genuine Parts Company for hosting this important conversation and Huntington Bank for sponsoring our Healthcare Champions series. Together, we can help build healthier workplaces, stronger families and more supportive communities for Georgia’s aging population.

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The future of aging at home starts with all of us!
Grateful our Healthcare Champions, with the generous support of event sponsor Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, brought together key community leaders, partners and distinguished guests for an important conversation about the future of healthcare and aging in Georgia.

Lead by nationally-recognized healthcare attorney Bill A. Dombi, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG), and Visiting Nurse President and CEO Dorothy Davis, this important conversation investigated how healthcare, business, philanthropy and public policy can work together to strengthen the infrastructure, innovation and partnerships that help Georgians age safely, independently and with dignity at home. Including Georgia`s healthcare community leaders, changemakers and valued community partners in attendance, the room was filled with people committed to shaping what comes next.

Thank you to all of our guests who joined the conversation, with a very special thank you to Bill Dombi for leading the day`s event. Thank you to our host Arnall Golden Gregory LLP for sponsoring this important event.

#VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthcareChampions #AgingAtHome #HealthcareLeadership #GeorgiaHealthcare #HospiceCare

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The future of aging at home starts with all of us! Grateful our Healthcare Champions, with the generous support of event sponsor Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, brought together key community leaders, partners and distinguished guests for an important conversation about the future of healthcare and aging in Georgia. Lead by nationally-recognized healthcare attorney Bill A. Dombi, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG), and Visiting Nurse President and CEO Dorothy Davis, this important conversation investigated how healthcare, business, philanthropy and public policy can work together to strengthen the infrastructure, innovation and partnerships that help Georgians age safely, independently and with dignity at home. Including Georgia's healthcare community leaders, changemakers and valued community partners in attendance, the room was filled with people committed to shaping what comes next. Thank you to all of our guests who joined the conversation, with a very special thank you to Bill Dombi for leading the day's event. Thank you to our host Arnall Golden Gregory LLP for sponsoring this important event. #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthcareChampions #AgingAtHome #HealthcareLeadership #GeorgiaHealthcare #HospiceCare

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Happy National Case Management Week!
And a little appreciation goes a long way, as Phillip Walters, of Hospice Atlanta, made life a little sweeter joining Northside Hospital’s Case Management Vendor Event! Sharing important resources and information on critical care, a great time was had celebrating these dedicated case managers who make a difference for patients and families every day.

Thank you for all you do, and a shout out to our local Scrumpt bakery for helping make their special week even sweeter! #NationalCaseManagementWeek #HospiceAtlanta

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Happy National Case Management Week! And a little appreciation goes a long way, as Phillip Walters, of Hospice Atlanta, made life a little sweeter joining Northside Hospital’s Case Management Vendor Event! Sharing important resources and information on critical care, a great time was had celebrating these dedicated case managers who make a difference for patients and families every day. Thank you for all you do, and a shout out to our local Scrumpt bakery for helping make their special week even sweeter! #NationalCaseManagementWeek #HospiceAtlanta

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First in Georgia!
Visiting Nurse is proud to announce that our HeartCare at Home™ program is the first home health program in Georgia certified by the American Heart Association® for Home Health–Heart Failure care.
Because heart failure care doesn’t stop when a patient leaves the hospital. This certification reflects our commitment to evidence-based, high-quality care and our dedicated clinicians who bring specialized heart failure support directly to patients where they are most comfortable, in the place they call home.

After 78 years, we’re proud to continue advancing care at home. ❤️

#VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HeartCareAtHome #HeartFailure #HomeHealth #AmericanHeartAssociation

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First in Georgia! Visiting Nurse is proud to announce that our HeartCare at Home™ program is the first home health program in Georgia certified by the American Heart Association® for Home Health–Heart Failure care. Because heart failure care doesn’t stop when a patient leaves the hospital. This certification reflects our commitment to evidence-based, high-quality care and our dedicated clinicians who bring specialized heart failure support directly to patients where they are most comfortable, in the place they call home. After 78 years, we’re proud to continue advancing care at home. ❤️ #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HeartCareAtHome #HeartFailure #HomeHealth #AmericanHeartAssociation

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We are so grateful for our volunteers who give their time, compassion and heart to serve our patients and families in need.
What a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact a caring volunteer can make through companionship, connection and simply being present.
Thank you to our volunteers for the meaningful difference you make for our patients and families every day.

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We are so grateful for our volunteers who give their time, compassion and heart to serve our patients and families in need. What a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact a caring volunteer can make through companionship, connection and simply being present. Thank you to our volunteers for the meaningful difference you make for our patients and families every day.

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Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta was proud to celebrate National Assisted Living Week all month long, with celebrations honoring the national theme “Shining Through the Years.”

We enjoyed celebrating with the residents and team at Brookdale Carrollton, GA, honoring the lives, stories and connections that make every year meaningful. (pictured below)

#NationalAssistedLivingWeek #ShiningThroughTheYears #HospiceAtlanta #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #BrookdaleCarrollton #SeniorCare #CommunityCare

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Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta was proud to celebrate National Assisted Living Week all month long, with celebrations honoring the national theme “Shining Through the Years.” We enjoyed celebrating with the residents and team at Brookdale Carrollton, GA, honoring the lives, stories and connections that make every year meaningful. (pictured below) #NationalAssistedLivingWeek #ShiningThroughTheYears #HospiceAtlanta #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #BrookdaleCarrollton #SeniorCare #CommunityCare

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🌟Congratulations to our Employee of the Month! 🌟

Please join us in celebrating our Hospice Atlanta Nurse Tasha for her dedication, hard work and commitment to our Hospice Atlanta patients and families. We thank you for all you do for our patients, families and team!

👏 Congratulations, Tasha!

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🌟Congratulations to our Employee of the Month! 🌟 Please join us in celebrating our Hospice Atlanta Nurse Tasha for her dedication, hard work and commitment to our Hospice Atlanta patients and families. We thank you for all you do for our patients, families and team! 👏 Congratulations, Tasha!

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Team Hospice Atlanta proudly participated in this year`s Kaiser Permanente’s Run, Walk & Roll 5K! As a valued healthcare partner, we are grateful for the opportunity to join forces and come together to support health, wellness and a healthier community.

Thank you to everyone who represented Hospice Atlanta and Visiting Nurse Health System. We are proud to support events that bring our healthcare partners and community together to in health!

#HospiceAtlanta #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #KaiserPermanente #RunWalkAndRoll #CommunityHealth #HealthAndWellness #HealthyCommunity #AtlantaCommunity #HealthcarePartners

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Team Hospice Atlanta proudly participated in this year's Kaiser Permanente’s Run, Walk & Roll 5K! As a valued healthcare partner, we are grateful for the opportunity to join forces and come together to support health, wellness and a healthier community. Thank you to everyone who represented Hospice Atlanta and Visiting Nurse Health System. We are proud to support events that bring our healthcare partners and community together to in health! #HospiceAtlanta #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #KaiserPermanente #RunWalkAndRoll #CommunityHealth #HealthAndWellness #HealthyCommunity #AtlantaCommunity #HealthcarePartners

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