Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

Independent Aging at Home: Part 2

By Dorothy Davis, LPC, Vice President of Community Health and Strategy

By bringing healthcare home with connectivity and innovative aging, together with the community, we work to facilitate independent aging at home. One of the benefits of bringing healthcare home is nurses are able to see the patient’s home environment. As our CEO, Norene Mostkoff, has often stated, healthcare happens at home: healthcare happens in the bathroom, it happens in the living room, it happens in the kitchen—and our nurses are able to assess whether the home environment is conducive for recovery and healthy aging. Doctors are unable to see the environment in which patients live. A diabetic could repeatedly visit the ER and the doctor would never know it because the patient doesn’t have proper refrigeration for her diabetes medicine. Deploying home health clinicians is the way to fill this gap in care. The environment in which the patient lives contributes to their health. Health is all encompassing; health is our way of life, where we live, what we do, what we eat, and who we live with.

Addressing and solving this gap in care is what is necessary to allow seniors to age with dignity and independence at home. The solution is, of course, very complex. As a nonprofit healthcare provider, Visiting Nurse partners with many organizations in our community—for-profit as well as not-for-profit—such as Resurgia, Project Open Hand, Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta Housing Authority and Georgia’s Alzheimer’s Association chapter. Thanks to these and other community partners, Visiting Nurse is able to provide more than $6 million annually toward programs and community services that help seniors age independently at home.

Humanize & Educate

Providing person-centered care means we humanize healthcare by giving voice to the patient. Seniors, just like anyone else, wish to be independent and self-sufficient, so by working with these community partners we ensure patients have the type of independence that is most appropriate for each of them. Unfortunately, caregivers and medical providers too often take over and don’t ask what the patient wants, forgetting the patient is supposed to be at the center of care. Language matters when it comes to aging, and it’s important to refer to it as a natural process. Aging is not a disease—actually, aging is a gift many do not get to experience. At Visiting Nurse, we’ve adopted a model of care that is not tied to time with the patient, because connecting on a deeper level with each patient is important to us. We choose to take our time with patients so we can learn more about what each patient desires from his or her care.

Providing patient education through our community partners is important to aging independently. We teach patients to understand and predict things that will happen as they age. We help them make tough decisions, including helping them to be more financially independent. Financial education can restore dignity to aging patients, giving them power in choice and a voice in their care.

Connectivity & Processes

Our processes are built around the aging population we serve. We’re currently developing ways to keep patients connected with us and their families through tv or a smart phone. Using this technology, patients will be able to build their own tailored individual care circles, giving each person a specific role in their care. For many families with multiple children, each child will have their own role in the parents’ health care. Utilizing strategic processes and connectivity, our staff keeps patients at home an average of four years longer than if they had no care at all, helping to facilitate a feeling of independence for our patients. Connectivity is important with aging patients and those with chronic disease; it enables the patient to be engaged in their care, if they are able. With annual competencies about aging and with a practice set around aging, we help patients understand their medical conditions that will result in more independence.

One Patient’s Story

Aging seniors deserve to feel independent, and that means providing care from multiple angles. A wonderful woman currently in our hospice program, who has been a patient of ours since 2010, values her matriarchal independence. In her quest for independence, she relied upon her nurses and the community programs with which we partner. We helped her with relocating to a new home and financial education throughout the years. We helped her maintain this dignity in independence which is clearly so important to her through the provision of services from our community partners. Moms Meals provided her with meals throughout the years, her emergency button to request medical help is provided through Linked to Life and her home aid service comes from Right at Home. In addition, a medication management nurse taught her how to use her medication correctly and safely on her own. She’s currently happy and comfortable, right where she wants to be, according to her nurse, with whom the patient has developed a close relationship. Her nurse visits her more frequently now, even outside of regularly scheduled visits just to check up on her. She wanted to remain independent, even at the end-of-life, so we created an environment in her home that was conducive to her care. We are honored to have facilitated her independence throughout her journey with us as a patient. She has formed relationships with many of the staff and we will always appreciate her tenacity to remain independent.

For more information on aging independently , read the first part of this blog about our approach to medical care.

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Today, we remember and honor all who gave their lives in service to our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication will never be forgotten. Forever grateful. 🕊️
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🏌️‍♀️ We’re proud to be part of a great cause on and off the course!

Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta was honored to participate in and sponsor this year's LeadingAge Georgia Golf Tournament—an event that brings together healthcare partners and changemakers in senior care. 

This tournament helps sustain the vital work of LeadingAge Georgia, empowering member organizations that serve and advocate for our aging population across the state. It’s a privilege to be part of a community so committed to compassionate, quality care for older adults. ⛳️💙

#LeadingAgeGA #GolfForACause #SeniorCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HospiceAtlanta #AgingWithDignity #CommunitySupport

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🎉 Please join us in celebrating our Employee of the Month – Dykia Brummitt! 🌟

Dykia’s dedication, compassion, and positive team spirit make a lasting impact on everyone she cares for. Her commitment to our mission and values here at Visiting Nurse Health System shines through in all she does, and we are so grateful to have her on our team. 💙👏

Congratulations, Dykia—you truly embody what it means to provide care with heart! 🏆

#EmployeeOfTheMonth #VisitingNurseProud #HealthcareHeroes #ThankYouDykia #visitingnursehealthsystem

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🎉 Celebrating Nurses Month continues with our incredible nursing team at Hospice Atlanta | Visiting Nurse Home Health! 💙🩺Here's our Home Health team celebrating this week! We’re so proud of our compassionate, dedicated nurses who go above and beyond every day to care for our community in the comfort of their home. Thank you for all that you do! 👏

#NursesMonth #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #ThankYouNurses #hospiceatlanta

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We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us last Saturday for Hospice Atlanta's 3rd Annual Resilience bereavement event. Whether you came to listen, speak, or simply be present, your participation helped create a space of healing, support, and strength.

A special thank you to our incredible speakers, who so generously shared their stories, insights, and compassion. Your words touched many and reminded us all that even in grief, we are not alone.

To every attendee — your presence was powerful. Thank you for showing up for yourselves, and for each other. Together, we honored our losses and found comfort in community. Thank you to our gracious volunteers and staff who supported the event operations. Let’s continue to walk this path together. 💛

 #ResilienceEvent #GriefSupport #ThankYou #HealingTogether #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

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💐Happy Mother's Day!💐

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Happy Nurses Week! 
Celebrating this week the incredible dedication, compassion, and resilience of nurses here at Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta and everywhere! 🌟🩺
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, providing unwavering support and care to patients and their families. In 2025, we continue to recognize the vital role they play in our communities and their commitment to improving lives. Let's take a moment to express our gratitude and appreciation for these healthcare heroes. 

Join us in celebrating Nurses Week by sharing a story of a nurse who has inspired you or by simply saying “thank you” to a nurse who has made a difference in your life.

Thank You For All You Do!! Happy Nurses Week! 💙🏥 #nursesweek2025#healthcareheroes#ThankYouNurses#visitingnursehealthsystem#hospiceatlanta

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Thank you Mutual of America for a great time celebrating our mission, Healthcare Champions, and new friends of Visiting Nurse at Mercedes Stadium.

#visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #communityfirst

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We had a great time celebrating OT month, culminating this week with our 2025 Home Health OT Breakfast! 
Thank you OTs for all you do!

#OTMonth #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #teamworkmakesthedreamwork❤️

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Space Is Still Available - Sign Up Today!

Join us for our 3rd Annual Resilience Event on May 17th, 2025.

This FREE event is designed to support those on the grief journey.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
• Hear from others who understand the grief journey.
• Engage in grief break-out groups for shared support.
• Receive tangible tools to cope with loss and grief.
Together, we can build resilience and support each other through grief. Registration Required.

#hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem #grief

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As we continue to celebrate our volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week & Month, enjoy this message from one of our longtime volunteers and supporters sharing on why folks volunteer!

Barry gives to our community donating his time and talent in many ways impacting many around the globe, including helping individuals on their grief journey through TGBeyond! Thank you for all you do Barry!

#volunteer #volunteerappreciation #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #TGBeyond

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