Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

Independent Aging at Home: Part 1

By Andrea Stevenson, RN, BSN, MPH, Executive Director of Home Health Services

As we celebrate Independence Day this July, let’s also celebrate the value of aging independently at home. With today’s technological advances, it has never been easier to bring healthcare to a patient’s home. This is particularly of value to aging patients who wish to remain independent for as long as possible. Aging independently means patients feel dignified, empowered and prepared to handle the many health-related aspects of aging. An independent patient is one who understands his or her disease or condition, and is an active participant in developing and meeting their healthcare goals.

Promoting Independence

Healthcare as an industry still has some work to do to meet the special needs of our aging population. At Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta, we work every day to ensure our aging patients receive care that promotes independence and self-esteem. Our philosophy is to facilitate independence in a dignified and person-centered way, meaning we always remember the patient is a person with their own unique needs. Among many publicly reported key performance indicators (see Medicare’s Home Care Compare), we measure independence as being able to move around, self-bathe and get in and out of bed unassisted. Our physical therapists work on balance and ambulation to help patients move around more easily and sometimes without any assistance. Our occupational therapists work to give patients more independence through autonomy in eating and bathing. Speech therapists help patients with their communication and memory. Our nurses work to maintain independence for patients through pain control, medication management, and disease management. These kinds of skilled services help seniors regain control because, just like everyone else, seniors want to be able to remain comfortably in their homes.

To help patients be independent, we must also educate them and their caregivers. Much of our work is centered on patient education. Being a nurse not only means taking care of our patients, it also means supporting the caregivers by giving them written instructions and conducting demonstrations with them. We also conduct a clinical assessment for the caregiver, showing them how to perform medical tasks such as how to take blood pressure or administer an intravenous medication. We make sure caregivers are comfortable in their role and feel confident that they know what to do if their loved one needs medical attention. For patients without caregivers, we make sure they are cared for as if they were our own family. We assess the patient’s ability to take care of themselves, and if they are unable to, we use resources from both inside and outside of our organization to develop a plan to help the patient regain their independence if possible.

Independent Aging Means Innovative Aging

With independent aging comes innovative aging. We use technology to help achieve patients’ goals in the safest way possible. We observe the health of our high-risk patients using telemonitors, a device that tracks key patient biometrics. The monitors include teaching modules to help patients learn how to manage symptoms and recognize when to reach out for help. We have staff who watch the monitors and who will call the patient and their nurse if they have not connected with the monitor or if the monitor shows abnormal readings, such as a very low pulse. We also partner with Resurgia Health Solutions, an Atlanta-based, physician house-call medical practice that provides primary and interim care for homebound patients. Using these kinds of solutions, we are able to promote independent aging for our patients in their homes, assuring them help and support are near.

Hearing from our patients about how we’ve helped to keep them independent makes our hearts smile. One patient that had a hip replacement asked for the same therapist after a second surgery. The patient was very appreciative because she didn’t expect to return to 100%, and yet she did. The caregiver wrote us a note which said, “Excellent OT [occupational therapy] and PT [physical therapy],”adding their loved one has “worked very hard and has received better therapy than she would have received in a rehab facility.” Facilitating this kind of improvement toward a better outlook on life helps patients not only physically, but also mentally.

Additionally, person-centered care considers the environment and individual circumstances in which the patient lives. In the second part of this blog we focus on the ways Visiting Nurse connects patients with community resources to further facilitate independence.

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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!💐

#mothersday #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

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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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