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There’s no place like home, especially when you’re sick or recovering from surgery. Who doesn’t prefer to rest in the comfort of home, in familiar surroundings with family, friends and beloved pets? While hospitals are an important community resource for emergency and critical care, home is often where the journey leads us.

By Gina Epifano, PT, Director of Rehabilitation, Visiting Nurse Chronic pain and the use of opioids for chronic pain management have been making headlines in recent months. Statistics show that opioid prescriptions have quadrupled since 1999, with 259 million opioid prescriptions written in 2012. That’s enough for every adult in the United States to have a bottle of pills! Overuse of opioids can lead to overdose, addiction, depression and withdrawal symptoms.

By Sarah Matthews, Director of Individual Giving Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? How many have you broken already? I decided a few years ago that I was better off not making resolutions per se, but to set forth goals for myself over the next 12 months. I keep them to a maximum of three, and I make them very specific. This year, one of them is to learn to speak Spanish. I am traveling to Spain later this year, and I want to be able to get around easily, so I have taken steps to learn the language.

Uncertainty and opportunity. No one has a crystal ball on what changes will come to health care in 2017. (If someone does have a crystal ball, please send me the winning lottery ticket numbers for next Saturday. I prefer the Powerball.) If you have been on planet Earth for the past few months, you know that beginning January 21, 2017 we will have a new President with a new agenda. In addition to having a Republican in the White House, both houses of Congress have a Republican majority. We do not need a crystal ball to know that there will be changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) often referred to as ObamaCare. We can assume that some changes will be good and some will be not-so-good. That is how policy works.

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We wanted to share a memorable moment in the lives we serve, who have served. 

Yesterday, our Hospice Atlanta team was busy - veterans honoring veterans. 
Here is one of the many remarkable moments to share: 

Our Hospice Volunteer, and retired Navy Captain Alan, was busy yesterday honoring our patients who are Veterans, and honoring them in a Pinning Ceremony. One of our patients' family member wanted to share her experience. 

"My husband, Lt. Commander Paul R. M. was honored today with the ceremony from a retired captain of the Navy who volunteers with Hospice Atlanta. My husband received a certificate, a veterans pin, and a star that is cut from a retired flag of the United States of America. It was a very moving ceremony and Paul enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm very proud for him and all the lives he's saved as a cardiologist in his Naval service to his community and our country." Sara M., Hospice Atlanta Patient's wife.

#veterans #VeteransDay #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem #honor #VALOR #dignity

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📣Open Enrollment: Navigating Medicare Choices

Visiting Nurse Health System and Hospice Atlanta want to help you stay informed and make the best choices for your healthcare coverage.

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 – December 7. 
This is your opportunity to review your current coverage, compare plans, and make changes for the year ahead.
✅ Review your current Medicare coverage
✅ Compare plans, benefits, and costs
✅ Make sure your doctors, prescriptions, and services are covered

Your health and peace of mind matter to us! Take time to review your options and make informed decisions about your care.

Medicare: Annual Open Enrollment is October 15–December 7, 2026. Beneficiaries can review and change Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans.

Medicaid: There is no annual Open Enrollment period in Georgia. Eligible individuals can apply year-round, and current beneficiaries can renew or update their information as needed

Learn more at: 
Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Georgia Medicaid at gateway.ga.gov or call 1-877-423-4746 
For questions about eligibility, applications, renewals, or updating your information.

#MedicareOpenEnrollment #SeniorHealth #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HospiceAtlanta

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⭐ Excellence in Care, Right at Home!
Visiting Nurse’s Home Health division is proud to have our patients give a 4-Star Rating! We are proud to bring quality care into our patients' home each day, and this award is a genuine reflection of our commitment to delivering exceptional care, improving outcomes, and helping patients live safely and independently at home.
Congratulations to our incredible Home Health team for making a difference in the lives of those we serve every day! 
#visitingnursehealthsystem #HomeHealth #QualityCare #4StarRating

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As we close October, National Physical Therapy Month, we’ve had a great time celebrating our Physical Therapists (PT) and Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA). The great work they do each day lives on year long, helping patients stay strong, mobile, and independent at home. Thank you PTs! #PTMonth #gratitude

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🎃 No tricks, just treats, and a whole lot of TRUE care! 🧡

Our Visiting Nurse Health System / Hospice Atlanta team is out and about this Halloween, bringing comfort, compassion, and a little extra care to patients right where they call home. Because the sweetest treat is knowing you're cared for! 👻🩺

#VisitingNurse #TRUECare #Halloween #CareAtHome

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Celebrating our employee of the month! Congratulations!

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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 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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