Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

Oct 03 2017
The Secret to Longevity: Advice from Nonagenarians

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By: Gina Epifano, PT, COS-C, Director of Rehabilitation

Carl Reiner is well known as an actor, director and comedian. He’s also 95 years old. His recent HBO documentary “If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast” is an inquisitive and insightful look into what life is like for people in their 90s. He talks with other famed nonagenarians including Dick Van Dyke, Betty White and Norman Lear, discussing their thoughts and ideas about their own longevity. Dick Van Dyke’s best tip? Keep Moving. He believes so strongly in the importance of maintaining mobility that he has written a book about it.

Reiner also meets with and shares the stories of regular, every day people living actively in their 90s. The documentary introduces the viewer to Tao Porchon-Lynch who is still teaching yoga, and Ida Keeling, who is still running races at 102 years old!

At Visiting Nurse Health System, our therapists are very comfortable seeing patients in this age range. We recently provided therapy to a patient who was still mowing her own grass at 100 years old!

Physical Therapists Keep Aging Patients Moving Safely

What is the common denominator to their stories? It’s just what Dick Van Dyke said: Keep moving. At Visiting Nurse, we have an entire department dedicated to doing just that. Our rehabilitation practice includes physical, occupational and speech therapists who are dedicated to helping patients stay mobile. Our clinicians evaluate and treat patients in their own homes, helping patients reach their own personal mobility goals. Treating patients in their own homes also gives Visiting Nurse’s therapists the unique ability to perform home safety assessments and individualized fall prevention plans tailored to keep our patients safe in their own environment.

While it is fantastic to think of elderly patients running or mowing the grass, our therapists understand that many of our patients in this age range might not be quite so agile. We are sensitive to those with limited mobility and pain issues who might just want to be able to get around the house a little more safely. Our therapists work with each patient to develop mobility goals tailored specifically to each individual’s needs.

Our mission at Visiting Nurse is to improve the lives of those we serve. If you would like more information about how Visiting Nurse can help you or your loved one keep moving, please contact me at Gina.Epifano@vnhs.org or 919-645-7543.

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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 post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 17934905547420166
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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📣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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⭐ 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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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18101575895384051
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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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18024444626926217
🎃 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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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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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18120700570746698
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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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18026032811872091
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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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18107576138344233
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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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18216162760358699
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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