The History of Hospice Atlanta

The History of Hospice Atlanta

Providing Hospice Care to the greater Atlanta area since 1975.

Hospice Atlanta logo

Hospice Atlanta is the oldest hospice in the State of Georgia and had its beginning in 1975. At that time, two women from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Frances West and Mona Casino, began the program in order to care for a member of their congregation. Members of the church gathered together to support that patient and their family.

As time went on, the number of volunteers increased, and they began to serve more patients. A board of directors was developed to assist in guiding the volunteer staff. Volunteer support groups met in the homes of various volunteers. Saint Joseph’s Hospital donated office space and an initial grant was obtained in 1981 for hiring professional staff. Patient and family services were still provided by volunteers and consisted primarily of emotional and practical support.

In 1983, Hospice Atlanta became a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Metropolitan Atlanta, a United Way Agency. This affiliation enabled hospice to comply with newly enacted state and federal standards governing provision of hospice care. In addition, Hospice Atlanta hired professional caregivers (nurses and social workers) to provide direct services to patients and families. Both professional and paraprofessional volunteers served as members of the hospice team to provide care to patients and their families. During 1984 and 1985, Hospice Atlanta’s caseload and staffing increased significantly. This trend has continued, as hospice care has become better known in the community and among health care professionals. We now serve terminal patients and their families in 26 counties in the State of Georgia.

Learn more about our Hospice Care today!

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Happy Father’s Day from Visiting Nurse Health System! 💙
Today we honor fathers, father figures, grandfathers and the fathers who are caregivers -leading lead with love, strength, and quiet dedication at home and in our communities. Thank you for all you do! 
#FathersDay #VisitingNurse #HonoringDads #visitingnursehealthsystem

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📢 We’re proud to share that Visiting Nurse Health System made front page news this week in Home Health Care News!

📰 Check out the featured article where our President & CEO, Dorothy Davis, talks about the growing financial pressures nonprofit home-based care providers face—especially in a market increasingly shaped by Medicare Advantage.
Dorothy shares insights on how competition for tier 1 patients and reimbursement challenges are shaping the future of care—not just for our patients, but for all of us who may one day need these vital services.

💬 We’re grateful to be part of this important conversation about the sustainability of nonprofit home health—and the critical business drivers that will define its future.

📖 Read the article here 👉https://vnhs.org/news/

#HomeHealthCare #NonprofitLeadership #MedicareAdvantage #ValueBasedCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthCareNews #FutureOfCare

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VNHS Spotlight!
We're pleased to share our award winning Chief Innovation Officer, Jaqueline Ralph-Blair, was honored today with Modern Healthcare’s Leading Woman of 2025 award! 
This prestigious award honors 30 leading women and 10 rising stars who are making lasting positive changes to the business of healthcare. 
Celebrated today in Chicago at Modern Healthcare’s 15th Annual Leading Women Conference & Awards Luncheon, Jacqueline and her 2025 class of Modern Healthcare's Leading Women, received a vanguard award honoring their achievements in and contributions to healthcare, to include directing strategic partnerships, designing cutting-edge technologies, and spearheading revenue-boosting initiatives. 
Congratulations Jacqueline and THANK YOU for all you do!!

#leadership #CSuite #givingback #healthcare #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta

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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. 🕊️
#MemorialDay #HonorAndRemember #NeverForget #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

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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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