Giving Seniors the Help they Need

Evelyn lived through the harsh days of the Depression and the lean rationing years of World War II.  She’s worked hard all her life, and, like many of her generation, finds it hard to ask for help.

Now homebound, she can’t go out to buy groceries and relies on VNA Meals on Wheels for her daily nutrition.  After thanking us for her meals in a sweet, handwritten note, she goes on to say,“I used to cook a lot when my husband was alive, but he passed away and I’m alone now.  I am very appreciative of the meals I receive.”

With a gift of $32, you could feed a homebound senior like Evelyn for an entire week. Please make your gift today to ensure your hungry neighbors have nutritious meals and comforting friendship. www.vnatexas.org/give

Food for the Soul

In our foodie world, most of us believe in the adage “live to eat” instead of “eat to live.”  For more than 20,000 seniors in Dallas County, the reality of hunger and isolation dominates the cultural and truly human need of nourishment for the body and soul through good food and good friends.  Thanks to the support of donors and volunteers, VNA Meals on Wheels offers a variety of nutritious meals delivered every weekday by friendly volunteers who are often the only person clients may interact with each day. While the menu is quite tasty, our meals have never been written up by an actual food critic—until now! 

Park Cities People columnist and VNA Board Member, Kersten Rettig, took on the challenge of eating four days of VNA Meals on Wheels.  Click below to read her delightful account of her VNA Meals on Wheels adventure in this month’s issue of Park Cities People:

https://issuu.com/pcpphp/docs/pc_october_2019_web/16

A message from CEO, Katherine Krause

A Tradition of Excellence

As Texas’ first and most trusted hospice provider, VNA Hospice and Palliative Care focuses on living life to its fullest while treating patients and families with the dignity and respect they deserve.  Our team of experts helps patients spend their final days as they wish in a comfortable, pain-free, and loving environment.  As a nonprofit health care organization, our bottom line is providing the most compassionate, professional care possible. 

I am proud to announce that VNA has again been announced as a finalist in the D CEO’s Excellence in Healthcare Awards. Specifically, our Meals on Wheels/Palliative Care collaborative is being honored in the “Achievement in Community Outreach” category.  

It is with VNA’s history of innovation that our Meals on Wheels and Palliative Care programs have been merged to offer additional home-based support to isolated Meals on Wheels clients. Utilizing a RN Nurse Navigator whose clinical expertise and critical assessment skills guide the process, VNA is able to provide care navigation to Meals on Wheels clients in desperate need of additional support in the home to help them safely age in place.

VNA is grateful for the dedicated staff and generous donors who are helping to extend VNA’s continuum of care linking the social services provided by Meals on Wheels with the expert clinical services VNA has provided for 85 years.  If you’d like to learn how you can support this innovative program, contact Jennifer Atwood at atwoodj@vnatexas.org 

Warmly,
Katherine