In this episode of Aging Well with VNA, host Kersten Rettig sits down with Leisha Phipps, Executive Director of the Dallas Area Parkinson Society (DAPS), for an insightful and empowering conversation about Parkinson’s disease (PD)—the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world. Together, Kersten and Leisha explore what Parkinson’s is, how it affects individuals and families, and—most importantly—how people can live well with the disease. With an estimated 15,000 individuals in North Texas living with Parkinson’s, this conversation highlights the critical importance of community outreach, education, and engagement in supporting those impacted by PD.

Leisha shares how DAPS connects patients, caregivers, and professionals to vital resources, support services, and reliable information tailored to the unique needs of individuals with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Whether you are living with Parkinson’s, caring for someone who is, or working in a related professional field, this episode offers practical insights, encouragement, and hope—along with clear pathways to support right here in North Texas.

Click here to listen and check out more at www.vnatexas.org/podcasts

Summer doesn’t have to mean hours of screen time. For families looking for something more meaningful (without forcing it), we offer a terrific alternative!

Our third annual Meals on Wheels Kids Camp, happening June 8-12, invites children ages 8-11 to spend their days learning, connecting, and giving back. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and includes hands-on activities focused on empathy, inclusion, and nutrition—along with delivering meals to local seniors in Dallas.

The idea is simple: show kids they can make a difference, even now. Along the way, they also get out of the house, meet new people, and see their community in a new way.

New this year are flexible 2-, 3-, and 5-day options, making it easier for families to fit into their summer plans.

Registration is open through June 5, with prices ranging from $50 per day to $200 for the full week.

It’s a small shift from the usual summer routine—but one that can stick with kids long after camp ends.

Register now

May is Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of older adults in our communities. When Older Americans Month was first established in 1963, just 17 million Americans had reached age 65—and many lived in poverty with limited access to supportive services.

Today, Older Americans Month continues as a nationwide opportunity to recognize the generations who shaped our country and to recommit ourselves to ensuring seniors can age with dignity, comfort, and connection.

At VNA, we see this commitment come to life every day through Meals on Wheels, which delivers food and friendship to homebound seniors, and through Hospice and Supportive Palliative Care, which provides compassionate support during serious illness.

You can honor older adults in our community this month—and all year long—by:

• Volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels, bringing nourishment and a friendly check-in.
• Volunteering with VNA Hospice, offering companionship and support to patients and families.
• Donating to VNA, helping ensure seniors receive the care and services they need.
• Advocating for senior services funding, so vital programs remain available for future generations.

Together, we can make Older Americans Month more than a celebration—we can make it a promise to stand with our senior neighbors, today and always.

We’re incredibly grateful to the restaurants that partnered with us during our March for Meals giveback events, and everyone that dined to make a difference! Your generosity and willingness to give back helped us raise vital funds and expand our impact in the community. Beyond the financial support, these events created opportunities to bring people together, raise awareness, and strengthen the connections that make our work possible.

With special thanks to: Empire Bakery, Shake Shack, Raising Cane’s, Jason’s Deli, BirdCall, Parry’s Pizzeria and Taphouse, Uncle Willie’s Pies, Panera Bread, Luna Grill, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Slim Chickens, and Smashburger.

Expanding Compassionate Hospice Care

I’m pleased to share an important update as VNA continues to expand compassionate hospice care for our community. Through our partnership with Forefront Living, VNA will soon assume operations of one floor at the T. Boone Pickens Campus to provide Inpatient Hospice Services.

This new Inpatient Unit (IPU) will serve hospice patients whose symptoms cannot be managed in the home, offering General Inpatient Care for short-term stabilization of complex symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath. The unit will also provide hospice patients with Inpatient Respite Care, giving family caregivers up to five days of relief while their loved one receives expert care in a supportive setting. These two types of care will be available for VNA’s adult and pediatric patients.

Behind the scenes, planning is well underway. Regulatory, licensure, and certification processes are progressing on schedule. With strong momentum, we are now focused on final surveys and readiness activities as we work toward an early summer opening.

Thanks to your generosity and service, VNA is able to expand care when it is needed most—supporting patients with complex needs and caregivers who need rest and reassurance. This Inpatient Unit is a meaningful extension of the compassion you help make possible every day.

Chris Culak
President & CEO
Visiting Nurse Association of Texas

© VNATexas.org
1420 W. Mockingbird Ln., Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247

Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing care to our community, enhancing health and well-being with compassion, dignity and integrity. VNA is North Texas’ most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, Supportive Palliative Care, and adult and pediatric Hospice Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wise counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org or call 214-689-0000 for more information. 

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