Hospice and supportive palliative care is a highly emotional and delicate process, but the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas strives to make this journey easier for patients and families. Community Impact recently spoke with Jennifer Austin, VNA Texas’ Managing Director of Development and Communications, to learn more about how VNA Texas provides compassionate, personalized care to support individuals during their most challenging times. Learn more about what we have to offer.
Founded in 1934, VNA Texas provides a wide range of services including hospice, supportive palliative care, and meals on wheels.
What is the Texas Visiting Nurse Association and what services does it provide?
Austin: At VNA Texas, our mission is to provide care to our communities with compassion, dignity, and integrity to promote health and well-being. We offer a variety of services, including hospice, supportive palliative care, and meals on wheels, that can be delivered to a patient’s home anywhere. Our hospice care serves both adults and pediatric patients from newborns to 21 years of age. We provide these clinical services across 16 counties in North Texas, including Collin, Cook, Dallas, Denton, and Ellis. Additionally, we are proud to provide meal service throughout Dallas County.
How have VNA Texas’ core values ​​of compassion, dignity, and integrity shaped our approach to providing care over the past 90 years?
Austin: Founded in 1934 during the Great Depression, VNA Texas was founded on providing care where it’s needed most. We now specialize in the treatment of serious illnesses, helping individuals age with dignity and ensuring both patients and families receive compassionate care. As Texas’ first nonprofit hospice, we have always put the needs of our patients and caregivers first, providing expert support without the pressure to make a profit.
What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
Austin: Hospice and palliative care both focus on providing comfort and improving quality of life, but they differ in timing and scope. Palliative care can begin at any stage of a serious illness to manage symptoms, relieve pain, and provide emotional support for the patient and family. Hospice care, on the other hand, is for patients within the first six months of life due to a life-limiting illness.
What are common misconceptions about these forms of care?
Austin: A common misconception about hospice care is that it means giving up, but in reality, it’s leaning back. Hospice prioritizes what is best for the patient and their wishes, focusing on providing comfort and ensuring the best quality of life possible. Some people are hesitant to take advantage of hospice benefits because they believe they are meant to end, but in reality, enrolling in hospice care early can often extend a patient’s life. This means they can receive appropriate care and support at home without having to be hospitalized again. By managing symptoms and avoiding unnecessary hospitalization, patients can improve their quality of life at the end of life.
Can you explain the Meals on Wheel program and the process for individuals to apply for services?
Austin: VNA Texas is proud to offer meal-on-board service throughout Dallas County. We started our Meals on Wheels program in 1973 with just 125 clients. We currently deliver more than 5,000 meals a day to seniors and adults with disabilities throughout Dallas County, and an additional 1,500 meals to community centers. Our programs focus on social nutrition, not only by providing nutritious meals, but also by providing socialization and safety checks through our volunteers and staff. These daily visits help combat loneliness and ensure the well-being of those we serve. To apply for the Meals on Wheel program, individuals can contact us directly through our website, where they can fill out a referral form.
How does VNA Texas ensure comprehensive, individualized care while being culturally sensitive and addressing the unique needs of patients and families?
Austin: At VNA Texas, we provide comprehensive, personalized care through a large collaborative team that includes certified nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. We specialize in pediatric and adult hospice care, and our child life specialists support the children in your family. Care is tailored to patient preferences, cultural values, and family needs. Cultural sensitivity is central to our approach as we understand that beliefs about illness, death and dying can vary widely. Our team has undergone extensive training, including certifications in Jewish hospice care and caring for the LGBTQ+ community, to ensure we respect the unique needs of each family. This comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach ensures the highest level of care and support for both patients and families.
If you are interested in the services VNA Texas offers, including hospice, supportive palliative care, and meals on wheels, please visit our website to learn more.
The article above was written by multi-platform journalist Chloe Chappell and the Community Impact storytelling team with information provided exclusively by local businesses as part of “Sponsored Content” purchased through our advertising team .
