A message from Bob Franko, CEO
I’ll say this for death, it gives you perspective.
How’s that for an opening line? Thoughts of perspective have been ringing in my ears since last week when I lost my big sister. She died under hospice care in Michigan, a rather short stay of less than five days, but the service was a relief to her and her husband none the less. We were close our whole lives. I was just barking at her this last October when she turned 65 that I wasn’t old enough to have siblings that damn old. And I’m certainly not old enough to be losing them. But that’s when perspective enters the chat.
She struggled with her health for a variety of reasons the last few years and was a compliant and dutiful patient in attending appointments and following through with tests and whatnot, at least at the beginning. But there was a point some six or seven months ago when she felt that even with as much medical care as she was receiving, she was still experiencing diminishing returns for it all, and with that she wiped her hands and said she was done. It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that the day she made that decision she laid down on the couch in her living room and never got up again.
The perspective I’m gleaning from this is to deconstruct her ultimate demise and work backward to find out what worked and what didn’t work. It’s an interesting perspective for me as I am rallying everyone around me to reimagine aging. She was probably hospice eligible six months ago and I never even thought to have her consider it. I wanted her to keep fighting. But what about before all of that? What about the three to four years of declining health when I watched her frame begin to whither, her face filling with more lines and crevices, her eyes losing that magical blue sparkle. She avoided health care for the most part prior to that. Why? Because of lack of access? Because of fear? Because of pride? Those seem to be three of the biggest diverters from care for folks of that age.
How can we leverage technology and different approaches to make health care more inviting? How can we better acknowledge the psychosocial factors of care avoidance – fear, pride, depression, for example – and have answers for them? Is it care navigators or coaches? What about the social determinants we hear so much about: transportation, food insecurity, addictions, caregiver exhaustion, medical debt, losing a home and independence? We better have some solutions to all of this because these are major issues that seniors experience and cause them to delay health care, become more depressed and isolated, create familial discord, and ultimately lead to poor quality of life when they can still have many best days.
My sister still has things to teach me. When I was 8 or 9 and she was graduating from high school she taught me how to cuss and fight, how to flick a bic with one hand, and to question everything. We’re a good pair and we still have work to do.
VNA Hospice NWI Launches Caregiver Support Group and Expands Services for Those Grieving, Highlighting Commitment to Compassionate Care
[Valparaiso, IN] — VNA Hospice NWI, a leader in providing compassionate, community-focused hospice care, is excited to announce the launch of two transformative programs designed to further support individuals and families in our community: the launch of a Caregiver Support Group and the expansion of the Phoenix Center for Grief.
These initiatives are open to the community and free of charge highlighting our deep commitment to providing unparalleled, holistic care that goes beyond traditional hospice services, setting us apart from our for-profit competitors.
- Caregiver Support Group: This new peer-led group creates a safe and welcoming space for caregivers to connect, share their experiences, while finding solace and encouragement among peers who understand their journey. Facilitated by a dedicated Occupational Therapist and Hospice Volunteer, the group offers a unique lifeline of encouragement and understanding.
- Phoenix Center for Grief: Now restructured and expanded, the VNA Phoenix Center for Grief is providing even greater support for those navigating the challenges of grief and loss. The Center offers enhanced resources, a variety of peer-support based groups for both adults and children, and personalized pathways to healing.
"We're excited about this expansion of our support and grief programs," said Robert Franko, Chief Executive Officer of the VNA Hospice NWI. "We're proud to be a part of this community's safety net and provide more support to caregivers and even more love and compassion to those grieving," he said. "We are always looking for more ways to care for and serve our community instead of cutting back care in the interest of profits like other hospices in our area."
As a not-for-profit organization, VNA Hospice NWI prioritizes care over profit, continually innovating to provide services that make a meaningful difference. These new initiatives solidify our position as the trusted choice for hospice and grief care, offering unparalleled value and compassion.
For more information about the VNA Caregiver Support Group or the Phoenix Center for Grief, visit vnanwi.org or contact (219) 462-5195.
