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When is hospice the right choice?

7/22/2025

Hospice is always a difficult decision, even if it is the right one.

Hospice has a specific medical definition—care that focuses on comfort, quality of life, and dignity when facing a life-limiting illness, and curative treatment is no longer effective or desired.

Studies show that people live longer and with better quality of life if they start hospice care sooner, but when to choose hospice is a very personal decision for the patient, their caregiver(s), and family. The following is some information that may help.

Consult the physician. When the doctor believes the patient has six months or less to live if the disease follows its normal course, it is a general guideline, not a time limit. Hospice care can continue beyond six months if needed, and the patient may even move in and out of hospice if their condition improves without curative treatment.

Hospitalizations or ER visits have become too stressful. Repeated trips to the hospital, especially for the same symptoms, indicate declining stability that puts increasing stress on the patient and family. Care that focuses on the patient’s comfort may help them remain at home, with less stress and anxiety.

Physical condition is in constant decline. Chronic Pain, progressive weight loss, fatigue, weakness, difficulty walking, eating, or speaking may be better managed in hospice care.

Patient wants to stop curative treatments. When the patient has exhausted aggressive treatment options and is changing focus to finding peace, comfort, spirituality, and time with loved ones, hospice care will help the patient and family through the end of life and bereavement process.

Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? We have helped thousands of patients “age in place” while avoiding hospitalization and nursing homes. We suggest you learn more about our home health care services, including our dedicated team of hospice professionals, who can help to guide you.

Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care our patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please visit vnannj.org/donate or call the VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148.

Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care and hospice services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Passaic, and Somerset Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence.

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Plant protein may be better for older people.

7/15/2025

Animal-based protein or plant-based protein?

A 2025 study published in Nature Communications found that people in their 70s may have much to gain from a diet high in plant-based protein. The study suggests that plant-based protein may help to increase longevity in older adults by reducing their chances of chronic diseases, including Type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and dementia. While there is no need to go completely vegetarian or vegan, including more plant-based protein in your diet may be very beneficial to your health.

What is plant-based protein?
Plant-based protein refers to protein that comes from plant sources rather than animals.

Here are some of the best sources of plant-based protein.
These foods help to provide a well-rounded, balanced diet that covers all essential amino acids, fiber, and nutrients.

Legumes, including lentils, chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, and navy beans, are high in fiber, iron, and complex carbs
Soy-Based Foods, including tofu, tempeh, and edamame, provide complete protein that is rich in calcium and iron, and provide nine essential amino acids
Quinoa is a popular complete protein grain you’ll find in many delicious recipes. Oats, brown rice, barley, and farro are other high-protein grains.
High-protein nuts and nut butters, including almonds, peanut butter, cashews, walnuts, and pistachios, provide healthy fats and vitamin E.
Many seeds, such as chia, hemp, flaxseeds, and sunflower seeds, are high-protein, rich in omega-3s and fiber.
Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale may include smaller amounts of protein, but they also provide essential micronutrients to supplement other plant protein sources.

Find the plant proteins you enjoy most and look for delicious recipes to include them in your diet.

Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about healthy aging and how to successfully “age in place” while avoiding hospitalization and nursing homes. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency.

Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care our patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please visit vnannj.org/donate or call the VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148.

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How much plastic is in your food?

7/8/2025

Are you consuming too much plastic?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (less than 5 mm in size) and are found almost everywhere in the environment, food chain, and human body. A study published in Nature Medicine reported that human brain tissue contains microplastics, and some studies link cardiovascular disease risk to microplastics in arterial plaque. While many products are contaminated through plastic packaging, much is also ingested through unfiltered water and foods.

Microplastics come from many sources, including synthetic clothing, tire dust, microbeads in personal care products (now banned in many countries), packaging materials, and degraded litter.

What can we do?

Reduce, avoid, or manage the foods known to contain the most microplastics. These include products produced with water not filtered for microplastics such as tap water, sea salt, beer, bottled water, shellfish, and rice. Apples and carrots, even tea bags, may also contain high levels of microplastics.
Never buy water in plastic bottles.
Seek certified organic products that maintain healthy production practices and use non-plastic packaging.
Thoroughly wash all products sold in plastic packaging.
Adapt. Look for purity-tested products. Seek out non-plastic water filtration bottles, pitchers, or “reverse-osmosis” filtration systems. Use loose-leaf tea in a non-plastic tea infuser or teapot.

Staying healthy in today’s environment can be challenging, but staying informed, alert, and adaptable helps.

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Did you know? Morning coffee is good for longevity.

7/1/2025

3 - 4 cups of black coffee before noon might do you good.

A study done at Tulane University found that drinking coffee at certain times during the day appears to be linked to significant impacts on longevity. Interestingly, the research indicates that only morning drinkers seem to benefit.

Drinking black coffee in the morning:
Coffee is packed with polyphenols, compounds that provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, and has been linked to lowering the risk of certain cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and Type 2 diabetes. This study found that only morning coffee drinkers benefited from a 16% lower risk of death and a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Drinking coffee later in the day:
Drinking black coffee later in the day appears to negate the advantages of drinking it in the morning. The study authors suggest that later coffee consumption may disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, impacting sleep quality and bone health.

What to do:
Drink only 3-4 cups of black coffee between 4 am and 12 pm. Adding sugar, other sweeteners, and milk or coffee creamer of any type appears to eliminate the healthful effects of black coffee.