VNANNJ Communications
helping to inform the communities we serve CategoriesHistory
March 2024
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We encourage you to help spread awareness about the following alcohol-related issues for older adults. Addressing alcohol use among seniors requires a holistic approach that considers their unique needs and circumstances. Seniors may have increased sensitivity to alcohol's effects, even at lower levels of consumption. As individuals age, their bodies metabolize alcohol differently. Seniors typically experience a decrease in body water content, reduced liver function, and changes in the absorption rate of alcohol. Mixing alcohol with certain prescription or over-the-counter drugs can amplify side effects. Many seniors take multiple medications to manage chronic conditions, and alcohol can interact adversely with these medications. Older adults are more susceptible to the negative health consequences of alcohol use. Chronic alcohol consumption can exacerbate age-related health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disease, and cognitive decline. It can also weaken the immune system, making seniors more vulnerable to infections and illnesses. Alcohol use can impair balance, coordination, and cognitive function, increasing the risk of falls and injuries among seniors. Falls are a leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and mortality in older adults, and alcohol consumption can further heighten this risk, leading to fractures, head injuries, and other serious consequences. Seniors may be at risk of social isolation and loneliness, which can contribute to depression and alcohol misuse. Retirement, loss of friends or loved ones, and limited mobility can all contribute to feelings of loneliness, prompting some seniors to turn to alcohol for comfort or companionship. They may also have limited transportation, fixed incomes, and a lack of awareness about available resources to seek help for alcohol-related concerns. Click here for more information about the effects of alcohol on an aging population. 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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National Volunteers Week was established in 1974 to highlight the benefits of volunteering, and encourage others to volunteer. Some call it “Paying it forward,” but no matter how we do it, helping others is proven to benefit the volunteer as well as the recipient. Volunteering can help you make friends, learn new skills, increase your socialization, and keep you mentally stimulated. While volunteering is good for all ages, it provides profound benefits for seniors. Nothing relieves stress better than connecting with other people. Researchers have discovered that the more we give, the happier we feel. And studies have shown that older volunteers walk more, cope with tasks more easily, have better thinking skills, have lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk of heart disease. Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) offers the following volunteer opportunities: Time to Care: Your voice is needed. Make calls to those in your community who are ill or disabled, confined to home, and in need of a comforting voice. House Calls For Groceries: Volunteers provide shopping assistance to homebound residents. This rewarding activity is ideal for active adults, students, families, and community groups. Hospice Volunteering: Volunteering to deliver comfort and companionship to patients and their families can be extremely rewarding. Donate: Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the needs of patients and caregivers. There are many ways to help. For more information please visit our donation page vnannj.org/donate or call the VNA Foundation at: 973-451-4148. Friendly Visitors: This important opportunity matches volunteers with a VNA client to visit on a flexible schedule, providing socialization that is a much-needed break from the isolation that often comes from living alone. Juniors Helping Seniors: Similar to “Friendly Visitors” but specially geared to high school students, this program provides a safe and rewarding volunteer opportunity in Morris County that is ideal for gaining life lessons, improving communication skills, and fulfilling volunteer activities for college applications (the consensus of college recruiters is that the ideal number of volunteer hours for an admission application is between 50 and 200). 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 helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. 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. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Hospice Care is Comfort Care3/26/2024 Hospice provides better quality end-of-life care Hospice is a difficult word for many, but as families learn more, they come to realize the true benefits of this form of care. In fact, studies have shown people live longer, and with better quality of life, when they start hospice care sooner. However, not all hospice programs are the same. We encourage you to learn more about the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) hospice program, which is provided in the comfort of the patient’s home, surrounded by their loved ones, or in a care facility if needed. 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Because caregivers need care too. Are you caring for an elderly loved one? You may qualify for FREE respite care assistance. Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is pleased to offer an array of caregiver support programs, including free respite care funded by The Statewide Respite Care Program (SRCP) to those who qualify. VNA administers SRCP in Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Passaic counties through grants received from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. Go to: Grant-Funded Caregiver Support Programs or call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748) for more information. 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Join VNA for Celebration of Life3/12/2024 Join us Thursday, May 9 for Celebration of Life! May 6 – 12 is National Nurses Week and on Thursday, May 9, we invite you to join Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA), along with friends and neighbors at our Morristown office for Celebration of Life to recognize our nurses and honor the lives of those we have served. The event begins with an outdoor Garden Ceremony featuring speakers, entertainment, and light refreshments. Afterward, invited guests will enjoy a Bubbles, Bourbon, and Brews tasting, hors d'oeuvres, and an exciting raffle opportunity! Learn more here. From our roots in 1898 as one nurse visiting patients on her bicycle, we have grown in services and area to be a leading provider of comprehensive home health care and hospice services in Morris, Hunterdon, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties in Northern New Jersey. Please join the generations who have supported VNA’s home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. Proceeds from the Celebration of Life event benefit the VNA Foundation and provide critical funding for VNA’s programs and services. 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 join us at Celebration of Life or donate at vnannj.org/donate. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Download VNA’s “A Guide to Aging at Home” now to learn more. 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. Download A Guide to Aging at Home now. Use this handy reference to learn more and check off your progress as you make your plan to age at home well before you have a health emergency. We also suggest that you learn more about VNA’s home health care services here so you are prepared for when you, or a loved one, may need assistance. Did you also know that 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Can you pass the Cancer Prevention Quiz?2/27/2024 February is cancer prevention month — how much do you know? Research shows that many cancer diagnoses and deaths can be attributed to preventable causes, including smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, excessive exposure to the sun, and more. This indicates that we all need to understand more about cancer prevention and put into practice what we know. A good start is visiting The American Association for Cancer Research website to learn more and take the CancerPreventionQuiz. 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Do you know these healthcare pioneers? There have been many accomplished and influential Black individuals in the field of healthcare who have made significant contributions to medicine, nursing, and public health. Here are just a few: Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856-1931) was a pioneering African American surgeon and one of the first physicians to perform successful open-heart surgery. He founded Provident Hospital in Chicago in 1891, one of the first interracial hospitals in the United States. Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904-1950) was a prominent physician, surgeon, and researcher known for his groundbreaking work in blood transfusion and blood storage techniques. He established the first blood bank during World War II and revolutionized the field of blood banking. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895) was the first African American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. She practiced medicine in Boston and authored a book on women’s health, A Book of Medical Discourses. Dr. Joycelyn Elders served as the 15th Surgeon General of the United States from 1993 to 1994. She was the first African American to hold this position and was known for her advocacy on public health issues such as sexual education and contraception. Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926) was the first African American woman to work as a professionally trained nurse in the United States. She dedicated her career to promoting racial equality in nursing and founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). Dr. Mae Jemison is a physician, engineer, and astronaut who became the first African American woman to travel in space when she flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She has also been involved in various health and education initiatives. Dr. Jerome Adams served as the 20th Surgeon General of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He focused on addressing public health challenges such as the opioid epidemic, smoking cessation, and mental health. These individuals broke barriers in their respective fields, serving as role models and inspirations for future generations of healthcare professionals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Random Acts of Kindness and Valentine’s Day — the perfect combination! February 11th through 17th is designated as Random Acts of Kindness Week. Valentine’s Day is Wednesday of this week. What better way to honor the day than with a random act of kindness — a selfless act performed to bring joy to others without expecting anything in return? And if you are feeling left out of Valentine’s Day, you can participate with a random act of kindness that will make you and a complete stranger feel the love. Here are some thoughts:
No matter how small a gesture may seem, a random act of kindness promotes empathy, compassion, and goodwill. Go ahead, make someone’s day! 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Why you should care about American Heart Month Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Your heart health is crucial for your overall well-being. Learning about heart-healthy habits and lifestyle changes can help you reduce your risk of heart disease and related conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. By raising awareness about heart health, American Heart Month helps to educate people about the risk factors and ways to prevent heart disease. It's a reminder to pay attention to your nutrition, exercise, stress management, and early detection of heart problems. Being informed empowers you to make healthier choices and take control of your cardiovascular health. A healthy heart is essential for maintaining a good quality of life. By caring about your heart health and participating in American Heart Month activities, you can improve your chances of living a longer, more active, and fulfilling life. For a wealth of information about heart health, visit https://www.heart.org. 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 VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic 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. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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