Dallas County Living Well Magazine November/December 2018 | Page 20

KATHERINE KRAUSE Katherine is a leading voice in health care and senior services and the President and CEO of VNA Texas. Dear Katherine, My mom was on hospice and I was so grateful for the volunteer who sat with her on Saturday mornings, so I could go to the grocery store and have breakfast with my family. How can I get involved? -Want to Pay It Forward Dear Want to Pay It Forward, Hospice volunteers help our patients in many meaningful ways and enhance their lives at such a critical time. They often provide companionship, assistance with errands, a brief respite for a family member that needs to step away from the home for a bit, play music, draw, paint—whatever the patient finds significant and whatever help may be needed. Our volunteers go through training and have the support of dedicated staff who strive to match a volunteer with just the right patient. It is a precious gift of time during what can be a difficult season. ~Katherine Dear Katherine, If I am needing to find a place for my aging parent to live, how do I decide with so many options to choose from?! -Loving Child of an Aging Parent Dear Loving Child of an Aging Parent, This is a hard road to navigate! Relocating an aging loved one is a big decision with many influencing factors. There are skilled nursing facilities (or SNFs, traditionally called a nursing home), assisted living, independent living, residential care homes (often called “group homes”), and also the option of bringing care into the home. Factors to consider are cost, long-term care insurance plans, level of care needed, proximity to other family members, socialization needs and of course, the loved one’s preference. We advise visiting and taking pre-arranged tours, as well as possibly working with a placement agency. Social workers at hospitals, home care or hospice are also great resources. ~Katherine vnatexas.org N I J H 2016 Readers’ Choice ACCREDITED VNA Hospice Care VNA Care Choices VNA Hospice Care focuses on living life to its fullest and treating you with the dignity and respect you deserve. As a nonprofit, our bottom line is patient support and care provided by our highly qualified staff. Following the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, patients and their loved ones have many questions about the best course of action. VNA Care Choices provides supportive care services in the home while continuing treatment with your current physician. To schedule your free in-home informational visit please call [phone] or email [email protected] For volunteer opertunities please call [phone] or email [email protected]