Denton County Living Well Magazine January/February 2018 | Page 35

KATHERINE KRAUSE Katherine is a leading voice in healthcare and senior services and the President & CEO of VNA Texas. Dear Katherine, I’m struggling with the belief that putting my loved one on hospice means I am giving up on a miracle for healing or just on hope itself. How do I know choosing hospice care is doing what’s best? ~Tough Decisions Dear Katherine, My father has been placed on hospice and I have been assigned a social worker. Why do I need a social worker and what can he/she do for us? ~Why a Social Worker Dear Tough Decisions, I’m sorry you are going through such a difficult time. As caregivers we understand that the needs and wishes of the patient should always come first. Hospice is not giving up on the person, on the possibility of a miracle, or on hope itself. Each person deserves to be loved and cared for in the best possible way. That is what hospice care does, focusing on quality of life and comfort. Dear Why a Social Worker, As part of the interdisciplinary team, social workers advocate for the patient and their family to ensure they receive care personalized to their needs. Following death, social workers provide bereavement information, education, and support to help survivors cope with the death and subsequent adjustment (“new normal”) to a life without their loved one. N I J H 2016 Readers’ Choice ACCREDITED DiversityFIRST Recipient VNA Hospice Care VNA Private Care 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. VNA Private Care empowers you to age where you are most comfortable – at home. Through our personal care services, VNA Private Care is an affordable alternative to nursing homes and extended hospital stays. To schedule your free in-home informational visit [phone] | [email protected] | vnatexas.org