Delivering Hope to Seniors During Covid-19

Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA)is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that helps people age with dignity and independence at home. VNA is the community’s most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas.  VNA provides Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, and VNA Hospice Care and Palliative Care in North Texas.

VNA’s steadfast commitment to serving the most the elderly and seriously ill has continued throughout the pandemic.  The challenges presented by COVID cannot be overstated. For the VNA Meals on Wheels program, they continue serving our homebound senior neighbors as the precarious fall turned into a COVID surge.  VNA has also continued to add new clients from the waiting list to ensure more seniors are being helped as we move through the pandemic.

The VNA Hospice and Palliative Care clinical team has continued seeing patients as frequently as possible given the restrictions in place, particularly in various independent, assisted, and skilled nursing facilities.  As one of the few hospices admitting COVID-positive patients, VNA nurses, aides, social workers, and chaplains have remained hard at work helping those most affected by the pandemic.  The clinical team also partnered with Meals on Wheels to provide clients with flu vaccines in the safety and comfort of their homes.

As another way to protect vulnerable senior neighbors amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the VNA Meals on Wheels is partnering with the State of Texas and area first responders to provide in-home COVID-19 vaccines to homebound seniors and disabled adults in Dallas County. In partnership with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), the Texas National Guard (TNG), and local fire departments, VNA began administering vaccines in VNA Meals on Wheels’ clients’ homes in mid-February. As a trusted provider of Meals on Wheels since 1973 and with origins in health care, VNA has the trust of the community as well as the technology and infrastructure to facilitate in-home vaccines for homebound seniors.

One of the most urgent needs for VNA is for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors and to also make wellness calls.  Deliveries and phone calls can be made in as little as an hour and certainly will brighten the day of the clients and volunteers.  The Triad HR team enjoys these special lunch dates and we encourage you to join us is delivering joy and hope to our homebound senior neighbors. Get started today at volunteer.vnatexas.org  

Visit www.vnatexas.org for ways you can get involved or to access important resources to help you and your loved ones age well.  

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