The Visiting Nurse Association Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

 

VERO BEACH, Florida –  The Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast (VNA) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Today, the VNA provides home health; private care; and hospice for residents of Indian River County. 
 

Launched with only one registered nurse and one home health aide, the non-profit today employs over 400 caregivers and provides not only home health care, but also private care and hospice. 
 

The main purpose in starting the VNA was to provide a home care program for patients in the community whose physicians were no longer making house calls for follow-up care, recalls VNA co-founder, Ann Marie McCrystal. In 1974, a new resident to the community, Marion Oeschsner, recognized this need and organized a group of dedicated volunteers in response. That group of volunteers became known as VNA’s founders and included Ann Marie McCrystal.
 

In 1975, the VNA was fully established and in its first month, alone, made 80 home visits for patients discharged from the hospital requiring home care, thanks to one very special nurse, Sue Schlitt, as well as an attending home health aide. Patient demand for the two VNA caregivers grew at warp speed, quickly laying bare the need for additional staff. Since many of the patients requiring care were without the financial means to pay for VNA services, it was determined by the board of directors to create the VNA & Hospice Foundation, whose mission is to support the programs and services of the VNA of the Treasure Coast, relying on the generosity of its donors to do so.
 

Shortly after the VNA’s founding, the hospice movement took hold throughout the United States. Always on the forefront of providing state-of-the-art services, the VNA obtained the licensing and certification to become an approved hospice care provider in Indian River County to serve these patients.
 

The recently renovated VNA Hospice House is a physical manifestation of that service, ensuring optimal round-the-clock care for patients whose symptoms could not be managed at home. Originally opened in 2000, this spacious 12,000 square foot building features 12 private and beautifully appointed patient rooms, each with an en suite bathroom and private lanai.
 

Supporting VNA Hospice House and benefitting VNA Hospice’s mission of providing compassionate care for any Indian River County resident facing a life-limiting illness is VNA’s Hidden Treasures Thrift Store, which was the idea many years ago of current Board Chair of the VNA & Hospice Foundation, Carol Kanarek. 
 

Today, Carol is committed to doing her part to ensure the VNA & Hospice Foundation stays viable: “Our goal for the future is to continue to serve the residents of Indian River County. The Foundation continues to raise funds to support the agency wherever necessary. As we all know, healthcare is tough to navigate, but we hope to be here another 50 years to continue caring for Indian River County.”

If you’d like to learn more about VNA and the 50 years it has been here, please contact Suzanne Gallagher, VNA Director or Marketing & Communications at SGallagher@Vnatc.com.

The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and provides home healthcare services, including Medicare-reimbursed and private-duty nursing; home health aides; physical, speech, and occupational therapy; in-home companions; and personal transportation—throughout Indian River County. The agency is also the only licensed hospice provider in Indian River County, offering end-of-life care in patients’ homes, local hospitals, assisted living facilities, and the VNA Hospice House. The VNA also provides low-cost medical care aboard the VNA Mobile Health Clinic at convenient locations throughout Indian River County and no-cost blood pressure/blood sugar screenings. To learn more about the VNA, please visit www.vnatc.com.