At VNA, we are passionate about all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Beyond hospice and palliative care, we are proud to offer wellness services, like flu vaccinations and wellness scans, to help keep our St. Louis community happy and healthy! Particularly as kids return back to school, we stress the importance of helping kids stay healthy. Studies have shown that healthy students are also better learners. Eating well and participating in regular physical activity not only hav

Summer is known as a season of fun and relaxation. It is a time for gardening, cookouts, and time outdoors. However, while the sun and heat can be potentially dangerous for anyone, summer can especially pose a particular threat for seniors. According to the National Weather Service, adults ages 50 and up account for 70% of all heat related deaths. As we age, our bodies naturally lose the ability to sweat and regulate temperature, which means seniors are especially prone to is

It is no surprise that nurses play an important role in the health service experience. Whether in a hospital, a primary care facility, or a nursing home, nurses are often key caregivers and can significantly influence the quality of care given. Their behaviors, demeanors, and actions have been shown to greatly affect patients, families, and outcomes. As it relates to hospice and palliative care, however, the nurse’s role takes on a different form of significance. Caring for p

A recent study, published in Psychiatric Services, has shown that more Americans are stressed, anxious, and depressed than previous years. According to data analyzed from the U.S. Center for Diseases Control, as many as 8.4 million Americans, or 3.4% of the population, suffer from psychological distress, an umbrella term that covers a range of conditions, from common stress and nervousness to diagnosable depression and anxiety. This estimate has increased from previous estima

Learn more about what motivates people to be healthy with these helpful tips, facts and inspiration for related goals and changes.

Current trends in food intake show that most Americans do not have healthy eating patterns. About half of all American adults—117 million individuals—have one or more preventable chronic diseases, many of which are related to poor quality eating patterns and physical inactivity, according to the USDA. The number of adults, children and youth that are overweight or obese are also high across each age. Tonya Stacy, VNA’s Director of Vaccine and Wellness Services, explains that

Caregiving can be a rewarding, but challenging job for family members with a terminally ill loved one. Through programs like hospice and palliative care, care at home is becoming more common for elderly adults and/or adults with a chronic and terminal conditions. With care for these adults comes the need for support and self-care for caregivers. Chundra Williams, a licensed social worker at VNA, says that caregiving can be emotionally draining for children or younger family m

Each year, the warmer months in St. Louis influence companies, big and small, to implement wellness programs that guide their employees in various outdoor activities to improve their health during the work day. There are many ways to structure and implement a wellness program at your business, but before you jump in, here are five pointers to think about that can improve your wellness program: Make healthy choices easy for your employees. Encourage them to use their break an