Lifelong Friends Say “I Do” at a Hospice Wedding
By Tana Villanueva, General Manager for VITAS® Healthcare For 35 years, Donn and Charla have been lifelong friends—steadfast companions through life in a non-romantic-but-always-close relationship. In early 2020, Donn was diagnosed with brain cancer, and in May, he was admitted to a hospital unit under the compassionate care of VITAS® Healthcare. One day in June, […]
10 Tips to Help Seniors Lower Their Fall Risk
Submitted by Right at Home Peoria Each year three million older adults seek treatment at the hospital after a fall. Falls are a major public health problem, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And while the effects of a fall can be life-changing and life-threatening for seniors, the fear of falling also […]
Finding Joy in Retirement
By Angela Kauffman, Snyder Village Finally deciding to retire from the work force can be one of the biggest and most impactful decisions a person can make during their lifetime. This major life change can uncover a host of emotions and can cause moments of reflection on what is really important in life. Retirement can […]
More Than a Melody: Music Therapy Brings Out the Best in Patients, Caregivers
By Tana Villanueva, general manager for VITAS® Healthcare Peggy, a music therapist for VITAS Healthcare, strums a G major and lets the chord ring out. “I’m in love–I’m all shook up,” she sings, and she’s not the only one. VITAS patient Patricia, in her 80s and living with dementia, sings every word she remembers and mouths the […]
Hospice Care Comes to You—VITAS cares for patients at home, wherever they call home
By Tana Villanueva, General Manager for VITAS® Healthcare When a patient with an advanced illness is ready to start the conversation about hospice, some concerns inevitably arise. After all, most patients don’t get a trial run of the hospice experience, so it’s normal to have plenty of questions: Where will I receive care, and from […]
Don’t Forget Preventive Care
Submitted by Right at Home Peoria Most seniors have been taking health precautions these days. Handwashing, wearing a mask when advised to do so, and practicing social distancing help protect us from exposure to COVID-19. But this is no time to lose sight of our overall health. “Healthcare providers report that many patients are failing […]
A Real Pain
By Randy Kipling, Kipling Lavender on the Mound Chronic pain can be one of the most debilitating conditions in daily life. It is known to be both physically and emotionally exhausting. Associated direct medical costs are staggering! Did you know chronic pain sufferers are three times more likely to develop depression? It can impact mental health, […]
Wildlife Prairie Park
Wildlife Prairie Park Awarded Best Place for Family Fun and Best Hidden Gem! Wildlife Prairie Park has long been identified as a top destination in Illinois and recently was awarded Best of Peoria 2020 “Place for Family Fun” and “Best Hidden Gem” by Peoria Magazines. The Park is consistently recommended one of the top 10 […]
Anxious Times
By Jeff Kipling, Kipling Lavender on the Mound Current happenings across our great country and the globe have many of us uptight and laden with anxiety. Covid-19, social distancing, PPD devices, rioting, looting, the list goes on. I’m starting to get anxious even talking about it! Add all this to the perils of keeping our […]
The Gift of Time Together
Presented by Micki McCarthy, CGPA, Director of Gift Planning, OSF HealthCare Foundation andLanna Scannell, MBA, CFRE, Strategic Philanthropy Officer, OSF HealthCare Foundation Roman Wegrzyn was just 58 when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As his symptoms progressed and memories faded, his wife, Karla, was determined to keep Roman home as long as possible, […]
