Congratulations to Coco Lorenzo Beasley! She is the winner of our Ugly Sweater contest with her hand-made, 3-D reindeer sweater.

Our contest details:

Laughter really can be the best medicine! Enter VNSNY’s First-Ever Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest to spread some seasonal smiles and qualify for a chance to win.

Post your holiday sweater photo on Facebook or email it to contest@vnsny.org through December 26, 2011 (extended to January 1, 201).

Winner Selection: One winner will be chosen by the VNSNY Team to receive a $100 American Express Gift Card. Winners will be announced on Facebook on…

Gone are the days of exchange system diet plans. Today, the carbohydrate counting rule applies, and this can be challenging for both children and adults. Portion control is key. Avoiding empty calories is of the utmost importance. Balancing diets and balancing energy needs for your day may seem unsurmountable but there is help.

In home-care, we utilize the services of nurses trained in diabetes care and also nutritionists to assist with diet teaching. Working with your doctor as a team is a component that makes a big difference. Keep your doctor informed…

When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died last week after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, there were many articles and blogs written about his contributions to the improvement of our civilization, the way he revolutionized how we communicate, listen to music, and consume technology. He was lauded for his understanding of the marketplace, creating shareholder value, and fabulous sense of design.

What I found most interesting, however, were his views of death, which he shared with Stanford graduates in 2005, after his original diagnosis. Now when he spoke to the students…

I was a young woman and a relatively new nurse when I began working for VNSNY in 1998. My days and years past are filled with precious memories and experiences as an employee of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. All of those professional experiences transcend to my heart and spirit to become an integral part of the person, woman, mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, and nurse I have become. But THE day that stands out for me the most is a day that is full of sorrow…

I was planning to write about all the activities we’re doing at the center to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this week, but in the wake of the tragedy in Japan, it seems too light a subject.

This morning on my way into work, I heard a story on CNN about how this disaster is going to affect senior citizens in particular, as they’re 20% of the country’s population, and reporters seem to be speaking with many people around the age of 60 who are looking for missing parents. The CNN coverage…

Most people in the Northeast has had enough of snow. Well, it is winter and a long way until spring. With that said, most children are loving this weather, not only because they can (and have) get time off from school but because it is FUN to play in snow.  I am all for the outdoor part of winter. Our children and we are too sedentary in general and a little snow (OK… feet of snow) is a good thing.  But caution must be followed in snow play. There are…

I received a very warm response to the blog “When You Meet a Stranger,” due in no small part to the fact that my friend Deirdre posted it to her Facebook page. This blog is the flip side of the initial blog, and that is why it is called “When You Meet a Stranger’s Husband.” The names have been changed to protect the privacy of all involved.

I made a vigil visit to New York Methodist on a Saturday afternoon. Other than knowing the patient was in her 50s, I knew nothing.…

Like most of New York City, this week has been challenging for the Center. Our most important concern has been keeping our seniors and staff safe. On Monday we closed, but on Tuesday while the city continued to dig out, we opened the Center.  While only a few came on Tuesday, a larger crowd turned up on Wednesday and Thursday.

One might be surprised that frail seniors would come out in this weather at all. But the reality is, many of them look forward to coming to the center so that they can get out of the house…

Do you ever hear an old song on the radio and remember every word? It’s always amazing to me when I haven’t heard a song in 20 years and I hear it on the radio and remember every word and melody. The brain is amazing! Imagine how beneficial is would be for someone with memory loss to recall old songs – not only is it exercising the brain, but it makes them feel good about what they’re able to remember.

The field of Music Therapy has been around since 1944, and…