November is Home Care and Hospice Month in commemoration of this momentous occasion the Monroe County Commission presented Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of the Florida Keys (VNA/Hospice) a proclamation naming the month of November as VNA/Hospice month.

VNA/Hospice services have grown to be many families’ choice in providing home health and hospice care for their loved ones. The latest data from the Department of Labor shows that the demand for home care services continues to grow as America ages and baby boomers begin entering their golden years. Registered nurses, home health aides and personal care aides are among the top five occupations projected to see the largest increase in jobs by 2020 as more people need their services than ever before.

“While home health and hospice care each provide different services at different points in a patient’s life, they both are designed to give state-of-the-art medical care in the comfort of a patient’s own home,” said VNA/Hospice Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Ryzoc. “Home health services can help a patient recover from surgery or other illnesses and get a person back on the road to recovery. Hospice care can add more life to someone’s remaining days through symptom control. We celebrate November as an opportunity to be thankful for our 30 years of service to all residents in Monroe County and look forward to many more years of offering these special services to those in need.”

It is important to note that VNA/Hospice provided a total of $455,000 in unfunded charity care to Monroe County residents during fiscal years 2012 and 2013. If you would like to honor VNA/Hospice during the month of November tax deductible donations can be made on line at www.vnahospicekeys.org or mailed to either their corporate office at: 1319 William Street, Key West, FL 33040 or their regional office at: 92001 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, FL 33070.

Ladies, get your dollar bills out and be ready to dance the night away Saturday, October 12th at the 2nd Annual Racy but Tasty, hosted by the Lower Keys Woman’s Club and benefitting Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys.

Arguably the island’s best girls-night-out of 2013, this year’s Racy but Tasty will be held at the Tortuga Ballroom of DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West. Doors open at 4:30pm, with dinner at 5pm.

Emcee and event chairperson, Carol Callowhill will treat you to an evening of non-stop entertainment featuring Inga, Aqua nightclub’s own Swedish Bombshell. After dinner, the Magic Conchs’ All-American Male Revue dancers will turn the heat up as they take the stage.

The Chippendales have nothing on this talented group of men from the local community who are volunteering their time and dance prowess. Tips are encouraged and may be given in the usual manner typical of male revues or to ushers who will circulate through the crowd. The evening will conclude with the crowning of the 2013 Racy but Tasty King. This title goes to the dancer that raises the most funds.

Also, there will be raffles, giveaways, a silent auction, and a slightly saucier not-so-silent auction, a 50/50 drawing, as well as an opportunity to win a piece of fine jewelry from Diamonds International with each purchase from the champagne bar.

“We are extremely proud of our Racy but Tasty event as it raises a great amount of money for a very necessary charity in our community,” noted president of Lower Keys Women’s club Abby Oglesbee. “VNA/Hospice provides smiles, hope, warmth and hugs when they are most needed. They enrich the lives of local residents and their loved ones and holds their hands through very difficult times.”

“We are so gratified by the bond we have formed with Lower Keys Women’s Club through this event,” commented VNA/Hospice president & CEO Jody Gross. “As the recipient of its fundraising dollars two years in a row, we could not be more appreciative of the fantastic support this organization has shown VNA/Hospice, and the event itself is fast becoming a fundraising highlight among the island’s nonprofit community. LKWC definitely puts the “fun” in fundraiser!”

The 2013 Racy but Tasty is sponsored by Boondocks Grill & Drafthouse, Diamonds International, Fairvilla Megastore and A Caribbean Dream Salon & Spa.

General tickets are still available, but going fast. Tickets are $50 and include dinner and the show. VIP packages, $100 (includes meet-and-greet with dancers, a gift basket valued at $50, tables adjacent to the runway, a champagne toast, and special table favors), are already sold out, however there is a waiting list. Please contact Lower Keys Women’s Club at 305.849.2722 or http://www.lowerkeyswomensclub.com to purchase tickets.