We Honor Veterans
It may surprise many people to learn that 25% of those who die every year in the U.S. are Veterans. To help provide care and support that reflect the important contributions made by these men and women, Hospice of Chesterfield County has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a We Honor Veterans Partner, Hospice of Chesterfield County will implement ongoing Veteran-centered education for their staff and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to the Veterans they proudly serve. The nation is seeing many of the Veterans who served in World War II and Korean pass away—and the number of deaths of Vietnam Veterans is beginning to rise.
The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for Veterans. “Partners” can assess their ability to serve Veterans and, using resources provided as part of the campaign, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to Veterans into their organization. By recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, Hospice of Chesterfield County is better able to accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending. And in cases where there might be some specific needs related to the Veteran’s military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, Hospice of Chesterfield County will find tools to help support those they are caring for.“
All hospices are serving Veterans but often aren’t aware of that person’s service in the armed forces,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. “Through We Honor Veterans we are taking a giant step forward in helping hospice and palliative care providers understand and serve Veterans at the end of life and work more effectively with VA agencies in their communities.”
“VA shares a common goal with our nation’s hospices, and that is to provide the best possible care specifically tailored for Veterans, meeting their goals of care in their preferred setting. As we focus on working together and unite our services and skills, We Honor Veterans will channel our combined strengths directly to Veterans - wherever they are receiving care.”
The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health care staff caring for Veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.
“America’s Veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and we believe it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home. Now it is time that we step up, acquire the necessary skills and fulfill our mission to serve these men and women with the dignity they deserve,” added Schumacher.
Hospice of Chesterfield County was founded by a group of concerned citizens and area churches and began admitting patients in 1993. Since that time the agency has provided care for over 1,500 area patients and families in Chesterfield and Marlboro counties.
Hospice is a program of care and supportive services designed to help terminally ill persons live as comfortably and as fully as possible during the last stage of their life. The hospice organization focuses on the maximum comfort and care of the terminally ill and provides support through an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, clergy and volunteers. Hospice believes that caring for the terminally ill can be done in one’s home with the family as the primary caregivers.
Anyone desiring additional information or wishing to make a referral may call the Hospice of Chesterfield County offices at (843) 623-9155, (843) 537-2008 or 1-800-572-9322.