GREENFIELD — It may surprise many people to learn that 25 percent 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, Care Initiatives Hospice 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, Care Initiatives Hospice 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, Care Initiatives Hospice is better able to accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending. In cases where there might be some specific needs related to the Veteran's military service, combat experience, or other traumatic events, Care Initiatives Hospice will find tools to help support those for whom they are caring.
“We thank Care Initiatives Hospice for partnering in the We Honor Veterans program,” says NHPCO President & CEO Edo Banach. “We Honor Veterans partners are committed to providing quality Veteran-centric care to the Veteran patients they serve. They understand how a Veteran’s military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, could impact their end-of-life experience.”
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 or to support this important work via a secure, online donation, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.
"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," added Banach.
Care Initiatives Hospice is owned and operated by Care Initiatives, Iowa’s largest not-for-profit senior care provider. With headquarters in West Des Moines, Care Initiatives Hospice offers services in 66 counties from 6 offices throughout the state. Care Initiatives is committed to providing compassionate care for Iowans through all of life’s health transitions. For more information about Care Initiatives or Care Initiatives Hospice, visit careinitiatives.org.