Following Veterans Day, we want to take a moment to recognize the tremendous effort we put into honoring our patients who have served in the military. We work closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and We Honor Veterans program to recognize the brave men and women in our hospice care.
We recognize that it is such an honor to care for those who have served and sacrificed for our country. Many of these veterans will go through life after service without appreciation or proper care of the symptoms and emotions due to their past service. Here are three ways Ardent Hospice & Palliative Cares specifically supports and cares for its veteran patients to make sure they feel honored, respected, and appreciated during their final days.
Honoring and Thanking Them for Their Service
Once a veteran enters our care, we take the time to formally thank and honor them through a We Honor Veterans pinning ceremony. It’s a special time to publicly acknowledge their service and the sacrifices they’ve made; the pin is a symbol of the gratitude we have toward all they’ve done for our country. The ceremony is a time for them to share their story and experiences with their family and our staff.
When the patient passes, it is noted that he or she was a veteran and should receive the appropriate memorial or funeral service. We also present their family with a ceremonial American flag to carry on the memory of their loved one.
Helping Them Process Traumatic Experiences
With the help of the VA, we provide support groups and therapy programs to help veterans connect, reflect on their emotions, and feel a bit more at ease. Recently, we hosted a paint therapy class for the VA amputee support group. We led different activities throughout the class, and because they’re focused on their painting and engaging in something creative, many of them were more relaxed and willing to open up to their peers.
Providing Them with High-Level Care
We provide each and every one of our patients with personalized, high-quality care, but we understand that veterans often have their own special set of needs to be addressed. Because many of our veteran patients are direct referrals from local VA hospitals, we are able to have direct insight to what specific care we can provide that patient before they even come onto hospice.
Each patient has different psychosocial symptoms they might incur, and the VA does very well in determining a patient’s needs, fears, and behaviors, and sharing that information with us. For instance, there is a higher percentage of veteran patients, depending on when and where they served, who suffer from the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Our nursing team knows what behaviors and symptoms to watch for and can immediately take action to calm the patient and mitigate those symptoms.
While we are addressing a patient’s medical and physical needs, we also prioritize their emotional and spiritual needs as well. That’s why we have a spiritual counselor and social worker on staff to help address the emotional needs of both the patient and their family. And after the patient passes, our team will continue to support their family through their grief.
At Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, we recognize the many sacrifices our veterans have made and provide them with the quality care that lets them know their service is greatly appreciated. For more information on how we can honor your loved one and care for their specific needs, call our office at (858) 952-1786 or visit us online to set up a consultation.
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