VERO BEACH, Florida – (Wednesday, November 1, 2023) – The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is thrilled to announce that we have qualified as a Level Four partner of We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), that recognizes the unique needs of America’s Veterans and their families and works with community hospice providers, including the VNA, to offer the best end-of-life care for our selfless Veterans who have given so much to our country.
There are five levels of the We Are Veterans Program. The VNA recently qualified as a Level Four partner by educating newly hired VNA associates about the Hospice Veteran Partnership Program, a key part of We Honor Veterans, as well as additional information about the VA, Veteran benefits and a link to the We Honor Veterans informational and promotional video.
In addition, we identified an area of improvement: the importance of asking every hospice patient of their veteran status since research showed that approximately 25 % of patients were not asked about their military service, according to their caregivers who took the survey after their loved one passed away. And to ensure this question will always be asked, we have implemented an interdisciplinary performance improvement plan that includes it.
By identifying our veterans nearing end of life, the VNA is better able to accompany and guide them and their families toward a more peaceful ending. And, for those with special needs related to their military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, it is our mission to provide the tools they need to support them with dignity and compassion.
