(November 29, 2012) Sellersville, PA – It may surprise many people to learn that 25 percent of those who die every year in the United States are Veterans. To help provide care and support that reflect the important contributions made by these men and women, Grand View Hospital Hospice has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to Grand View’s hospice manager Carol Halcovage, RN, “Our staff will be undergoing special training to improve the care provided to Veterans. We will also be recruiting volunteers specifically to serve these individuals at the end of life.” The nation is seeing many of those who served in World War II and Korea pass away—and the number of deaths of Vietnam Veterans is beginning to rise.

In the We Honor Veterans program, “partners” can assess their ability to serve Veterans and, using available resources, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care. By recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, Grand View Hospice is better able to accompany and guide them and their families toward a more peaceful ending. In cases where there may be specific needs related to military service, combat experience, or other traumatic events, Grand View will seek tools to help support those being cared for.

“While all hospices are serving Veterans, they are often unaware of a 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 and work more effectively with VA medical facilities in their communities.” The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health care staff.

“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.

About Grand View Hospice
Grand View has provided hospice care to the terminally ill and their caregivers since 1981. Personalized care is available in the setting most comfortable to individuals and their caregivers, whether in-home or in a personal care, assisted living, or nursing home environment. Grand View Hospice staff strives to maximize comfort and promote dignity and quality of life and considers the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs of everyone involved. For more information about Grand View Hospital Hospice, phone 215-453-4210 or visit www.gvh.org.

About Grand View Hospital
Grand View Hospital, Bucks County’s first hospital, has provided residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties with comprehensive health care services since 1913. Now a century strong, Grand View has become known as a quality provider of heart and vascular care, women’s and children’s health, surgery, orthopaedics, and cancer care. Visit www.gvh.org for more information about the hospital, its programs, and services.