Every day, we have the distinct honor of providing hundreds of U.S. military veterans with hospice care. At Heartland, caring for military veterans begins with identifying and evaluating the impact of each veteran’s experience. We find out:

• the branch of military in which the veteran served, and when
• whether the veteran saw combat or was stationed on the front line
• the VA benefits for which the veteran may be eligible

At Heartland Hospice Serving Tucson and Green Valley, our team has received specialized education regarding veterans who served during the time of war to understand their health challenges, psychological challenges and spiritual challenges. Different kinds of trauma can be experienced by different veterans in different wars. We’ve learned a critical lesson: a patient’s military service history helps determine which kind of personalized, compassionate care we should provide. Working with the veteran and his or her physician and family members, we can customize our care plans accordingly.

We believe that educating individuals about the unique needs of military-connected people in our country can change perceptions, create powerful connections, strengthen communities and help our nation’s heroes access resources that allow them to thrive.

Our team is a proud partner of the We Honor Veterans program which is a collaboration between the U.S. Veterans Administration and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association. The goal is to increase veterans’ awareness of these services and continually improve their quality of life.

We take great pride in honoring all our veterans. Some of the ways our team honors our veterans are:

• Capturing their Stories – Our volunteers sit down with the patients to listen and learn about their experiences while serving.
• Veteran Recognition – We honor all our veterans with a certificate, flag pin, quilt and a military bear. Family members are also invited to attend the recognition ceremonies.
• Vet-to-Vet Volunteering – No one understands the questions and concerns of a military veteran more than fellow veterans or active duty personnel. Volunteers with similar backgrounds can meet with and assist in the care of veteran patients. Veterans share a common language, and code of conduct and honor. Trust often develops faster between people who have common life experiences. When one veteran talks to another, stoicism and secrecy may dissolve; sharing supports life-review and healing.
• Support for Veterans Families – Our team is prepared to help connect families to community resources and Veterans Affairs programs in which they are eligible to participle.

For questions about our veteran services, please contact one of our social workers or our volunteer department.

The Heartland Hospice Serving Tucson and Green Valley team is sending a huge THANK YOU to all frontline workers during this difficult time.

Heartland Hospice serving Tucson and Green Valley participated in the Wreaths Across America initiative during the holiday season. Genie Patterson, Heartland Volunteer Coordinator, served as a member of the Wreaths Across America committee that organized and executed this local event.

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, their mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1,200 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad.

The Tucson community had the opportunity to purchase a wreath before the event. Committee members and volunteers placed wreaths on 1,936 resting places of veterans at the East Lawn Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona.

“Our Heartland staff and volunteers are taking an active role in remembering our veterans who have given their lives to protect our country and freedoms. Wreaths Across America was an important event to honor our veterans locally,” commented Genie. “We must not forget who our veterans are and what they have sacrificed. Heartland Hospice is honored to provide care to our local veterans and their families,” added Genie.

 

Heartland Hospice serving Tucson and Green Valley is pleased to announce their promotion to a Level Four status within the We Honor Veterans Program for their continued care and support of the Veteran population. 

All wars are different and provide unique experiences and often difficulties for the Veterans who served in them. We Honor Veterans was launched by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help improve the care veterans receive from hospice and palliative care providers.

“I feel privileged to be part of Heartland Hospice especially because we believe in the best care for our veterans,” commented Genie Patterson, Volunteer Coordinator. “A dignified death is one of the most precious gifts anyone can give. We at Heartland Hospice have made end-of-life care a priority for those who have served our country as well as all of our patients,” said Genie.

The We Honor Veterans program provides four levels of recognition to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to improving care for veterans. In order to reach Level Four, Heartland was tasked with learning more about caring for veterans, declaring a commitment to honoring veterans at the end of life, providing education for hospice staff and volunteers on caring for veterans and partnering with the VA at the local, regional and national level to ensure the unique needs of veterans are met. 

To learn more about the We Honor Veterans initiative, the steps that our agencies have taken to receive this acknowledgement or to see where other Heartland agencies are at in the process of achieving this honor, click here.