Experiences
Heartland Hospice Serving Tucson and Green Valley Veteran Services

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.