Recently in Arizona, the hospice team celebrated the beginning of a new era by holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce their name from Heartland Hospice to ProMedica Hospice Serving Tucson and Green Valley. Christine Jacobson, administrator, along with Vickie Myers, director of professional services, lead the ribbon-cutting and look forward to sharing ProMedica’s Mission with the community.

Christine stated, “We are excited to officially launch as ProMedica Hospice. ProMedica’s values in providing quality, compassionate care to hospice patients align with our agency’s philosophy of care.”

As a division of ProMedica, a not-for-profit, mission-based organization, the ProMedica Hospice teams are working to create a stronger, more cohesive approach to delivering care at the right place, right time and right cost. As part of a complete healthcare system, services span the full spectrum of care including wellness, acute care, skilled nursing care, memory care, assisted living, hospice, home health, palliative care, a physician organization, an academic affiliation and a health plan. ProMedica’s goal is to redefine, transform, and improve the health and well-being of an aging population. Driven by its Mission to improve your health and well-being, ProMedica has been nationally recognized for its advocacy programs and efforts to address social determinants of health.

To learn more about our services and commitment to our community, please visit www.promedicahospice.org/tucson or call us today.

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.