Community Hospice & Palliative Care
Attains New Star in National We Honor Veterans Program
Jacksonville, Fla. – There are an estimated 200,000 military veterans in Northeast Florida alone, which is why Community Hospice & Palliative Care continues its commitment to raise the standard of veteran-centric care in the communities we serve. The organization attained Level III Partnership in We Honor Veterans, a program of veteran-specific caring techniques developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Veterans Administration.
In addition to meeting prior We Honor Veterans milestones, to attain Level III status the organization had to develop a process to assist veterans with their VA benefits and provide information and resources on other veteran services. The organization was also required to match veterans in our care with volunteers who also served in the military.
“I am honored to be a Community Hospice volunteer visitor to many former members of the military,” said Timothy Lynch, Community Hospice volunteer and retired Navy Captain who spent his 32-year career flying jets after receiving his Navy Wings in 1963. “Two noteworthy veterans come to mind – one who served as a gunner in a USN patrol plane during WW II and the other landed in the invasion of Europe at Omaha Beach and fought all the way to Berlin. Men like these and their comrades in arms, most now passed away, will always be heroes to me as men and women of the "Greatest Generation."”
There are currently 88 former members of the military volunteering at Community Hospice and available to help with the program. In addition, as part of the admissions process, the organization had to implement a “Military History Checklist” and report the demographic information related to the patient’s service history to the We Honor Veterans national program.
Military veterans can experience the end of life differently than those who didn’t serve. For some military veterans, the psychological effects of combat can remain dormant for years, only to re-emerge when they are facing their own mortality. It’s important to provide these heroes with specialized care that honors their service to our nation and the unique physical and emotional challenges they may face. Our physicians, nurses and expert counselors are specially trained and prepared to identify these needs and assist in the healing and resolution process for veterans and their loved ones.
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About Community Hospice & Palliative Care
Established in 1979, Community Hospice & Palliative Care is an innovative national leader in palliative and hospice care, as well as providing programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. During its 38-year history, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has served nearly 200,000 adults and children in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, and recently expanded its service area to include 11 counties in north-central Florida. Through the support of more than 900 employees and 1,000 volunteers, the organization helps approximately 1,600 patients per day to live better with advanced illness – at home, in long-term care and assisted living facilities, in hospitals and at its eight inpatient care centers. The organization is committed to improving the quality of life for patients and their families and to be the compassionate guide for end-of-life care in our communities. No one is ever denied care due to an inability to pay. To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, visit CommunityHospice.com.