We Honor Veterans

AlēvCare™ Hospice is pleased to partner with the US Department of Veteran Affairs through the We Honor Veterans program.  This program is a project of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the US Department of Veteran Affairs.  It was launched in October 2010 to improve the care veterans receive through hospice and palliative care providers that are accepted into and meet/maintain the requirements of the We Honor Veterans program.

We Honor Veterans is an orientation in the Hospice Philosophy that includes Veteran-specific education that assists us in our commitment to provide compassionate care to terminally ill veterans and their families through respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment.  Because of their unique and often traumatic experiences during their service, veterans frequently have special needs at the end of life.  The emotional and spiritual support that hospice provides can be especially meaningful to those who so selflessly served our great country.  Unfortunately, most veterans do not know that hospice support can begin months before death.  1 out of every 4 dying Americans is a veteran and many of them are Medicare beneficiaries that are unaware of the Medicare hospice benefit.

AlēvCare™ Hospice holds a special understanding and desire to ensure that the men and women who have given so selflessly receive the support and compassionate care they deserve.

 Although it may be difficult to shift your focus from seeking a cure to choosing comfort care as the best alternative, numerous studies have shown that patients enrolled in hospice services actually live longer with better symptom control and pain management than non-hospice patients. The most common statement made by families who chose hospice for their loved one is, “We wish we had known about hospice sooner.”

What Veterans Should Know About Hospice:

Myth: Hospice means waiving the white flag.

Fact: Hospice redefines hope and helps patients and their families focus on improving the patient’s quality of life allowing them to make the most of the time they have.

 

Myth: If you go on hospice, you will die soon.

Fact: Studies have shown that patients who elect hospice care earlier often live longer than those who continue to receive curative treatment.  Although Hospice care is designed for patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less, as long as the patient continues to meet Hospice requirements, they may continue to receive services – even if this is longer than six months.

 

Myth: Hospice is a place.

Fact: Hospice is a philosophy of care that provides medical, emotional and spiritual care focused on comfort and quality of life.  Hospice care is provided wherever the patient calls home.

 

Myth: Once I am on Hospice, I can’t change my mind.

Fact: You can stop Hospice services at any time for any reason.  You can change your mind and resume aggressive treatment.  If you wish to return to Hospice care later, you can do so as long as you meet the medical hospice admission requirement.