Hospice program recognized by California Senate for service to veterans
April 7, 2014
On hand for the presentation of the resolution were, from left, Randy Kanouse, hospice volunteer; Cynthia Alli, hospice physician; Don Lewis, hospice Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator; Stacey Magee, Home Care Services nurse manager; Kathy Marty, hospice clinical supervisor; Jack MacMillan, hospice medical director; and Darrell Steinberg, California State Senate president pro Tempore.
The UC Davis Hospice Program recently received a California Senate resolution from Senator Darrell Steinberg to recognize the program’s end-of-life care for U.S. military veterans.
Twenty-five percent of those who die every year in the U.S. are veterans. To help provide care and support that reflect the important contributions made by veterans, UC Davis Hospice has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a We Honor Veterans partner, the hospice program implements ongoing veteran-centered education for its staff and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to veterans.
The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for veterans. The UC Davis Hospice Program can assess its ability to serve veterans and, using resources provided by the campaign, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to veterans. By recognizing the unique needs of veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, the hospice program is better able to accompany and guide veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending.
When a veteran’s family has specific needs related to military service, combat experiences or other traumatic events, the hospice program finds tools to help support those in its care.
The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with veteran-centric education of health-care staff.
