Rice Hospice delivering Veteran-centric care to those who served our country

Many Americans do not realize that 1 in 4 of all deaths in the U.S. are Veterans. As the nation honors these American heroes for their military service on Veterans Day, November 11, it’s important to remember that they also deserve recognition and compassionate care when dealing with a serious illness.

As a We Honor Veterans national partner, Rice Hospice is providing specialized care to Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs created We Honor Veterans to empower hospice and other healthcare providers across America to meet the unique needs of seriously ill Veterans and their families.

“Rice Hospice is blessed to be able to give back to our Veterans through We Honor Veterans,” said Mary Beth Potter, Director of Rice Hospice. “The Veterans we serve have given so much for us; it is our turn to care for them with the dignity and respect that they are so deserving of.”

Within the WHV program, there are four levels of distinction that Rice Hospice can earn based on its involvement with Veteran education and its interaction with the Veterans and their family members that they are caring for. The goal of these levels is to ensure the very best care is being provided to those who have served our country. Rice Hospice is currently at the third level of distinction, working towards the top, and final, fourth distinction.

In the five years that Rice Hospice has been a partner, there have been over 255 We Honor Veterans Recognition Ceremonies conducted. These can take place at a hospital bedside, in a nursing home, at home, or in a public place of the Veteran’s choosing. The ceremonies often include family members as the Veteran is presented a certificate and pin, along with several other gifts to publicly acknowledge the military services and sacrifices made. To assist with these ceremonies, recruiting of Veteran Rice Hospice volunteers has increased to 18, as well as two Veteran staff members.

As we celebrate our nation’s heroes this Veterans Day – and every day of the year – we must not forget that it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home.