Page 50 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine

Hospice of Lubbock

Honors Veterans

through National

Program Participation

ne in four dying Americans is a veteran, Outreach to all veterans
according to the We Honor Veterans website,
Owww.WeHonorVeterans.org. Of the totality of As per the requirements of participation in the WHV
patients served by Hospice of Lubbock, 18-20 percent program, the Hospice of Lubbock committee strives to
of the patients are veterans. support not only their veteran patients, but also looks
for opportunities to help with veteran needs on a local
We Honor Veterans (WHV) is a national partnership level. The requirement is fulfilled willingly with much
between the Veterans Administration and the love and respect for those who have served.
National Hospice and Palliative Care organization.
Any hospice, palliative medicine or home health “In 2015 we facilitated the ‘Bless a Marine’ program,
agency can participate and receive the ultimate 4-star which provided care boxes to active Marines stationed
designation. Hospice of Lubbock (HoL) became overseas,” Chase said. “All kinds of donations were
involved in the program in 2013 and earned its level 4 collected all over town and sent to a specific platoon
(4-star) designation in 2015. in Afghanistan. Our goal was 12 boxes — we ended
up with 123!”
“The different levels of training for the designation
involve providing staff and volunteer education “Every veteran who comes on our service gets a framed
and programs, community education and outreach, certificate with their name and branch of service
and hospice-veteran partnerships,” said Rose Chase, printed on it; and a small angel figurine holding a flag,”
community and patient educator with Hospice of Presley said. “I can’t believe the number of people
Lubbock. “The program not only recognizes Hospice who cry and say ‘nobody’s ever thanked me.’ We had
of Lubbock patients who are veterans, but reaches out no idea when we started this, how far-reaching this
into the community as well, to honor all veterans.” would be. It’s amazing how many of those certificates
or angels show up when people do a memory table
According to Cheryl Presley, WHV chairperson, at a funeral. They’ve become very important to the
and HoL volunteer coordinator, there are 10 recipients and their families.”
devoted members comprising Hospice of Lubbock’s
WHV committee, made up of staff, volunteers and “We have done something for our veterans each
community members. Veterans Day since we’ve become involved, for the
last four years,” Chase said. “Our staff benefits from
“Even staff and community who aren’t on the this as much as the patients and their families do.”
committee feel a connection to the WHV program and
a desire to serve our veterans,” Presley said. Although the complete list is much more
WHV helps them track trends of where their veterans comprehensive, here are a few examples of the many
are coming from. Since they started four years ago, instances in which HoL has served their patients
Presley says there are fewer WWII veterans and more and local veterans through its We Honor Veterans
from the Korean and Vietnam wars. program:

“The more we know about our patients individually, • In 2014 they presented a flag to Open Door
whether a veteran or not, the better we can serve them. (then Carpenter’s Church) in honor of homeless
Our veteran patients do have different emotional veterans that they serve.
needs depending on their time and place of service,
and different emotions can emerge as a person’s life is • During Veterans Day week 2016, nice pins were
ending,” said Presley. ordered, and delivered to the veteran patients. “It
50 Lubbock Senior Link