Harbor Hospice in the “We Honor Veterans” Program

Harbor Hospice reaches Level IV in the “We Honor Veterans” Program, ensuring QUALITY care for Veterans in End-of-Life Care.

HarborHospice, serving Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Newaygo, and North Ottawa counties, is proud to announce that they have achieved the highest partnership level in the We Honor Veterans” National Program. Designed to improve the end of life care of veterans in hospice, the program was instituted locally at Harbor Hospice in 2011.

“Our staff is specially trained to recognize the unique needs of our Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, particularly where those needs relate to their military service” says Laurie Hickman, clinical manager. “We are also able to offer support to their families and assistance with locating resources and benefits in the VA system and to support them in their grief after the death of their loved one”.

A vibrant component of the We Honor Veterans program at Harbor Hospice is the Veteran Pinning ceremonies that recognize and thank individual veterans for their service to our country. Hospice volunteers, including area veterans, have pinned 196 veteran patients. Paula Poel, volunteer coordinator, arranges the pinning ceremonies and has witnessed firsthand the gratitude of the veterans and their families. She says “It’s so important that we acknowledge the service of these brave men and women…for some it’s literally the first time they’ve been thanked. We Honor Veterans ensures that we are treating our veteran patients with the dignity that they deserve”.

For more information on Harbor Hospice services please call 231.728.3442 or 800.497.9559 or email info@HarborHospiceMI.org or visit our website at HarborHospiceMI.org.

(NHPCO, Alexandria, VA) – It surprises many Americans to learn that 25 percent of all deaths in the US are Veterans. That’s 1,800 people a day; more than 680,000 Veterans every year. These heroic Americans deserve recognition for their military service– particularly at the end of life’s journey. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), launched We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign to help improve the care Veterans receive from hospice and palliative care providers. The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of staff caring for Veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.