VITAS Honors Veterans on Veterans Day and Every Day

11/11/2017

Once a year, our country comes together to collectively recognize the sacrifices made by our military veterans. At VITAS, we celebrate veterans every day, because we care for these real-life heroes every day.

When we admit a patient, we identify those who are veterans and learn their history. We determine whether the patient has any special needs stemming from their service, such as injuries, infectious disease or exposure to biologic agents, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse or depression. This information helps us create a customized plan of care.

VITAS’ patients are cared for by an interdisciplinary care team—physician, nurse, hospice aide, social worker, chaplain, volunteer and bereavement specialist—who understand veterans’ issues and provide whole-person care to manage physical symptoms and pain, ease emotional burdens and lend spiritual support.

We also have veteran liaisons to help veterans and their families navigate the VA system and ensure patients receive every benefit they are entitled to. Volunteers with a military background are a special source of support to our patients who were in the armed forces.

It’s an honor to serve the men and women who served our country, on Veterans Day and every day. Learn more about how VITAS improves quality of life for military veterans near the end of life.