Ascend Hospice Recognized as a We Honor Veterans Partner

CRANFORD, N.J., Nov. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- It may surprise many people to learn that 25 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 these men and women, all Ascend Hospice agencies have become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As We Honor Veterans Partners, Ascend Hospice of New Jersey, Massachusetts. Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, California, and Pennsylvania will implement ongoing Veteran-centered education for our staff and volunteers to help improve the care we provide to the Veterans they proudly serve. The nation is seeing many of the Veterans who served our country pass away.

"At Ascend Hospice, honoring veterans every day, not just on Veterans day, has been a cornerstone of our hospice program" said Anthony Spero, President and CEO. "Our partnership with We Honor Veterans provides all of our hospice team members the resources to provide meaningful and supportive end of life services to our veterans and to recognize their special needs at this most important time in life when they are receiving end of life care. We are proud to honor those whose sacrifice should never be forgotten."

The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for Veterans. "Partners" can assess their ability to serve Veterans and, using resources provided as part of the campaign, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to Veterans into their organization. By recognizing the unique needs of our nation's Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, Ascend Hospice is better able to accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending. In cases where there might be some specific needs related to the Veteran's military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, Ascend Hospice will find tools to help support those they are caring for.

Ascend Hospice's Essence of the Brave specialized hospice program is for patients who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Our goal with the program is simple - to serve as a source of comfort and support by addressing the unique emotional needs of veterans and their families.

By embracing a holistic and personalized approach to our services, we focus on the mind, body and spirit of each individual. A special recognition ceremony is provided for each veteran, with a pinning ceremony, patriotic song, and a certificate of honor customized to the branch of military where they served. The goal of the Essence of the Brave program is to acknowledge and validate the service and sacrifice our veterans and their families.

"We thank Ascend Hospice for partnering in the We Honor Veterans program," says NHPCO President & CEO Edo Banach. "We Honor Veterans partners are committed to providing quality Veteran-centric care to the Veteran patients they serve. They understand how a Veteran's military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, could impact their end-of-life experience."

The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health care staff caring for Veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans or to support this important work via a secure, online donation, please visit http://www.wehonorveterans.org.

"VA shares a common goal with our nation's hospices, and that is to provide the best possible care specifically tailored for Veterans, meeting their goals of care in their preferred setting. As we focus on working together and unite our services and skills, We Honor Veterans will channel our combined strengths directly to Veterans - wherever they are receiving care," added Banach.

About Ascend Hospice
Ascend Hospice is committed to providing extremely exceptional care and services with integrity and compassion. Founded in 1995, Ascend Hospice is a nondenominational, multicultural hospice and palliative care provider built on the belief that hospice services should reflect the life we live ? fully and with dignity. With offices in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri, California and Virginia, the company currently provides care for patients in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, hospitals and private homes. Dedicated to a holistic approach, Ascend Hospice's expert interdisciplinary teams provide state-of-the art hospice care, including pain control and symptom management through holistic and traditional therapies, as well as emotional support for patients and families.

SOURCE Ascend Hospice