Honoring Our Heroes: 6 Insights on Aging Veterans and Hospice Care

Veterans Day is observed on November 11 and is intended to thank and honor all those who served our country. This week, Unity Hospice will honor aging Veterans for their bravery and heroic efforts in serving their country and share important insights about aging veterans and hospice care.

The Aging Veteran Population

Growing Numbers: The number of aging Veterans is increasing along with the US population.
Hospice Care Awareness: As they near end-of-life, many Veterans and their families are unaware that hospice care benefits are available to them.
Unique Needs: Veterans enrolled in hospice have unique physical and psychosocial needs, and hospice care providers must be educated and trained on how to care for Veterans during this vulnerable time in their lives.

Facts About Veterans and Hospice Care

In honor of Veterans Day, we share 6 key facts about veterans and end-of-life hospice care.

Statistical Overview: Approximately 642,000 US military Veterans die each year, which represents one in four deaths in the US. https://www.latimes.com/11-1-23
Aging Veteran Demographics: Of the 16.5 million US living Veterans, nearly 50% (or 8.1 million) are 65 years or older. https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2023/acs/acs-54.pdf
VA Hospice Benefit: Hospice is a benefit that the Veterans Administration (VA) offers to qualified Veterans who are in the final stages of their lives, typically six months or less. https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/pages/Hospice_Care.asp
Hospices’ Focus on Veterans: Veterans have long been a priority population for hospices, as evidenced by the widespread participation in the National Hospice and Palliative Organization’s We Honor Veterans program, as well as numerous organization-specific initiatives. https://hospicenews.com/2022/11/16/hospices-expanding-services-for-the-Veteran-population/
Positive Family Perceptions: In a VA study, families of 3,970 Veterans enrolled in the VA’s Home-Based Primary Care Program and community-based hospice reported better care and support than those loved ones not receiving hospice care. https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0222-Survey-uncovers-family-perceptions-on-end-of-life-care-for-Veterans.cfm
Investment in Palliative Care: A study conducted by the VA concluded that its investment in palliative care resulted in greater hospice use by Veterans enrolled in the VA. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0173

Social Media Sharing

Stay Connected: We will share these important facts relating to veterans and end-of-life care this week on our social channels.
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Unity Hospice and Palliative Care’s Commitment

30 Years of Support: For 30 years, Unity Hospice and Palliative Care has provided specialized hospice care and support to Veterans and their families.
We Honor Veterans Program: Unity is a partner of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) We Honor Veterans, a program that empowers end-of-life care partners to meet the unique needs of America’s Veterans and their families. As part of the program, Unity provides Veteran-centric education for its staff and volunteers to help guide Veterans through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending.
Hospice for Heroes: Unity also offers a year-round program, Hospice for Heroes, to honor Veterans as they come onto Unity Hospice or Palliative Care. This can be done in the presence of family and friends and can be videotaped as an everlasting legacy of what they have done for our country.