By Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE president and CEO
Improving end-of-life care is the goal for our community which, of course, includes the honor of taking care of our beloved veterans. FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. believes in recognizing the services and sacrifices made by our veterans and their families.
As part of that commitment, we participate in the We Honor Veterans program which recognizes the unique needs of America’s veterans and their families. The goal of the program is simple—to care for and honor those who have served when they reach the end of life.
We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the nation’s largest membership organization for providers and professionals who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illnesses, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Through this pioneering program, veterans are served with respect, integrity, and dignity with veteran-specific care and services provided by a competent and highly skilled workforce. Community providers, in partnership with VA staff, focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment to guide veterans through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending. A vast majority of veterans are not enrolled in VA and may not be aware of the end-of-life services and benefits available to them, including the Medicare Hospice Benefit and VA-paid hospice care.
At FAIRHOPE, we often provide a military pinning ceremony for our veterans who so bravely served our country. This free public acknowledgment of the military service and sacrifices made by the veteran and his or her family is available to everyone in our community. The ceremony gives an opportunity for each veteran to share part of his or her story and gain a sense of meaning and purpose.
We are fortunate to have a team of volunteers who often facilitate the pinning ceremony. Fairhope is always looking for those who would like to join us in serving those who have served us. We will also be part of the opening ceremony of the Freedom’s Never Free event at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on Thursday, November 3 at 4 p.m. The event runs through Saturday, November 5.
We thank all veterans for your service—your time, bravery, and sacrifice—to our country. We are indebted to you and your family for all that you have given.