Hospice Staff Honor Veterans
Staff Spends Veteran's Day with Veteran Hospice Patients
On Nov.10, 2010, Carilion Clinic Hospice Programs and Bedford Hospice Care took care packages, including kitchen supplies, food, games, books, puzzles, toys, personal hygiene items, flags and ribbon pins, to patients on the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at the Salem VA Medical Center in honor of Veteran's Day.
Salem VA Medical Center staff unpack Veteran's Day care packages from Carilion Clinic and Bedford Hospice.
The VAMC Hospice and Palliative unit Coordinator, Chaplain and other staff from the unit opened the packages and immediately stocked the patient/family kitchen and lounge. They will disperse the hygiene items to new patients.
Carilion Clinic and Bedford Hospice staff were allowed to visit patients and personally thank them their service and sacrifices for our country. Each veteran was also given miniature flags and flag ribbon pins.
"This is like Christmas," VAMC Hospice and Palliative Care Unit staff said. "Your generosity is overwhelming. We never expected this. Each time we are able to give some of these items to our patients, we will thank God for your kindness."
One in four persons facing terminal illness in the United States is a veteran. Carilion Clinic and Bedford Hospice programs have been learning how to best serve these special patients. A Veteran's Day visit is one small way to both thank and bring joy to veterans' lives.
