December 12, 2024
December 12, 2024
The Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice program is proud to announce it is now a Level 5 Partner with We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Level 5 is the highest level that can be achieved. Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice is one of only five hospice agencies in Massachusetts and the second in Western Mass. to earn the level 5 Partner distinction.
Hospice Manager Karen Miller, RN, says that achieving Level 5 demonstrates the agency’s utmost commitment to providing veteran-centric care in the community. “Our team is committed to the care of the Veteran on hospice, including education and outreach to the community. It is wonderful to see this commitment recognized by the NHCPCO and the VA. We look forward to our ongoing relationship with the veteran community in our area.”
As a level 5 Partner, Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice provides specialized care to veterans who are facing a serious illness. Specialized care includes a Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer program, training on conflict-specific medical and mental health concerns, and knowledge to assist veterans in navigating VA benefits. Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice employees, clinicians and volunteers have received education on topics ranging from PTSD at end-of-life and LGBTQ veterans’ needs to homelessness and hospice care. In 2023, the team hosted several community programs across western Mass that focused on Hospice and the care of veterans at end of life.
According to their website, We Honor Veterans provides tiered recognition to organizations, known as Partners, that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for veterans. There are five levels that partners can achieve in the program. Partner organizations assess their ability to serve veterans and, using resources provided as part of the program, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to veterans into their organization. The Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice program has advanced through the partner levels, earning level 1 in 2019. They were awarded the Level 5 designation in October 2024.
NHPCO and the VA launched We Honor Veterans in 2010 to address the growing need for veteran-centered care, especially as veterans from different eras are aging and need access to veteran-centric palliative and hospice care.
Learn more about the We Honor Veterans program. For more information about Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice services, visit their website.
