In acknowledgement of continued efforts to provide quality access to end-of-life care for veterans, Samaritan Evergreen Hospice has received recognition from a national hospice and palliative care organization.
We Honor Veterans supports care that meets the unique needs of dying veterans. Evergreen Hospice recently achieved partner level three status, after completing additional staff and volunteer training, implementing a veteran-to-veteran volunteer program and participating in veteran-specific community outreach events.
“We are very excited to reach level-three partnership,” said Kelly Sautel, business development coordinator with Samaritan Evergreen Hospice. “It helps us understand how to better serve our veterans and their families.”
One in four dying Americans is a veteran, according to the organization. About a quarter of people being cared for by Samaritan Evergreen Hospice are veterans.
Samaritan Evergreen Hospice was first recognized by We Honor Veterans in 2015, after a community engagement process to highlight hospice services available to local veterans. Since then, Samaritan Evergreen Hospice has built close relationships with many veteran’s groups, including Vets Helping Vets, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and strengthened ties to Veterans Administration facilities, including the new Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon. Additional partners include Supportive Services for Veterans and Families, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, the Regional Veterans Outreach Program, the Wounded Warrior Project and LINK UP VETS.
Samaritan Evergreen Hospice has participated in several community education events for veterans, including the Mid-Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans in Lebanon, the annual Vets Helping Vets picnic, Mental Health First Aid for Veterans through Community Outreach, Inc., and the Wounded Warrior Project peer support group.
Samaritan Evergreen Hospice staff and volunteers receive veteran-specific training to listen carefully, express appreciation and to celebrate life’s accomplishments. A new veteran-to-veteran volunteer program was created to train veterans to become hospice volunteers. The seven-week program covers training on the unique challenges of caring for veterans.
Samaritan Evergreen Hospice is actively engaged with assisting veterans and their families. Hospice medical social workers check military status of all new patients to identify veterans so that staff can provide proper treatment to address their needs.
Samaritan Evergreen Hospice is pursuing the final fourth level of partnership with We Honor Veterans.