JSSA’s Hospice Earns We Honor Veterans Distinction

JSSA’s Hospice became a We Honor Veterans Level Two Partner earlier this month. With this distinction, JSSA is placed in a select group of organizations recognized for their commitment and ability to provide comprehensive hospice and palliative care to veterans.

“Our team is focused on quality of life as opposed to quantity of days. We serve patients clinically, emotionally, and spiritually as they approach the end of their lives,” said Lizzy Horton, Senior Director of Hospice at JSSA. “We are truly honored to serve veterans in our community as we focus on excellence in end-of-life care.”

We Honor Veterans is a nationally recognized program developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). One of the primary goals of the program is to ensure all veterans have access to hospice and palliative care when and where they need it. Strengthening community partnerships helps increase awareness of the availability of hospice and palliative care teams with the resources to meet veterans’ unique needs.

JSSA’s Hospice serves Montgomery County, Maryland, and specifically for veterans, provides educational programs, connects veterans to services, and honors veterans through pinning ceremonies. Since the program began just over a year ago, JSSA has served more than 35 veterans and helped connect veterans to services, such as home health aide care.

Pinning ceremonies are led by the hospice spiritual care providers and individualized to the veteran’s branch. The services include music, readings, and the sharing of stories. JSSA staff or volunteers who are veterans themselves attend each pinning ceremony to further enhance the military connection.

To achieve Level Two Partner status with We Honor Veterans, JSSA’s Hospice developed a partnership with a community liaison from the VA and provided several community-based events serving veterans. JSSA also continued staff education and provided military cultural competency training in new staff orientation.

“Our team works hard to ensure all patients, including veterans, are served in a compassionate and personalized way,” Horton said. “It’s always a privilege to care for those who served our country.”