Caring for those who served

By Cassandra Cotton, Nathan Adelson Hospice Community Outreach Manager

Next month sees the beginning of the holiday season — and one of the things we remain eternally grateful for is the sacrifices our veterans have made to keep us safe. On Veterans Day we honor those who have served, and we can never forget

those who served whose journey of life is coming to a close. The older adult population is the most rapidly growing population in the United States, and veterans are no exception. Currently, 42% of veterans are aged 65 and over and nearly 1.2 million veterans are aged 85 or older.

Veterans can find their needs during end-of-life care complicated by recurrences of

PTSD, the prior loss of comrades who understood their situation, and even the need for validation of their time of service. We Honor Veterans is a program pioneered by the Veterans Association and hospices nationwide to provide specialized care to those who served and training for those caring for veterans at the end of life.

Nathan Adelson Hospice is a Level Five partner in the We Honor Veterans

Program. By achieving this level, the hospice is recognized as an organization that actively works to increase access to hospice and palliative care for veterans in our community. Nathan Adelson Hospice will continue to provide veteran-centric education for staff and volunteers, identify patients with military experience, build professional and organizational capacity to provide care for veterans, and develop and strengthen partnerships with the VA and other veterans’ organizations.

“It is our honor to support local veterans who have valiantly served our country. In 2020 we had the privilege of serving over 1,000 veterans,” said Karen Rubel, President and CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice. “Our organization remains committed to meeting the unique and varied needs of veterans residing in southern Nevada. No veteran should ever end the journey of life alone, afraid or in pain.”

Nathan Adelson Hospice addresses the unique health care needs of veterans, both physical and emotional — including the psychological toll of war and how it

impacts their end-of-life journey. Our veteran patients are paired with volunteers who have also served their country and share a unique and honorable bond. In addition, Nathan Adelson Hospice also recognizes the military service of veterans with special pinning ceremonies and awards.

If you or a loved one is a veteran and have questions, call Nathan Adelson Hospice at (702) 733-0320.