Hospice of the Carolina Foothills Reaches Highest Level of Program to Provide Veteran-Centric Hospice Care

Hospice of the Carolina Foothills 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. Level 5 is the highest level WHV partners can attain and includes several new required activities and yearly recertification.

As a partner, Hospice of the Carolina Foothills is providing specialized care to Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness. Aside from existing partner requirements, Level 5 partners place a greater emphasis on staff education and caring for Vietnam-era and combat Veterans. Additionally, Level 5 partners take on the role of regional mentor to other WHV partners working to enhance their programs.

"When we set out to create the Level 5 program, we knew that it had to be different to truly showcase the efforts needed to go above and beyond. Not only have you demonstrated your commitment, but you have helped shape the program and have continued as an example of what all hospice partners should strive to be," said NHPCO President & CEO Edo Banach.

NHPCO and the Department of Veterans Affairs launched We Honor Veterans in 2010 to address the growing need for Veteran-centered care, especially as Veterans are aging and need access to palliative and hospice care.

"Hospice of the Carolina Foothills recognized how important it is to meet the needs of our veteran population in 2010 when we started achieving the We Honor Veterans Level 1 program," Rita Burch, CEO and President of the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, said. "We have ensured that our staff and volunteers are continually trained and that we better serve our veteran population as we have achieved now the fifth and highest level ten years later. We are committed to our veteran community through this valuable program."

Learn more about the We Honor Veterans program at www.WeHonorVeterans.org and about Hospice of the Carolina Foothills at www.hocf.org. If you are a veteran and would like to assist other hospice and palliative care patients who are veterans, call us at 828-245-0095.