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New Ulm – It may surprise many people to learn that 25 percent of those who die every year in the U.S. are
Veterans. To help provide care and support that reflect the important contributions made by these men and
women, Allina Home & Community Services – New Ulm Home Care & Hospice has become a national partner of We
Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a We Honor Veterans partner, New Ulm Home Care & Hospice has implemented ongoing Veterancentered
education for their staff and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to the Veterans they
proudly serve. The nation is seeing many of the Veterans who served in World War II and Korea pass away-and the
number of deaths of Vietnam Veterans is beginning to rise.
The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a
commitment to improving care for Veterans. “Partners” can assess their ability to serve Veterans and, using
resources provided as part of the campaign, implement best practices for providing end-of-life care to Veterans. By
recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, New Ulm Home Care &
Hospice is better able to accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending. In cases
where there might be some specific needs related to the Veteran’s military service, combat experience or other
traumatic events, Hospice will find tools and resources to help support the patient and caregivers.
“All hospices are serving Veterans but often are not aware of that person’s service in the armed forces, “said
J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. “Through the We Honor Veterans program, we are taking a giant
step forward in helping hospice providers understand and serve Veterans at the end of life and work more
effectively with VA medical facilities.”
“The VA shares a common goal with our nation’s hospices, and that is to provide the best possible care
specifically tailored for Veterans, meeting their goals of care in their preferred setting. As we focus on working
together and unite our services and skills, We Honor Veterans will channel our combined strengths directly to
Veterans, wherever they are receiving care.”
The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful
acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health care staff caring for the Veterans. To learn
more about We Honor Veterans please visit www.wehonorveterans.org, and/or contact New Ulm Home Care &
Hospice at 507-217-5555.
“America’s Veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and we
believe it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home. Now it is time that we step up, acquire the
necessary skills and fulfill our mission to serve these men and women with the dignity they deserve,” added
Schumacher.
