We Honor Veterans (WHV) is excited to announce Geisinger Hospice, Danville, PA, as the recipient of the 2024 We Honor Veterans Outstanding Program Award. The We Honor Veterans Outstanding Program Award recognizes the extraordinary investment, commitment, and achievement of hospice organizations providing high-quality, end-of-life care to Veterans and their families. Geisinger Hospice established their affiliation with WHV in 2015 and achieved Level 5 status in January 2023.
Located in Pennsylvania, the state with the fourth largest Veteran population in the nation, Geisinger Hospice is acutely aware of the necessity of ensuring hospice staff are skilled in providing care attuned to the unique needs of Veteran patients. Geisinger’s motto, “We care for people, and people are far more than their medical conditions,” is reflected in their affiliation with WHV and dedication to caring for Veterans and their families at end of life.
Geisinger Hospice has established procedures for providing comfort and dignity to Veterans at end of life. One particularly impactful story detailed Geisinger’s staff’s profound commitment when a Veteran patient renewed his wedding vows with his wife on their 45th wedding anniversary. Recognizing the importance of this event, the hospice staff came together to ensure the moment was perfect for this Veteran and his wife. The hospice aid bathed and shaved the Veteran patient, their nurse bought a cake and a bouquet for the bride, their chaplain performed the ceremony, and their hospice Veteran volunteer was invited to attend. Photos were taken to commemorate this special moment and provide a memory for the Veteran’s wife, who was widowed just one month later.
Geisinger has fostered partnerships with other community groups to improve care coordination for Veteran hospice patients and increase awareness of Veterans’ end of life needs. Through their participation in the South Central Pennsylvania Veteran Community Partnership (VCP), Geisinger provides education on community hospice care for Veterans and opportunities to engage in Veteran-centric events to the groups attendees which include other hospice providers, VA hospital staff, nursing facility staff, and funeral home providers. Geisinger has also established positive working relationships with their nearby local VA medical clinic and their county’s Veteran service officers. These relationships ensure Geisinger is prepared to assist Veterans and their families in accessing earned benefits.
Additionally, Geisinger participates in and hosts several Veteran-centric events throughout the year for community members. These events include hosting multiple Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans events on March 29th, organizing volunteers to replace worn flags at the graves of Veterans, participating in food drives with the American Legion and offering ceremonies of recognition to Veterans residing in nursing facilities.
Geisinger’s creative and thoughtful processes for honoring Veterans at end of life, collaboration with the VA, development of fruitful relationships with Veteran-centric organizations, and demonstrated commitment by their staff to caring for Veterans is evidence of their outstanding performance as a Level 5 WHV partner.
WHV is also excited to provide an honorable mention to our 2024 Salute to Service Recipients, Main Line Health, Radnor, PA and Tidewell Hospice, Lakewood Ranch, FL.
The following video encapsulates Geisinger Hospice’s success in identifying, recognizing, and supporting Veterans on hospice care and their families.
Interested in learning more about our WHV Level 5 program? Check out the Level 5 Requirements webpage for more information.
