2013 Spring Program

Improving Care for Veterans Facing Illness and Death

(available beginning April 17, 2013)
Register Now online | Register Now via mail/fax
Panelists | Learning objectives | Copyright Notice
Obtaining CEs | Self-Study

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Registration is $200 per site. Site registration is $150 during January and February.

The service, rigors, values and experiences inherent to serving in the U.S. military help shape and define a veteran’s life. As veterans age, these factors may also directly influence how veterans approach serious illness and confront their own deaths. For some veterans, the pride of having served their country serves as a source of comfort at the end of life. For others, particularly veterans who served in dangerous duty assignments or combat, memories and associations of those experiences may complicate the dying process. The distinct cultural and social experiences of each war can bring additional challenges--the stoicism associated with service may be a barrier to WWII vets in accepting effective pain management; the disrespect once shown to returning Vietnam veterans may still be felt by those veterans at the end of life. One in four deaths in the United States today is that of a veteran. Given the fact that 80 percent of veterans will die in the care of healthcare institutions outside of the Veterans Administration Healthcare System, there is a need to increase understanding of veterans’ needs in all healthcare settings, and particularly those that will care for dying veterans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010, there were 21.8 million veterans in the US; 9 million of those veterans were 65 and older. That number will grow as the overall population ages.

Veterans PromoThis 3-hour continuing education program (2.5 hour educational video and 30 minute local discussion) is designed to assist end-of-life care provider organizations and health and human service professionals in enhancing their sensitivities and understanding of veterans and to provide professionals with new interventions to better serve dying veterans and their families.  Particular attention is placed on veteran generations now aging and most likely to be seen in end-of-life care (WWII, Korean War, Vietnam). In addition to individual interventions, the program also will look organizationally at military benefits and intersections with VA systems.  Finally, the program explores the traditions and sensitivities of grieving families and resources that can assist them. The information provided by the expert panel will be useful to clinicians, administrators, and other staff working in hospice and palliative care, hospitals, long-term care and assisted living facilities.

Registration is $200 per site, but register now through Veterans Day (November 12) and receive the lowest registration fee, of only $95 per site!

Benefits:

  • Simple to host a site; a detailed step-by-step manual is provided to organizers
     
  • Fast, convenient learning without any out-of-office time lost
     
  • No travel-related expenses or complications
     
  • The perfect way to train as many employees as you like
     
  • Use as a networking opportunity, community event, or professional education

Register Now!

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Expert Panelists

  • Scott T. Shreve, DO, National Director, Hospice of Palliative Care, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
     
  • Deborah Grassman, ARNP, Author, Lecturer, Consultant, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
     
  • Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, Professor of Gerontology, The College of New Rochelle, and Senior Consultant, Hospice Foundation of America
     
  • Paul Tschudi, MA, EdS, LPC, Assistant Professor/Director, The George Washington University, and Vietnam veteran
     
  • Ryan Weller, MSW, LCSW, Palliative Care Program Manager, Portland VA Medical Center

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Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the unique components of military culture and experiences;
  2. Define Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and indicate ways that PTSD might affect veterans at varied points within the lifecycle;
  3. Differentiate the unique experiences and health risks of the following veteran cohorts – WWII, Korea, and Vietnam War military veterans;
  4. Discuss different issues that might arise in end-of-life care of veterans such as pain management, trauma and PTSD, and forgiveness;
  5. Discuss sensitivities and interventions, such as reminiscence and life review, that enhance counseling to veterans and their families.
  6. Describe the varied systems of care that might serve veterans at the end of life and discuss the ways that policies and systems could enhance care;
  7. Describe the lessons and insights professionals may glean from caring for veterans that might have general implications for the broader population of non-veterans and end-of-life care.

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Continuing Education

Continuing education (CE) credits are required for many health care and other professionals in order to renew a license. Offering and publicizing the availability of CEs will help you attract audience members!  This program is valid for three (3) hours of CE credit (available online only); until April 17, 2014.

CE POLICY: CE credits are copyrighted by HFA—including a Certificate of Attendance.  Most boards, even boards not specifically approved by HFA, will accept the Certificate of Attendance for the full CE hours.  Participants are attending an event of Hospice Foundation of America (HFA).  All CE certificates must be obtained directly through HFA—no exceptions allowed.  Boards approve the content developed by HFA, not by the viewing organization. CE instructions will be provided to you on the download area online, and will be provided to attendees at the conclusion of the program.

Discounted CE packages are available to sites, from our 'materials' page.  Note: Individual certificates will be available for a $35 application fee. See our discounted CE packages on the registration site to receive CEs as low as $20!  

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Copyright Notice

HFA invests time, money and resources to produce the Living With Grief® and New Perspectives  programs.  With constantly escalating costs, and maintaining the requested DVD format for added flexibility and reliability, we have had to take steps to protect our copyright. Your cooperation helps to ensure that we can continue to produce and provide high quality, valuable education to communities like you. Thank you for your cooperation.

HFA’s program is copyrighted.  Its use and dissemination is restricted and unauthorized duplication is strictly prohibited.  A registered site is licensed to show this program at one, single location ONLY, as defined by the site’s physical street address.  If you plan to show this program at multiple geographic locations (e.g. satellite offices) each location must be registered separately and each site must have its own Site ID.  HFA provides a deep discount for multiple site registrations. HFA strictly prohibits any other dissemination of this program by any method, including internal WAN or LAN computer networks or telemedicine networks. Organizations interested in such licensing may may contact HFA to inquire about our "Networking Package".

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SELF-STUDY

A self-study version of this program will become available to individuals beginning in Fall, 2013.

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Additional HFA Educational Programs
Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life | End-of-Life Ethics | Spirituality and End-of-Life Care
Looking for resources from a past HFA Teleconference? Visit the Professional Resources section.

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