Department of Veterans Affairs Providing Hospice Care to More and More Veterans
This press release from the Department of Veterans Affairs discusses the growth the VA has experienced providing hospice and palliative care services to veterans.
"Nearly 9,000 veterans were treated in designated hospice beds at VA facilities in 2007, and thousands of other veterans were referred to community hospices to receive care in their homes. The number of veterans treated in VA's inpatient hospice beds increased by 21 percent in 2007. In addition, the average daily number of veterans receiving hospice care in their homes paid for by VA increased by 30 percent this past year.
Because of the large number of World War II and Korean era veterans and a tripling of the number of veterans over the age of 85 from 2000 to 2010, the increase in the need for hospice care is expected to continue. The proportion of Vietnam-era veterans over the age of 65 will continue to increase through 2014, when Vietnam veterans will account for nearly 60 percent of all veterans in that age group."
Labels: hospice and palliative care
Posted by: HFA permalink
1 Comments:
Regarding the January 8th article
"Consultations for Veterans Nationwide"
"To date, VA has partnered with community
hospice programs in 35 states to promote
hospice services that are not provided
directly by VA staff"
I considerate this statement to be conclusive
of evidence of the lack of understanding and
awareness of all the benefits that are available
from hospice in the community.
Partnering with 35 states means 15
states are without this collaboration.
I and other hospices would love to work
with the VA to make sure every veteran
has an advanced directive, that benefits of
hospice are explained as specialty care
for the patient and their family/caregiver,
and that bereavement care is utilized to
develop support tools and coping mechanisms
to those left behind.
30% of the country not exercising the right
to a great collaboration between local
hospices and the VA is disheartening.
Robin Watts
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