Delaware Hospice receives $30,000 NHPCO Grant to advocate for veterans nearing end-of-life

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization selected Delaware Hospice as one of six hospices in the United States to receive a second “Reaching Out” grant to help meet the needs of rural and homeless veterans.  This $30,000 grant will enable the organization to continue its partnership with the Delaware End-of-Life Coalition, the Wilmington VA Medical Center, and the Delaware Veterans Home to advocate for veterans nearing end-of-life.

Project Director, Rebecca Nelson, M.Ed., B.A., stated:  “Delaware’s veteran population has grown during the past decade to approximately 84,000, with 37,500 living in rural areas and an estimated 550 veterans are homeless.  With last year’s “Reaching Out” grant, we learned through veteran focus groups that fewer than half surveyed knew the benefits of hospice care or even that hospice care was available to them through the VA healthcare benefit.”

Through funding of this initiative, Delaware Hospice and its partner organizations will work to increase the number of homeless and rural veterans who use the hospice and palliative care benefit through several activities.    Ms. Nelson said, “We plan to continue to educate homeless shelter employees and first responders, including paramedics and police, regarding the identification of veterans and the referral process to the VA system.  Educating healthcare providers about the special needs of veterans will help improve end-of-life care for this population.  An additional goal is to make more veterans aware of the benefits of hospice care through educational programs and distribution of literature in targeted locations.”

About Delaware Hospice

Since 1982, Delaware Hospice has provided exceptional care and support to nearly 35,000 patients and their families.  Its mission is to help each patient, each day, live the fullest, most comfortable life possible.  Delaware Hospice is the largest and only licensed, nonprofit, community-based hospice serving New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware and southern Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania.  For more information about Delaware Hospice’s programs and services, upcoming events, or employment opportunities, call 800-838-9800 or visit our website, www.delawarehospice.org.

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