Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How we can help our veterans die in peace

Diane D. Blier, DNP
Policy
November 11, 2019
Share
Tweet
Share

The World War II veteran, now in his 90s and receiving hospice for end-of-life care, was playing military anthems on his harmonica for fellow veterans. But the next minute, reliving the horrors of combat, he grew agitated and started to cry.  “Oh, all those bodies!” he suddenly called out. “Terrible, terrible! Oh, the bodies.” He finally blurted out what he had kept to himself for decades. Two days later, he died.

Anyone who’s ever gone to war often has trouble living and dying in peace.

Every day an average of 1,800 American veterans die, almost one per minute and about 680,000 per year. One in every four dying Americans is a veteran. But just as veterans live different lives, they often die different deaths. They may face unique end-of-life issues, clinically and culturally, versus those of non-veterans. As a result, they require end-of-life care that is equally unique.

As it happens, few healthcare providers possess the cultural competency to deliver end-of-life care for veterans that is adequately veteran-centric. The result of this is that all too often, veterans in hospice care suffer from avoidable poor outcomes.

The reality that veterans have different needs at the end of life was confirmed again and again while I completed my doctoral thesis on the issue, but most importantly, in my job as a palliative care nurse practitioner overseeing hospice care for veterans at the VA and in the community. As my research and hands-on experience have shown, veterans belong to a unique culture known as the military. The experience of military service can define how veterans live – and how they choose to die. For example, veterans who served in dangerous assignments and combat missions have endured violence that usually complicates the dying process. Unlike most non-veterans, they often experience flashbacks and terrifying nightmares.

Of 19.3 million U.S. veterans in 2016, 9.2 million were 65 years of age and older. That means most of the veterans dying now served in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam vet differs from previous generations of vets in life and in death. They came home from war less recognized, less appreciated, and less honored than those in World War II and the Korean War.

As such, Vietnam vets encounter special challenges receiving specialized care. Most are reluctant to go to the VA due to mistrust and what they perceived as poor treatment while in the military. Vietnam veterans are more likely to self-medicate and suffer from substance abuse, leading to drastically higher tolerance levels to pain medication given for end-of-life care. They are often undermedicated during end-of-life care and endure avoidable suffering and pain. Many are homeless and never receive adequate end-of-life care.

They’re also more reluctant than soldiers from other wars to enter hospice care in the first place, especially at the Veterans Administration, often with unfortunate consequences. In fact, an estimated 80 percent of all veterans will die in the care of healthcare facilities outside of the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Veterans confronting a terminal diagnosis typically prefer to turn to the private sector for end-of-life care.

“We Honor Veterans,” a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, partners with private-sector hospice providers to promote veteran-centric education and improve the quality of care for our veterans. Our company, Amedisys, the nation’s third-largest hospice provider, is just such a partner and cares for veterans at 121 of its care centers in 32 states.

In doing so, we’ve seen how end-of-life care for veterans is changing. As a case in point, hospice care for veterans increasingly involves mental health – the psychological, social, and spiritual, including invisible wounds known as “moral injuries” – as much as physical health. More hospice providers than ever now educate staff – not only nurses and therapists but also social workers, spiritual counselors, and bereavement coordinators – to tailor end-of-life services and protocols to address the highly specific needs of our dying veterans.

Last year, in an important step toward achieving veteran-centric care, “We Honor Veterans” introduced a Level 5 certification, the highest designation attainable for hospice care for veterans. (Our own Beacon Hospice, in Hyannis, MA, is one of only nine centers so rated nationwide.) More hospice facilities now hold pinning ceremonies to honor dying veterans. They also arrange vet-to-vet “cafes” where veterans in skilled nursing facilities can meet other veterans for coffee in the spirit of camaraderie. They have a unique subculture and often feel comfort and ease sharing common experiences with other veterans.

What other actions can – and should – hospice providers take to do right by dying veterans? For starters, ask questions. Ask about their military service. Where did they serve, and what role did they play? Thank them for their service. Involve family, friends, and other caregivers in the conversation. Listen closely to the answers. They may have seen or participated in violent acts. They may finally wish to express feelings long bottled up, struggling to forgive their enemies and themselves. Bring in a volunteer veteran to visit at the bedside. Give the veteran an opportunity to express guilt, anger, and other emotions. Educate the patient and family, honestly, about the dying process to come. At all costs, prevent suffering.

Our veterans served with honor, and deserve to die with honor, too.

ADVERTISEMENT

Vincent Ross followed his four older brothers in serving in the Navy during World War II. And now he was in his 90s and dying at home. But first, he would receive a pin, a navy decal, and a certificate to honor him for his service. The ceremony would play out in front of his wife of 69 years, his two daughters and two sons, as well as a priest from his church and staff members from Beacon Hospice in Leominster, Massachusetts.

At the end of the presentation, a social worker read a poem. The chaplain said a prayer. Everyone attending celebrated with coffee and cake. But before the ceremony could end, Vincent made a special request. He wanted everyone to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” He started singing first, everyone immediately joining in. Then he led them as they all saluted the flag.

Diane D. Blier is a palliative care nurse practitioner, Amedisys.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Including the patient perspective on tumor boards

November 10, 2019 Kevin 1
…
Next

Debunking the myth that life gets easier once you finish medical training

November 11, 2019 Kevin 6
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Including the patient perspective on tumor boards
Next Post >
Debunking the myth that life gets easier once you finish medical training

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • Why health care replaced physician care

    Michael Weiss, MD
  • Care is no longer personal. Care is political.

    Eva Kittay, PhD
  • Health care workers need policy changes, not just applause

    Yuemei (Amy) Zhang, MD
  • Health care is not a service commodity

    Peter Spence, MD, MBA
  • What it is like to watch someone die

    Casey Krickus
  • Why health care fails to deliver better value in patient care

    Kristan Langdon, DNP and Timothy Lee, MPH

More in Policy

  • Online eye exams spark legal battle over health care access

    Joshua Windham, JD and Daryl James
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

    Holland Haynie, MD
  • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

    Dave Cummings, RN
  • Healing the doctor-patient relationship by attacking administrative inefficiencies

    Allen Fredrickson
  • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    Trevor Lyford, MPH
  • The CDC’s restructuring: Where is the voice of health care in the room?

    Tarek Khrisat, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • America’s ER crisis: Why the system is collapsing from within

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why timing, not surgery, determines patient survival

      Michael Karch, MD | Conditions
    • How early meetings and after-hours events penalize physician-mothers

      Samira Jeimy, MD, PhD and Menaka Pai, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Beyond burnout: Understanding the triangle of exhaustion [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Facing terminal cancer as a doctor and mother

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • Online eye exams spark legal battle over health care access

      Joshua Windham, JD and Daryl James | Policy
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      G. van Londen, MD | Meds
    • Pharmacists are key to expanding Medicaid access to digital therapeutics

      Amanda Matter | Meds
    • Why ADHD in women requires a new approach [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • America’s ER crisis: Why the system is collapsing from within

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why timing, not surgery, determines patient survival

      Michael Karch, MD | Conditions
    • How early meetings and after-hours events penalize physician-mothers

      Samira Jeimy, MD, PhD and Menaka Pai, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Beyond burnout: Understanding the triangle of exhaustion [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Facing terminal cancer as a doctor and mother

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • Online eye exams spark legal battle over health care access

      Joshua Windham, JD and Daryl James | Policy
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      G. van Londen, MD | Meds
    • Pharmacists are key to expanding Medicaid access to digital therapeutics

      Amanda Matter | Meds
    • Why ADHD in women requires a new approach [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

How we can help our veterans die in peace
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...