DETROIT, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- It may surprise many people to learn that 25 percent of those who die every year in the Unites States are Veterans.  To help provide care and support that reflect the important contributions made by these men and women, Hospice of Michigan has joined We Honor Americans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

"Hospice of Michigan is proud to support We Honor Americans by providing specialized hospice care to Michigan's veterans," said Dottie Deremo, President and CEO of Hospice of Michigan.  "Through our Maggie Allessee Center for Quality of Life, Hospice of Michigan strives to serve our communities with individualized care that is culturally and socially sensitive and tailored to individual needs.  New training and educational programs to aid in our intelligent and compassionate service to veterans will advance our best practices and help ensure that Hospice of Michigan appropriately manages end-of-life care for veterans that we serve."      

In order to be accepted into the We Honor Veterans program, Hospice of Michigan had to meet stringent requirements that will improve care to the veterans.  The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for veterans.  Hospice of Michigan and its Maggie Allessee Center for Quality of Life will integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to veterans by recognizing their unique needs including specific needs related to veterans' military service, combat experience or other traumatic events.    

"Hospices are serving veterans but often aren't aware of that person's service in the armed forces," said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO.  "Through We Honor Veterans, we are taking a giant step forward in helping hospice and palliative care providers understand and serve veterans more effectively and develop and deploy the necessary skills to fulfill our mission to serve these men and women with the dignity they deserve."  

In addition to the new We Honor Veterans program, Hospice of Michigan has an established "Competence and Comfort in Caring" program that serves as an advocacy training program focused on educating HOM employees.  The program enhances the knowledge and skills of HOM employees by providing individualized, end-of-life care to patients and their families with special attention to their religious backgrounds, culture and life experiences.  The We Honor Veterans program falls within this HOM focus to educate and empower HOM employees to best serve the unique needs of patients and their families.  

About Hospice of Michigan

A nationally recognized leader in compassionate hospice care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the first, largest and most comprehensive hospice program in Michigan. It is the second oldest hospice organization in America and differentiates itself through its deep commitment to the education and training of its staff. HOM has trained more palliative care professionals than any other organization in the state and also provides valuable resources and educational tools to support the public need for information on important end-of-life care issues.

Hospice of Michigan serves over 6,000 patients annually in 54 counties in Michigan.  Its Maggie Allessee Center for Quality of Life is a one-of-a-kind facility that celebrates life by developing unique programs that improve care and enhance quality of life for elderly and end-of-life patients and their families.

SOURCE Hospice of Michigan