Improving Care for Veterans Facing Illness and Death: Hospice Foundation of America's Living with Grief Spring Program

This 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.

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.