Caring for our Veteran population
Since the early part of 2011, Caring Circle has been a We Honor Veterans partner organization through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), and currently holds a level five status.
Every day, 1,800 Veterans die. That’s more than 680,000 Veterans every year–or 25 percent of all the people who die in this country annually.
Meeting the unique needs of Veteran patients, paying tribute to those who have served, and advocating for the needs of our local Veterans, are all part of our continued commitment to our local Veterans and our community as a level five partner of the national We Honor Veterans program through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
If you or a loved one are a Veteran in need of hospice care, call us at 269.429.7100 or click the button below to request more information.
We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice at Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Community providers like Caring Circle, in partnership with VA staff, accompany and guide Veterans through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending.
The resources provided by We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgement. These resources combined with Veteran-centered education for staff and volunteers give providers the tools necessary to assess their ability to serve Veterans and provide support by integrating best practices for offering quality care to their Veteran patients.
As part of the We Honor Veterans program, partner organizations participating in the program work their way through five levels of distinction, which are awarded based on the organizations’ involvement with Veteran education, and interaction with their Veteran patients and their families.
Coordinating care with the VA and active participation with other Veteran organizations are vital components that give us the ability to advocate for the needs of Veterans in our community. Caring Circle of Spectrum Health Lakeland is an active member of the Veteran Engagement Team (VET) of Southwest Michigan. This gives us the opportunity to link with care providers at the VA and in the community to discuss the needs of local Veterans, while focusing on creating excellent care for Veteran patients. We are also an active member in the Michigan We Honor Veterans Statewide Partnership, where we work with other Michigan hospices and VA representatives focusing on ways to improve access and care for Veterans.
A necessary part of our We Honor Veterans program are the Veteran volunteers who give their time and provide support to our Veteran patients in the following ways:
Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Visits – This program pairs recruited Veteran volunteers with hospice patients who have been identified as Veterans. There is a special camaraderie among Veterans, and our Veteran volunteers have the unique ability to relate and connect with each Veteran patient, creating an environment where life review and healing can occur.
Caring Circle Salutes our Veterans Certificate Presentations – These events are an opportunity for us to show our appreciation to the Veteran patients under our care for their service to our country, and our Veteran volunteers are a necessary part of these ceremonies. Our patients and families recognize the special significance of the certificate ceremonies that are always conducted by a Veteran volunteer, who has a personal understanding of what service to our country truly means.
Welcome home Vietnam Veterans, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day Special Tributes – Every year we take the time to honor both our Veteran patients and community veterans in recognition of Veteran holidays. Providing Vietnam Veterans with the welcome home they never received on National Vietnam War Veterans day, showing reverence for service members who paid the ultimate price for our freedom with missing man tribute tables placed throughout Spectrum Health Lakeland on Memorial Day, and honoring ceremonies which provide us with opportunities throughout the year to show our thanks and give back to the Veterans who have given so much for our country.
If you are interested in Volunteering for the We Honor Veterans program please fill out our online form.
For more information about this program, please contact Stephanie Kostizen at
269.429.7100 or stephanie.kostizen@spectrumhealth.org