Heritage Hospice, Inc. Achieves “We Honor Veterans” Level 5 Status

November 11, 2021 | by mbaker

Heritage Hospice, Inc. earned Level 5 status for the We Honor Veterans program, the highest status achievable in the program. It is only one of two hospices in the state of Kentucky at this time to have achieved this honor. We Honor Veterans is a program offered by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. “I am so pleased that we have successfully achieved the requirements for Level 5 distinction of the We Honor Veterans Program,” Heritage Hospice, Inc. Executive Director, Janelle Wheeler said. The program invites hospices to recognize the unique needs of America’s veterans and their families and to learn how to best serve and guide them, taking their unique life stories into consideration, and working toward a more peaceful ending. Partnerships begin at level 1 and partners must complete a series of educational programs and host community events to fulfill each level’s requirements and progress to the next level.

This distinction was achieved by Heritage Hospice, Inc. by means of collecting data and hosting a multitude of veteran events, including several virtual and in-person events throughout the year to welcome home Vietnam veterans, and to further thank them for their service and sacrifice. Over the course of the year, 210 veterans received pins in a pinning ceremony and were present with certificates honoring their services across Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln, and Mercer counties. “It has been an amazing journey that has allowed us the opportunity to meet so many wonderful individuals and their families,” Wheeler said. “We are grateful for their sacrifices and are honored to serve those who have served us at such an intimate time in their lives.”

The success of this program is largely due to the hard work of Sharon Martin, Community and Provider Liaison for Heritage Hospice, Inc. Martin played a key role in making sure events, whether in-person or online, were organized and that veterans across Heritage Hospice. Inc.’s four-county service area were honored. “It has been an honor working with our veterans, our volunteers, our staff, and our community to bring this achievement to our agency,” Martin said. “I am proud of our continued momentum in honoring the sacrifice our veteran communities made for us all. This is not the effort of one, but rather, the effort of our team to better care for our veterans and their families.”

For more information regarding Heritage Hospice, Inc. please contact 859-236-2425.