CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Compassus program serving Cedar Falls and the surrounding areas reminds community members to pause this Memorial Day to acknowledge the true meaning of the national holiday. All Americans are encouraged to observe one minute of silence at 3 p.m. local time to remember and honor those who have died in military service to the U.S.
Compassus – Cedar Falls is a Level 3 Partner of We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to empower hospice and other health care providers across the country to meet the unique needs of seriously ill veterans and their families. We Honor Veterans addresses the growing need for veteran-centered care as our servicemen and servicewomen age and need access to end-of-life services.
“We are honored to serve our veteran patients and their families and to recognize them along with our extraordinary veteran volunteers,” said Patricia Christy, executive director of Compassus – Cedar Falls. “Memorial Day is a time to acknowledge sacrifice, to grieve for those lost and to provide comfort and support for their loved ones.”
One out of four dying Americans is a veteran. As a We Honor Veterans partner, Compassus has demonstrated its commitment to provide relevant education and training for staff and volunteers so they may provide quality end-of-life care and better understand the unique needs of the men and women with military service.
“We’ve learned veterans assimilate their experiences not only in how they live outside of active service, but also in how their lives end,” said Matthew Ulven, M.D., associate medical director of Compassus – Cedar Falls. “Through research and clinical practice, we found the better we understand their experiences, the better we are able to meet their unique needs with honor, sensitivity and respect.”
NHPCO is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the U.S. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America their loved ones.
The mission of the VA is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan,” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.
For more information about Compassus or its services, visit compassus.com/cedar-falls or call (319) 291-9000.
