We Honor Veterans Part 1

April Grossberger 
CSU, Chico, MSW Intern,
Paradise Hospice 

Teresa McClenathan 
Registered Nurse 
Paradise Hospice 

We Honor Veterans is a national awareness and action campaign developed by the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The goal is to provide the best possible care for veterans, while honoring veterans’ preferences. One of the statistics presented especially underscores the need for such services – approximately 680,000 veterans die in the U.S.every year. The speakers describe the health risks that are unique to veterans, which vary depending on the era of service. For example, many World War II and Cold War Veterans were exposed to high levels of radiation due to nuclear cleanup and testing. Some Korean Vets suffer throughout their lives from cold injuries – frostbite, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis. Exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange has led to lifelong health problems for many Vietnam Vets. And veterans from more recent wars in the Middle East have suffered brain and spinal cord injuries from explosives, as well as psychiatric illnesses. Caregivers work to honor veterans’ service, no matter when and how they served. 

Recorded: February 20, 2013