NVNA and Hospice Honors Veteran Service Officers for Participation in Veteran's Appreciation Program

HINGHAM, Mass. - Nov. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- NVNA and Hospice, the only independent nonprofit home healthcare agency serving Boston’s South Shore, recently hosted a luncheon for the area Veteran Service Officers in appreciation of their participation in the agency’s Veteran’s Appreciation Program. The program is designed for hospice patients who are veterans.

The luncheon was held at the Pat Roche Hospice Home in Hingham. The program was established four years ago to give special recognition and gratitude to the agency’s hospice patients who are veterans. NVNA and Hospice then enhanced the program by inviting area veteran’s agents to accompany the hospice volunteers at the presentations to patients who are veterans.  The luncheon is an opportunity to thank the veteran’s agents for their partnership.

Participants included Veteran Service Officers George Pontes of Weymouth, Bill Dodge of Marshfield, Dick Walsh of Braintree,  Carin Smith of Marshfield, David Osborne of Norwell, Anton Materna of Rockland, Mike Thorp of Duxbury and Hanover, Bernie Perry  Veteran hospice volunteer of Norwell,  Jamie Litchfield of Hingham, and James Crosby of Abington and Whitman.

NVNA and Hospice developed its program after the Veteran’s Administration and the Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts reached out to hospices to enlist their support in caring for veterans at the end of life.  Two NVNA and Hospice volunteers visit the patient and family to present a Certificate of Appreciation along with a commemorative flag pin.  This beautifully framed, personalized tribute is often seen displayed proudly in patients’ homes, and later at wakes and funerals.

“The Veteran’s Appreciation Program is a wonderful way to individually honor the sacrifices that these men and women have made for our country,” said Meg Doherty, CEO of NVNA and Hospice. “Many of our veterans have not received a proper individual recognition for their service and we thank our volunteers for their efforts which convey our gratitude and respect to our veterans.”

About NVNA and Hospice

Founded in 1920, NVNA and Hospice is the only independent, non-profit home health care and hospice agency serving the South Shore.  The agency’s mission of Neighbors Helping Neighbors continues as it serves nearly 600 patients a day, and offers an average of 45 free community health screenings, educational programs and support groups each month in more than 27 communities on the South Shore. NVNA and Hospice is the only Massachusetts agency to be named a Home Care Elite Top Agency in the United States for nine consecutive years; most recently qualifying in the Top 100. In addition to its home care and hospice services, NVNA and Hospice owns and operates the Pat Roche Hospice Home of Hingham; NVNA Works, a non-profit private duty homecare division; and Cancer Support Community – MA South Shore, a non-profit providing support, education, and programs for those impacted by cancer. For more information, call NVNA and Hospice at 781-659-2342 or visit www.nvna.org.

Photo Caption: Veteran Service Officers (left to right): George Pontes , Weymouth; Bill Dodge,  Marshfield; Dick Walsh, Braintree; Carin Smith, Marshfield; David Osborne, Norwell; Anton Materna, Rockland; Mike Thorp, Duxbury and Hanover; Bernie Perry – Veteran hospice volunteer of Norwell; Jamie Litchfield, Hingham; and James Crosby (front and center) Abington and Whitman.