Raleigh, N.C. (May 21, 2014) — Transitions LifeCare, formerly known as Hospice of Wake County, will dedicate a new memorial garden on its Raleigh campus this Saturday.  The veteran’s garden will ensure future generations never forget the many sacrifices that secured the freedom cherished in the United States today.  The dedication ceremony begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday May 24^th at 250 Hospice Circle in Raleigh.  Special flag ceremonies and military medleys will salute veterans, and participants will share stories while dedicating a garden designed for reflection and respite.

Transitions LifeCare has a straightforward mission to serve, but fulfilling it is anything but simple.  Each patient has a unique life story and a unique set of needs, and this includes America’s veterans.  As Memorial Day approaches, Transitions LifeCare marks the holiday by dedicating a sacred place to honor veterans, their families and their loved ones.

“Often there are unresolved issues near the end of life,” said Michael Blanchard, Vice President of Development for the Hospice of Wake County Foundation.  “These might include estrangement from family members or negative life experiences that linger emotionally.  Our goal is to help people come to a sense of peace emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually.  For America’s veterans, unresolved issues can be especially true.  We will salute veterans from all military branches this Saturday as we dedicate our veteran’s memorial garden and honor their dedication and service.”

The Facts about Veterans:

• Locally, approximately 170 hospice patients are veterans with Transitions LifeCare.
• No matter how much time has passed, veterans carry the experiences of their military service with them, presenting unique challenges at the end of life.
• Veterans of each war have been exposed to diseases, environmental factors, and personal and public sentiments about their service. A veteran of the Vietnam War doesn’t have the same needs as a veteran of the Korean War or World War II.
• 1 in 4 dying Americans is a veteran, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
• Transitions LifeCare recognizes the We Honor Veterans partnership between the National Hospice and Palliative Organization and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, created to address the unique needs of aging veterans.
• Transitions LifeCare volunteers are trained with particular skills to serve veterans with the dignity they deserve.  Because America’s veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve, Transitions LifeCare believes it’s never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home.
• Joined by veteran partnerships, VA facilities, and volunteers across the state, Transitions LifeCare identifies veteran patients, evaluates the health impacts of their experiences, and determines the benefits that veterans and surviving dependents may be entitled to.   This helps the organization guide veterans and their families toward a peaceful journey home.

About Transitions LifeCare 

Founded as Hospice of Wake County in 1979, Transitions LifeCare provides physical, emotional and spiritual care to those living with an advanced illness, their caregivers, and those who have lost a loved one regardless of age, race, religion, or financial circumstances. The service area includes Johnston, Franklin, Durham, Harnett and Wake counties, as well as Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Guided by community-based boards of directors and supported by a dedicated professional staff, Transitions LifeCare provides compassionate hospice care that allows patients to enjoy every moment of their lives to the fullest. For more information about Transitions LifeCare, call 919-828-0890 or visit www.hospiceofwake.org.

About We Honor Veterans

We Honor Veterans is a program created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  It invites hospices, state hospice organizations, Hospice-Veteran Partnerships and VA facilities to join a pioneering program focused on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment. By recognizing the unique needs of America’s veterans and their families, community providers, in partnership with VA staff, will learn how to accompany and guide them through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending.  It provides educational tools and resources to promote Veteran-centric educational activities, increase organizational capacity to serve Veterans, support development of strategic partnerships and increase access and improve quality.  For more information, go to http://www.wehonorveterans.org/.