Marion VA Medical Center to host Hospice Care Conference Sept. 24 | Community Spirit

MARION, IL (KFVS) - Marion VA Medical Center is hosting a Hospice Veteran Partnership Conference Monday, September 24 at the Lourdes Hospital Marshall Nemer Pavilion in Paducah, Ky.

According to Marion VAMC Hospice Veteran Partnership Coordinator and Community Health Nurse Coordinator Marietta Kellum, the goal of the conference is to educate hospices and agencies throughout the region on what VA can provide for an aging population.

“Only 4 percent of our dying Veterans are utilizing VA for their end of life care,” Kellum said. “The rest of them are in the community, being cared for by community hospices. I want the community hospices to have knowledge about the specific issues that a Veteran might be experiencing at the end of life and how the VA can help."

Research shows that many healthcare providers aren’t aware of a patient’s military service, because the patient or their family members has never mentioned it. Kellum says that a lot of times, hints of a patient’s service do not surface until near the end of their life, and caregivers need to know how to help provide peace.

“We have combat veterans that witnessed horrific things during battle and war, and they have coped fairly well with memories until they reach the end of their lives and reflect, trying to resolve these issues as they face their own mortality,” Kellum said.

“I see it (the Hospice Veteran Partnership Conference) as an opportunity to educate Hospice about the specific issues that Veterans have,” Kellum continues, “I think hospice staff need to know how to respond to that, and I think VA can help."

The Hospice Veterans Partnership Conference runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Lourdes Hospital Marshall Nemer Pavilion, which is located at 1530 Lone Oak Road in Paducah. The event features experts on VA Eligibility, Hospice, and Elderly Care. 

For more information, contact Laura Schafsnitz at 618-997-5311, ext. 54819.

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