Kelly Klemm, a registered nurse with ThedaCare at Home, spends his overnight hours responding to various emergencies for people who need care at home, many of whom are in hospice care. Often, the patients are also veterans.
Klemm has worked for ThedaCare for nearly 35 years, and is a veteran himself, serving two years in the Army and later in the Army Reserve. His life experience has helped him learn how to connect with a veteran when he provides care.
“There is always a bond,” he said. “We speak the same lingo. And, it’s more than that. So many times, I find that veterans have the same mentality they did when they were training as a young person – do not show weakness and do not ask for help. They often carry that with them, even during end-of-life care. I hope they know we are there to help, and it’s not a sign of weakness to need support or ask for help. We’re here to do whatever we can to make them comfortable.”
Klemm also noted the veterans are humble.
“These people would never say they are heroes,” said Klemm. “They would just say they were doing their job.”
And when he provides care, he knows it must be done in a delicate way.
“Many of the veterans we care for need a bit longer to open up, and process what they are going through,” he explained. “We give them time to talk and don’t push them. Sometimes, it’s just being there for them, and sharing that life experience that can help.”
It’s Klemm’s background as a veteran that encouraged him to do more for veterans being cared for at ThedaCare – and lead to a new program being launched.
We Honor Veterans Partner
ThedaCare at Home Hospice has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a campaign developed by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a We Honor Veterans partner, ThedaCare at Home Hospice will implement ongoing veteran-centered education for team members and volunteers to help improve the care provided to the veterans ThedaCare serves.
“ThedaCare is proud to become a We Honor Veterans partner,” said Megan Rennie, RN-BSN, Clinical Manager for ThedaCare at Home Hospice. “We understand that veterans have different life experiences that can impact their end-of-life care. ThedaCare is dedicated to providing individualized care for each person in the community, and the needs of veterans are unique. Our team members are committed to supporting those needs through this program.”
We Honor Veterans provides educational tools and resources to advance these goals:
- Promote Veteran-centric educational activities
- Increase organizational capacity to serve Veterans
- Support development of strategic partnerships
- Increase access and improve quality
The We Honor Veterans program is provided at no cost to hospice organizations. There are five levels that partners can achieve in the program. Organizations assess their ability to serve veterans and, using resources provided as part of the program, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to veterans into their organization.
ThedaCare has recently achieved Level 1 certification from the We Honor Veterans program. Rennie said the Hospice team will now be working toward achieving Level 2 certification.
“It’s encouraging that our team member members have embraced this program,” said Rennie. “Training our care teams in the program, with education and resources, is the responsibility of our teams. They are all committed to providing the best care possible for this specific group of patients and their families.”
Rennie noted that ThedaCare provided Hospice care for more than 1,300 people in the last year throughout a 13-country service area. Through the program, they serve a large portion of veterans. ThedaCare at Home Hospice also partners and provides care for facilities such as King Veterans Home.
Shana Farrell, the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator at ThedaCare, said team members recognize the importance of understanding a veteran’s care situation.
“Some of the veterans we provide care for have unique combat injuries, are living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety or a soul injury,” she explained. “Through this program, our care teams can provide specific care for those needs – including physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual support. We want to ease their pain, suffering and give them peace.”
Farrell said that through the We Honor Veterans program, team members and volunteers can capture the stories of veterans, if that is something they are interested in doing. Or, if a person passes away while in a ThedaCare facility, teams can coordinate a pinning ceremony or provide flag services.
“We have the special opportunity to meet veterans where they are in their health and hospice journey,” said Farrell. “To provide that care is truly an honor.”
Community Support and Partnerships
ThedaCare’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the communities by empowering each person to live their unique, best life. The organization is also committed to the movement to reinvent health care by becoming a proactive partner in health, enriching the lives of all and creating value at every opportunity. It’s what the organization calls lifeinspired.
The We Honor Veterans program allows ThedaCare to provide specific care for each person – meeting their unique needs – in this case, it is veterans. Leaders are proud to find unique programs that allow us to support individuals in their health journey.
To help sustain the We Honor Veterans program, community partnerships between organizations such health care systems, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, funeral homes and veteran-assistance programs will be important.
“We would love to see this program in other facilities in our area to help veterans understand that no matter where they receive care, they are supported in their needs,” said Farrell.
She also noted ThedaCare would encourage community groups that are interested in providing additional resources for veterans to reach out and learn more about the program.
“Often, for veterans who are being cared for in our skilled nursing or assisted living facilities, we try to recognize them if they are open to that,” she said. “Some people have donated handmade quilts with military emblems on them, others have made signs for their room doors. It’s inspiring to see community members supporting veterans – these small gestures truly make a difference.”
To learn more about We Honor Veterans please visit wehonorveterans.org.
