VA MidSouth Healthcare Network

Hospice and Palliative Care

Hospice and Palliative Care represents comfort-oriented and supportive services provided in the home, community, outpatient, or inpatient settings for persons with advanced life-limiting disease. It is a program that incorporates the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of our Veterans.

This program is designed to focus on the quality of life and comfort for a Veteran with an advanced disease that is life-limiting. Hospice and Palliative Care supports a balance of comfort measures, interventions and provides bereavement care to the Veteran's family.

The goal of Hospice and Palliative Care is to achieve the best possible quality of life through the relief of suffering, control of symptoms, and restoration of functional capacity while remaining sensitive to personal, cultural, and religious values, beliefs, and practices.

VA Medical Center Hospice and Palliative Care - Points of Contact

What is hospice care?

Hospice care is a comfort based form of treatment often associated with specific characteristics of the Veteran receiving the care who has been diagnosed with a terminal condition with 6 months or less to live.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is a broader term that includes hospice care as well as other care that emphasizes symptom control and comfort measures, but does not necessarily require the presence of an imminently terminal condition or a time-limited prognosis.

After Hours Care - 1-877-291-5311

If you need clinical advice outside of normal businesses hours, within the MidSouth Healthcare Network, you can contact After Hours Care.

VA Caregiver Support Program - 1-855-260-3274

 http://www.caregiver.va.gov/ 

Asking for help isn't always easy – especially if you're not exactly sure what kind of support would be the best fit for your needs. Learn more about how VA's trained professionals can help you find the services and support that are right for you and the Veteran you care for.

Office of Survivors Assistance

http://www.va.gov/SURVIVORS/index.asp 

Serves as a resource regarding all benefits and services furnished by the Department to survivors and dependents of Veterans and members of the Armed Forces.

We Honor Veterans

http://www.wehonorveterans.org/ 

In collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, this program focuses on end of life care for Veterans, and partners with local hospice providers to build a commitment to honor Veterans.

National Association of County Veterans Service Officers

http://www.nacvso.org/ 

In partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the County Veterans Service Officer has a compassionate understanding of the problems, which confront veterans, widows, widowers, and children.

National Personnel Records Center - Awards and Decorations

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/public/awards-and-decorations.html 

Find information to make requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals, decorations, and awards.