How Hospice Care Helps Veterans Injured After a Lifetime of Service

Posted on: 7 August 2020

The military can provide a rewarding career for those who stick with it but can also be a problem for others. For example, severe injuries in the line of battle may plaque a person for life and make it hard for them to stay happy and healthy. However, hospice care can help those who are suffering and who need treatment late in life. 

Veteran Injuries May Make Later Life a Challenge

Serving in the armed forces is often a very challenging experience that leaves many veterans injured and struggling to stay active. For example, a person may suffer from a persistent muscle disorder after battle that makes it hard for them to walk. Unfortunately, these types of issues have a way of getting worse as a person ages and leaving them in a very tough position later in life.

For example, that muscle condition may get bad enough that a veteran cannot take care of themselves as a senior because they cannot walk for long without excessive pain. This situation can be very troubling for families, particularly if the damage keeps getting worse and spreads further. Thankfully, hospice care can provide those in this situation with the help that they need to avoid severe lifelong problems.

Ways Hospice Care Can Help

Hospice care is a type of treatment that comes into play when an individual cannot take care of themselves and is nearing the end of their lives. It serves many purposes, including taking care of a veteran's daily needs. For example, hospice workers can bathe and change a veteran, prepare their food, make sure that they get their medicine, and take them to and from doctor's appointments.

These experts can also provide pain relief via medicine and physical therapy that helps minimize suffering as much as possible in these veterans. Typically, hospice care is something that can be scheduled as often as a person needs. Some may only want or need occasional care — such as once every few days — while others will need daily visits to keep themselves as pain-free as possible.

Just as importantly, hospice care helps a veteran stay as independent as possible by allowing them to stay at home in their waning years. Rather than having to stay at a facility where they feel out of place or uncomfortable, hospice allows them to stay home and feel like they're somewhere that they belong — a huge benefit for veterans who are proud of their service and their life.

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