TRU Community Care’s We Honor Veterans program makes a difference for Boulder County Veterans seeking end-of-life care.
For almost 5 decades, TRU Community Care (TRU) has been serving Boulder County seniors by offering exceptional hospice care. Over the years, their services have expanded to include palliative care, memory care, grief services, and a TRU PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). Today, TRU serves more than 1,300 patients and their families per day. In addition to these services, TRU provides programs tailored to the individual needs of their patients, including their We Honor Veterans program.
TRU has been a We Honor Veterans (WHV) partner with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) since 2011. WHV focuses on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment of Veterans, especially Veterans living with chronic illness or terminal illness. TRU has been a Level 5 WHV partner — the top tier of recognition to organizations from WHV — since 2020.
TRU seeks opportunities to engage with Veterans and recognize their military service, including hosting Vietnam Veterans Day events, partnering in community service with organizations like the Veterans Community Project (another grantee of the 2024 Veterans Fund), participating in the Longmont Veteran’s Day Parade, providing meaningful pinning ceremonies for Veteran patients and other Veterans living in senior facilities, and facilitating collaborative education for other palliative and hospice organizations.
But TRU’s care for Veterans goes beyond ceremonial recognition. TRU understands that end-of-life care looks different for every individual, and they have learned this is especially true for Veterans. In an effort to fully meet their Veteran patients’ needs, TRU prioritizes educating their entire staff on Veteran’s issues, experiences and needs. “A Veteran’s military service may significantly impact their journey with illness, loss, and end-of-life,” says Becki Parr, We Honor Veterans Liaison at TRU Community Care. “These variables include the Veteran’s branch of service and rank. How old was the Veteran when they served? Did they enlist or were they drafted? What years did the Veteran serve and for how long? Did they have combat or non-combat experience? Were they a POW? Did they have PTSD or experience a moral injury? TRU cares about the whole patient, and this includes their story.” By equipping staff and volunteers to listen and recognize when a Veteran may need more than listening, TRU hopes that Veterans feel seen, recognized, appreciated, and cared for.
Parr says TRU hopes that, through the work of the We Honor Veterans program, they continue to make more meaningful community partnerships in Boulder County, and beyond. “We don’t want to re-invent the wheel, but instead come alongside other organizations serving Veterans and ask how we can help. TRU is also committed to being a mentor to other community hospices and palliative care programs and hopes that more organizations in Colorado become We Honor Veterans partners.”
Learn more about the Veterans Fund and donate today to support more organizations and projects making a difference in the lives of Boulder County’s Veterans.
Learn more about TRU Community Care and their work in the Boulder County community at https://www.trucare.org/
