Vet to Vet Companion
This program pairs military veteran patients with veteran volunteers. We work with veterans to raise awareness and enlist fellow veterans for the physical and mental needs of service members.
As a proud partner in the We Honor Veterans program, Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County is committed to providing the highest quality care to our nation’s veterans as they embark on the hard journey.
Focused on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and acknowledgement of service that is sensitive each veteran’s preference, our expert staff and volunteers pledge to provide the highest quality care to veterans and their families.
We document military service through:
- • Phone calls from volunteers
- • Work with the Veterans Administration to access practical resources
- • Recognize patients through a special pinning ceremony upon request
- • Arrange training to understand the special needs of veterans
- • Try to match veteran volunteers with veteran patients
We recognize that every Veteran is different and their unique needs are often influenced by their personal military experience. Understanding how Veterans view their military service, whether positive or negative, can affect how they view their disease and life limiting illness. As an agency we are stepping up and making it our mission to serve those men and women with the dignity they deserve.
Veteran-to-Veteran
The Veteran-to-Veteran program aims to pair recruited Veteran Volunteers with clients who have been identified as Veterans. Once paired with a client who also has military experience, Veteran Volunteers have the unique ability to relate and connect with each patient thereby creating an environment where life review and healing may occur.
Volunteers receive our volunteer training and Veteran-to-Veteran training. Volunteers must be military Veterans and have an interest in supporting clients who served in the military.
Volunteers will visit for companionship and may also cover respite time, so a family member can have a much needed break, among many other offerings.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Volunteer Office at (207) 474-7775.