Literature Review

"I don't get to feel this good very often:" Virtual reality intervention for veterans receiving end-of-life careJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Megan E Gately, Steven D Shirk, Anastasia Canell, Alexandra Laffer, Melanie Corle, Kristen Dillon; 2/26We explored the use of VR [virtual reality] with patients receiving inpatient HPC [hospice and palliative care]. Twenty-five veterans with complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities at a Veterans Affairs hospital participated. Data related to self-reported pain and well-being, as well as session feedback, were gathered. Despite some challenges with setup, 91% reported enjoyment, and 90% would participate again. Travel experiences were most popular, allowing reminiscence and touring of bucket-list destinations. Program feedback suggested improvements in anxiety, mood, and boredom.

Pikes Peak Hospice donation drive smashes goal; 150 new blankets collected for veteran patients The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO; by O'Dell Isaac; 3/2/26 Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care reached out the local community with an ambitious request in early January ... [asking] for donations of up to 100 new, handmade lap blankets for its veteran patients by March 2. ... The community has answered the call – and then some. More than 150 red, white and blue blankets have been donated, with more donations still arriving, ... "We've been overwhelmed by this incredible response," said Sonya Bergeron, veteran liaison with Pikes Peak Hospice.

El Paso's Veterans Cafe helps give community to those who served News*Talk 96.3 fm 1290 am; by Grizz; 2/12/26 On a quiet Saturday, something special is happening over coffee in El Paso. Hospice El Paso’s Veteran Café is proving that sometimes the most powerful form of support doesn’t come from a clinic or an office, but from a shared table, a familiar story, and the simple act of being welcomed. The pop-up café, sponsored by Hospice El Paso, is designed specifically for veterans from all branches of service. While it may look like a casual coffee gathering on the surface, its purpose runs much deeper. The café offers veterans a place to connect, talk, laugh, and support one another in a low-pressure environment where no one is expected to have the right words or any answers at all.

Camp Hero helps healthcare workers get to work during winter weather WKYT, Lexington, KY; by Alyssa Williams; 1/25/26 A Kentucky organization dedicated to helping wounded veterans and first responders is extending is lending a helping hand to healthcare workers during winter weather. Camp Hero founder Rocco Besednjak spent Saturday driving his power wagon around Lexington, with UK Hospital as his main destination. For the last five winters, he has picked up healthcare workers who need help getting to and from work during snow storms. The gesture was inspired by his wife, who worked in healthcare for nearly two decades. 

Veterans get free photography session, storytelling opportunities at Carolina Caring event Carolina Caring, Huntersville, NC; by Carolina Caring; 1/21/26 “People can never have too many family photos,” says Aaron Libby, the Charlotte-based photographer known for his stunning portraits captured across four continents and in his studio, Aaron Libby Photography. Libby’s passion for photography and his personal experiences as a U.S. Army veteran led to a recent collaboration with Carolina Caring, the nonprofit serious illness care provider serving 12 counties across Western North Carolina and the Mecklenburg region. ... Last Fall, he was approached by Cindy Stamey, Carolina Caring’s Director of Veteran Relations, who sought to create a meaningful experience—one that provided lasting keepsakes for veterans and their families. They decided to offer a free photography session during the organization’s Veterans Coffee Connection gathering in Huntersville. ... For these photographs, veterans were encouraged to hold an item or wear a badge that carries meaning from their time in service. 

New hospice room at Crestview Manor helps homeless veterans Crestview Bulletin, Crestview, FL; by Tony Judnich; 12/31/25 [On December 26,] a 60-year-old man who was a homeless military veteran became the first resident of the "Peoples Health Services Heroes Hospice Room" at the Creview Manor assisted-living facility. [The rest of the article is behind a paywall.]

Veterans are invited to connect over coffee at the library Rome News-Tribune; by Emily Bradshaw; 12/6/25 Starting Thursday, Dec. 11, at 9:30 a.m., Transitions Hospice Care will kick off a new monthly event at the Rome-Floyd County Library, aiming to provide a sense of community and connectivity for local veterans. ... Transitions Hospice Care decided to put this event together to foster a sense of camaraderie while also providing resources, she said. Their first meeting will be casual, gauging interest in various resources attendees may want to discuss. From there, these monthly meetings will build to incorporate aspects that pique guests’ interests and needs.

S41 Delayed palliative care consultation among veterans with pancreatic cancer: An analysis of patterns and outcomesThe American Journal of Gastroenterology; by Adla, Akhil; Walker, Hayes; Whitwell, Samantha; Yn, Louis; Tombazzi, Claudio; 10/25Pancreatic cancer is characterized by a rapid disease progression, and poor overall prognosis, necessitating a comprehensive approach to care. The American Society of Clinical Oncology strongly recommends early palliative care consultation for all advanced pancreatic cancer patients, at the time of diagnosis or within the 8-12 weeks of diagnosis. Timely palliative care involvement has been shown to improve symptom management, mood, and improved survival. Despite these benefits, palliative care referrals are often delayed, limiting the potential impact on patient outcomes. This study reveals a dramatic percentage of patients who did not have palliative care consultations in a timely fashion as recommended by American Society of Clinical Oncology. 

"The Wounded Generation": Bearing the invisible scars of war CBS News; by Lesley Stahl; 11/9/25 In 1984, President Reagan commemorated the 40th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, and paid tribute to the World War II soldiers known as "The Greatest Generation." ... But in his new book, historian David Nasaw calls them "The Wounded Generation." "They are the Greatest Generation, but they returned from war, bringing wounds home with them that are invisible; they're psychic wounds," he said. "Now we know that a lot of those wounds were PTSD. But PTSD was not diagnosed for 40 years after the return of the World War II veterans. ... Nasaw said [of his own father,] "He came home smoking three or four packs of Luckys a day. He came home with a heart condition from the war. He dies at age 61. And I had never had the chance to find out what happened in Eritrea, what he went through. So, what do I do as a historian? I can't find out his story, so I jumped in to find out the story of his generation."Editor's Note: While most World War II veterans are now gone, many of today’s hospice patients—particularly those who served in combat—carry similar invisible scars. Their psychic wounds, once unnamed, often resurface in life’s final chapter. This story also echoes in their adult children, who now seek to understand the unspoken pain that shaped their families. For more insight and support—especially regarding post-9/11 veterans—see the Wounded Warriors Project. 

Difference-making factors linked to higher reach of Specialist Palliative Care among people with heart failure across a national sample of VA Medical Centers American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Yan Zhan, PhD, RN, MBA, Edward J. Miech, EdD, Erica A. Abel, PhD, MD, and Shelli L. Feder, PhD, APRN, FPCN, FAHA; 11/10/25 Conclusion:  High Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) reach among people with advanced heart failure (aHF) was linked to combinations of several modifiable factors related to staffing, cardiology involvement, and outpatient palliative care. These findings provide actionable insights into improving SPC delivery across VAMCs.Editor's Note: What education or other partnerships do you have with VA Medical Centers in your service areas? Or, what gaps for veterans exist because of a lack of VA Medical Centers? Use these "combinations of modifiable factors related to staffing, cardiology involvement, and outpatient palliative care" for your strategic planning to improve care for veterans struggling with advanced heart failure.

4 ways to honor veterans in hospice on Veterans Day 3HC; Press Release; retrieved 11/4/25 ... As veterans continue to age, there are more and more seeking hospice care. Veterans have unique needs, and at 3HC, we participate in the We Honor Veterans program in order to meet those needs and give them the recognition they deserve. ... Do you have a relative or loved one in hospice care who is a veteran? Read more to discover great ways to celebrate veterans in hospice on Veterans Day. 4 Ways to Honor Veterans in Hospice on Veterans Day:

Mentorship, military legacy, and making a difference with Susan Combs Advisor Today; podcast with Susan Combs; 10/25/25 Susan Combs is the Founder of Pancakes for Roger, a nonprofit that honors veterans and amplifies their stories through a grassroots “pancakes” movement. She created it after her father, a Major General, asked for pancakes while on hospice, inspiring a campaign, book, and advocacy project.Editor's Note: Though Veteran's Day is only two weeks away, you have time to implement Susan's amazing "Pancakes for Roger" for the veterans you serve, via their annual national (and international) campaigns each February. Explore more information.