News and Announcements
Deborah Grassman, NP Presents October 12th in Manheim, PA
Deborah Grassman is a mental health Nurse Practitioner whose career at the Department of Veterans Affairs spanned nearly 30 years. She was the Director of the Hospice program and personally took care of more than 10,000 dying veterans. She is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts in caring for Veterans nearing the end of life. Deborah is most well-known for her pioneering Wounded Warriors: Their Last Battle presentation which was the first of its kind to identify the unique needs of Veterans as they age. In 2002, she introduced “pinning ceremonies” to honor dying veterans — a ceremony which has now become standard practice in hospices and long-term-care facilities throughout the nation. She is now CEO and co-founder of Opus Peace, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide programs that respond to the soul injury that occurs during trauma, abuse, self-neglect, and serious illness. Deborah has recently launched two campaigns, providing ceremonial workshops for:
*Soul Injury to bring attention and healing tools to the needs of our nation’s combat veterans who still carry unmourned grief and unforgiven guilt in the aftermath of war; and *Soul Restoration to revitalize the weary hearts of personal and professional caregivers, including first responders, ER and hospice staff, chaplains, trauma and bereavement counselors. Deborah is the author of two books: Peace at Last and The Hero Within. She is on the advisory boards for the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross foundation and the Ira Byock PBS film project The Best Care Possible. Deborah’s contribution toward advancing End-of-Life care in this country is described by NHPCO on their website: “Deborah’s work has dramatically and almost single-handedly increased awareness of Veterans and their unique end-of-life issues. Additionally, her insights into the family’s experience offer perspectives for understanding how these experiences can impact on and often complicate grief and bereavement.” Deborah’s book, Peace at Last: Stories of Hope and Healing for Veterans, is used by multiple agencies to learn about the effects of past trauma on the quality of a person’s dying process, the influence of the various cultures of war on dying veterans, stoicism, and warrior wisdom. Her book, The Hero Within: Redeeming the Destiny We Were Born to Fulfill describes how to re-own and re-home pieces of self through the processes of abiding, reckoning, and beholding our interior hero. It is used by numerous agencies for staff development, team building, and personal growth. Book circles to promote healing using The Hero Within have developed throughout the country, as well as Veteran book circles that utilize Peace at Last. |
PHPCN 2018 Annual ConferenceWhen: April 8-10 2018
Where: Harrisburg, PA The PHPCN Annual conference is the only three-day conference in Pennsylvania designed specifically for all hospice and palliative care professionals to advance the knowledge of health care professionals who provide serious illness and end-of-life care services. This national-caliber conference attracts end-of-life care colleagues from across Pennsylvania and neighboring states offering exceptional educational and networking opportunities. Join your colleagues, April 8th-10th, 2018 at the Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey to educate and celebrate 37 years to "Promote Excellence in Palliative and End-of-Life Care" to individuals and families throughout our communities. Pennsylvania Hospice & Palliative Care Network 475 West Governor Road, Hershey, PA 17033 Phone: 717-533-4002 Fax: 717-533-4007 Email: [email protected] |
Mental Health Resources for Veterans and their Families
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides mental health services at its medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics. In addition, readjustment counseling services
are available for Veterans and their families at Vet Centers across the nation. All mental health care provided by VHA supports recovery and strives to enable people with mental health issues to live meaningful lives in their communities and achieve their full potential. For more information on mental health care for Veterans, visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov. Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responders. Whether it’s a call, a chat, or a text, Veterans and their loved ones can get free, confidential support and resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net, or send a text message to 838255. Make the Connection (www.MakeTheConnection.net) is a VA public awareness campaign that offers personal testimonials and resources to help Veterans and their families and friends learn from each other’s experiences and discover ways to improve their lives. Join the Make the Connection Facebook community at facebook.com/VeteransMTC. Community Provider Toolkit offers “mini-clinics,” an online resource that gives clinicians information and tools for treating Veterans with various mental health conditions. To learn more, visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ community providers/miniclinics.asp Coaching Into Care is a free, confidential coaching service that helps families and friends discover constructive ways to talk with Veterans about their concerns and treatment options. Callers can reach the service at 1-888-823-7458. More information is at www.mirecc.va.gov/coaching. National Center for PTSD advances the clinical care and social welfare of Veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Find out more at www.ptsd.va.gov. Vet Centers are VA community-based centers that provide a range of counseling, outreach, and referral services. To learn more about Vet Centers and to find the one closest to you, visit www.vetcenter.va.gov. |
Upcoming Events
VCP of South Central PA Poster
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Honor Veterans’ Service American’s Veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home. Hospice staff may provide the last opportunity for Veterans to feel that their service was not in vain, and that they are appreciated. Simple acts of gratitude at the end-of-life can make up for a lack of appreciation or recognition during the Veteran’s lifetime, especially for those Veterans who were never welcomed home or thanked for their service. As hospice professionals, the following are tips you and your staff can use to engage, honor and recognize the Veterans you serve:
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