End-of-life care is one of the most personal decisions a Veteran and their family will ever make. VA offers hospice services across a variety of settings—including its own Community Living Centers (CLCs), contracted community nursing homes and home hospice agencies. While each Veteran’s needs are unique, the setting in which hospice care is provided can profoundly shape the experience.
Family satisfaction and VA’s commitment to excellence
One invaluable resource in this decision-making process is VA’s Bereaved Family Survey, which measures family satisfaction with end-of-life (EOL) care. The data consistently show families report higher satisfaction with VA CLC hospice care than with community-based hospice. Currently, 87% of families rate VA CLC EOL care a 9 or 10 on a 0–10 scale, compared to 81% for community hospice care. These findings reflect clinical excellence and VA’s commitment to honoring Veterans through every stage of life.
VA staff understand the unique needs of Veterans, including the psychological and physical conditions related to military service, which creates a respectful atmosphere culturally attuned to the Veteran’s life of service.
“He was in hospice care at VA, and they did a magnificent job. Because of his PTSD, there were concerns about his being combative. They handled it well to keep him safe—and themselves safe. They were remarkable and made a tragic time bearable,” shared one Veteran’s daughter.
Families frequently recall the small but meaningful details of VA care, like the Honor Walk or Final Salute, a ceremonial procession to honor a Veteran’s death. “The Walk of Honor is something I will always remember,” one family member shared. Another noted, “He was brought back to VA and, as my son said, ‘He was given back his dignity.’ I can’t even begin to say how wonderful VA is.”
Others reflect on the exceptional kindness and professionalism they experienced:
- “The care was beyond exceptional. I didn’t know that kind of care was possible. They treated me like family.”
- “We had full insurance coverage but got better care at VA than any private hospital.”
- “They did everything they could to make him and us comfortable. The social work staff and the chaplains were wonderful. They helped us after death.”
These voices speak to more than clinical competence—they speak to trust, compassion, and the enduring connection between Veterans and the system that was built to serve them.
Choosing VA for hospice care means selecting a health care system that understands and honors Veterans—not only in life, but in their final days as well.
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Is this care available for Disabled Vets outside the USA and, if so, please provide the info?
If not, does the Foreign Medical Plan provide it?
My husband is entering end of life status. I would like him to have VA hospice because they understand his needs and will honor his opinions. But I can’t seem to reach anyone to answer this one question. Does VA hospice come to the home? And if so do they come to Morongo Valley, California? We are about 50 miles from the Loma Linda V A.
You need to call so they can detemine eligibiity, but yes, they can provide hospice at home if elgibile
Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans’ Hospital
Phone: 909-825-7084
or you can call the VA 800# at 800-698-2411 (800-MYVA411)
Great story and very good news. Both my parents were Veterans, as am I. My parents could have used this wonderful service. I hope I won’t need this service, but I need to know how to set this up. How do I do that?
My daddy finally received the dignity and honor he deserved since serving during WWII. I am forever grateful for the care and respect given to him, my mom and myself during his stay at Audie Murphy VA hospital in 2005
Very informative article. I will share with my family
I’m in a good CLC WTVAHCS, but my Provider (Dr.) has her picks and chooses. I just got a discharge notice to be out by Friday 09/12/2025 for being (get this) too independent for skilled nursing. I’m confined to a motorchair because the wheelchair brings me so much pain, and all my med’s have doubled since I was admitted. But there are other vet’s up and walking around doing all kinds of work projects. I’m in excruciating pain every single day, yet I’m being forced to leave, AND I’m their only minority.
Contacct your Patient Advocate.
The comment should be Have you contacted your Patient Advocate? And the would be yes, but the are powerless … Just powerless.
Why play the race card?
It unfortunately is so.
This article asks more questions than it answers. How sad is that?
I agree. And there isn’t an overwhelming number of comments, but many questions go unanswered or the answer is not helpful. Welcome to the new VA.
I do hope this compassionate care is throughout the VA system. I’m so glad to here about this care provided veterans at the end of their lives, but some VA facilities can’t and don’t live up to these great levels of care and compassion. DORN VA in Columbia SC doesn’t, it can’t because it treats it’s veterans that are not at end of life like we are a nuisance and problems to be brushed aside. It was better awhile back but now they are just going through the motions.
I am 93 years old and in very good health. I live alone and have a trust along which includes a will and at this time I don’t feel that I am in need of this service. My daughter Carrie is set up in my trust to be responsible for my health. I have three son’s and they are set up for other duties which is set up in my trust and they are aware of this. My health issues are taken care of the VA health system at St Cloud, Minnesota.
Good for you, sir! I believe that I will have my full health at your age, too. I’m just 74. My wife and I have made all the arrangements. The rest is up to the one who calls us home.
Very nice to hear this! I’m 64 yrs old but will be needing hospice sooner rather than later. Thank you!
Is end of life care for every veteran ..
That’s my question too. Let’s see if we get an anzswer.
I never considered the VA Hospice vs civilian Hospice for me or my Husband. I will consider it when the time comes, it sounds wonderful!!!
More of a question, if I may! Does the VA use EOL Doulas in their CLC Hospice units? It is a totally expanded skill set and many times helps the families through the journey at EOL and can create legacy projects like letter writing to specific family or past military unit members who cannot travel to be with the veteran, photos, life reviews and a host of other durable memories that persist after the veteran’s passing.
I could never thank the VA geriatric social worker enough for advocating for, and arranging the hospice services for my husband during the last six months of his life. He wanted to be cared for at home although l was the only other person in the house and l had no medical training. Someone from the hospice team seemed to always be there for us both — whether the need at any given time was for physical assistance (ie. rolling him to change his bedding), or emotional support from the social worker, a chaplain, etc.
And when my husband actually died, the hospice people came to the house within 20 minutes, and handled all the necessary procedures, while l was in a daze. Thank you, again, VA for making an otherwise overwhelming experience, tolerable.
I use the VA, am 81 years old. Other than having COPD, tiredness, inability to walk distances, lack of 02 when doing any work and a few other things I am doing OK. If needed does VA have home care?
What an absolutely great article. I’m 70 years old and now knowing there is a place for me to go if I need that kind of care is very comforting. I’m glad fellow veterans are getting the outstanding treatment that was mentioned for the fellow that was in your care. His wife had nothing but great things to say and that’s very comforting. Thank you to the VA and all the great employees that make someone’s final days of life as good as they can.
I love these comments, they seemed to have been treated by caring professionals with great compassion. I have dealt with hospice for both of my in-laws, non VA, but if the care shown in these comments are a gage of comfort and compassion it is a great program, it just needs to be the standard throughout the VA system. I can only go by my experience with my local VA, and their treatment before hospice is needed, not a high standard. I am so glad my fellow veterans are and have been blessed with this level of EOL care.
Thank you for the story about this journey of care.
Must the veteran be disabled to qualify for VA hospice care or is it available to all veterans?
VA Hospice Care is vastly improved thanks to the great work of an organization formerly at the West LA VA led by Dannion Brinkley that recruited and trained hospice volunteers and help develop the No Vet Die Alone Program – modeled after the Twilight Brigade, Compassion in Action program.
Hi my brother in law passed away May 11, 2025 in Saint Cloud FL, I spend the last two weeks he was alive in hospice with him and my sister her wife, first week 24 hour nursing service at home , second week at advent health in Kissimmee, we are very grateful with the special care received by the nurses and doctors that take care of David, he were a Navy veteran, all the hospice care was paid by VA, thank,s
My brother was moved from a small community hospital to .the VA hospital in birmingham, alabama.
I do not know what would have happened at the small community hospital where he was improving daily, but the va hospital was a nightmare from the time they placed my brother on a ventilator for transport until he was taken back off the ventilator months later ( he was given iv medication) by the hospice type team several months later.
And they neither had the final diagnosis correct, but the funeral home had to get them to correct it and had to get them to actually sign the death certificate.
This is wonderful information – but how do we find out VA hospice locations?
Wonderful VA care
Is this available to 100% service connected Vets living outside the USA?
That was not mine and my husbands care at all.
He was a disabled Vietnam Vet and dying of lung cancer. Unfortunately I was out of the country trying to look after my mother also, who had dementia.
I tried to speak to him as often as he would answer my calls. Once when I telephone the State Veterans Home, and asked to speak to him, I was kept on hold for almost an hour. This was a call I made from the UK. In the end I used a different phone and telephoned the security desk and told them that I was still on hold by the nurses station. He went upstairs and told them I was waiting. You guessed it, they cut me off, after an hours hold.
His things disappeared after he passed. Still don’t know what happened to his medals or anything. I was at the hospital on the first plane that day, only to be informed of his passing and his body had been sent out to a mortuary.
Anything but pleasant that’s for sure!
I wish I could have done this fur my husband but we have no VA care here closet is over 200 miles.. My husband a 3 tour Veteran died from
Exposure to Agent Orange and the care he got was horrible. No respect for him
None for me and our daughter in 10 minutes they came in and told me “I had to get him out of there” I’ve never forgotten the sheer dishonor and lack of empathy from that hospital staff’s.
Is there someone there with you when you pass? I won’t have anyone there with me.
US Navy Retired
Trust in the Lord, who will never abandon or forsake you.
Yes, Sir, God will never leave you nor forsake you. His promise is yes and Amen!!!
I would like the VA to offer veterans a chance to get a last will and testament. Just a thought that I would like the VA to do for us veterans. Thank you
Hello. The VA does help with will writing services. Follow this link for more info: https://news.va.gov/111089/13-places-free-wills-trusts-veterans/
I hope this is helpful to you.
I think that would be a great thing for them to do for us .
I have known many friends who had safe endings, lovely memories with family there. Helped my own parents cross with dignity and love. I would want the same peaceful end that VA will allow me.
whom do we contact for hospice care
Good question, the article didn’t give any direction.
CONTACT YOUR SOCIAL WORKER. EVERY CLINIC HAS ONE OR WHERE YOUR PCP IS. THEY CAN GET YOU GOING