Tidewell Honors Veterans Recertified as Level 5
Tidewell Honors Veterans Program has been earned recertification as a Level 5 Partner in the national We Honor Veterans Program. The recertification recognizes the Tidewell Honors Veterans as an elite program for care and recognition of our nation’s military veterans and a mentor for hospices across the country that are seeking to establish or enhance their care of veterans.
Tidewell Honors Veterans is possible only because of donor support.
Level 5 certification must be renewed annually. To achieve Level 5 certification, Tidewell documented its efforts in the following categories:
- Veteran-focused employee and volunteer training
- Specialized training for employees and volunteers on the unique challenges faced by Vietnam veterans
- Veteran volunteers available to serve fellow veterans
- Veteran recognition, or pinning, ceremonies
- Community educational presentations and events
“Tidewell Hospice is privileged to thank, serve and honor veterans and their families for the many sacrifices they made to preserve this country’s freedoms,” said Empath Health President and CEO Jonathan Fleece. Tidewell Hospice is a member of Empath Health.
Tidewell Honors Veterans has served more than 22,500 veterans in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties since its inception in 2008. The purpose of the program is to respectfully celebrate veterans and their service to our country while providing care that recognizes the unique challenges that may exist in military families. Volunteer veterans conduct pinning ceremonies across Tidewell’s service area to thank veterans for their service.
“Through the efforts of our veterans program, we are able to not only honor those who have served – some who have never been thanked for their service – but to hear the important stories of our heroic veterans. These stories carry on the legacy of individuals who have fought for our freedoms, and we are so fortunate to have them shared with us,” Empath Health Vice President of Volunteer Engagement Stacy Groff said.
Tidewell Honors Veterans was among 20 “all-star partners” invited by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to develop the advanced level of the We Honor Veterans Program. NHPCO created We Honor Veterans 11 years ago in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Empath Health’s other legacy hospice, Suncoast Hospice, also is a Level 5 Partner in the We Honor Veterans Program.
The Tidewell Honors Veterans Program depends on veteran volunteers to perform pinning ceremonies and offer educational programs for the Tidewell teams. For information, contact Susan Forbes at SForbes@EmpathHealth.org or (941) 441-2061.
