End of Life Services
FirstHealth Hospice: As a philosophy of care, hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. To help support you or your loved during a challenging time, we offer a variety of services, including: 11-bed hospice house on a serene 30-acre lot, Comprehensive care team, including physicians, nurses, social workers and aides, Grief counseling, Volunteer support, On-site interfaith chapel, Chaplain, On-call nurse available 24/7, Community workshops, End-of-life education and resources, Annual advanced directives event, and Therapy dogs. Call (910) 715-6000.
FirstHealth Palliative Care: Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer, heart disease, kidney failure or ALS. Our team focuses on relieving suffering and improving quality of life. This can include addressing symptoms or side effects caused by the illness or treatment. We also work with patients on the emotional, social, practical and spiritual issues that illnesses can bring up. You can call (910) 715-6067 for a self-referral to FirstHealth Palliative Care or talk with your doctor about a referral.
Hospice Services Listed by County, licensed by the state of North Carolina
We Honor Veterans: We Honor Veterans empowers end-of-life care partners to meet the unique needs of America’s Veterans and their families. Our resources are focused on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment so that veterans can be guided through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending. For more information about We Honor Veterans, contact us via the form below or via email at [email protected].
VA Geriatrics and Extended Care: Hospice Care is comfort care provided to Veterans and their families if the Veteran has a terminal condition, with less than 6 months to live, and is no longer seeking treatment other than palliative care. Hospice Care can be provided at home, in an outpatient clinic or in an inpatient setting. For Veterans interested in receiving inpatient hospice services at a Community Living Center (VA Nursing Home), check out the survey scores for hospice care which may help you or your family when faced with the task of choosing a nursing home setting for hospice care.
Grief-Caregiver & Survivor Information
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24/7 through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. TAPS provides a variety of programs to survivors nationally and worldwide. Our National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp has been held annually in Washington, D.C., over Memorial Day weekend since 1994. TAPS also conducts regional survivor seminars for adults and youth programs at locations across the country, as well as retreats and expeditions
VA Burial Services:
Service-related Death: VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, or up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 11, 2001. If the Veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.
Non-service-related Death: VA will pay up to $796 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2019 (if hospitalized by VA at time of death), or $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (if not hospitalized by VA at time of death), and a $796 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery). For deaths on or after December 1, 2001, but before October 1, 2011, VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses and a $300 plot-interment allowance. For deaths on or after April 1, 1988 but before October 1, 2011, VA will pay $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (for Veterans hospitalized by VA at the time of death).
Burial Flag: The VA provides a United States flag to drape on a casket (or coffin) or place with an urn in honor of the military service of a Veteran or Reservist. You may be eligible for a burial flag if you’re the next of kin or a close friend of the Veteran or Reservist and one of these descriptions are true for that person. To get a burial flag, fill out the Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes (VA Form 27-2008). Get VA Form 27-2008 to download
Veterans headstones, markers, and medallions: Any veteran, who is deceased and was discharged from the service under conditions other than dishonorable is eligible for a grave marker/headstone. Headstones are also provided to eligible spouses and dependents if they are buried in a military, national, or State veteran’s cemetery. However, those whose period of military service was after September 7, 1980 require a minimum service of 24 months. National Guard and Reserve members with twenty or more years, and entitlement to retired pay (after October 27, 1992) are entitled to a grave marker. For more online information and application visit https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/headstones-markers-medallions/
Military Funeral Honor: “Honoring Those Who Served” Overseen by the Department of Defense (DOD) the Military Funeral Honors Program establishes procedures for requesting and rendering military funeral honors. By law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of at least two members of the armed forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the veteran’s service branch. The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the playing of Taps and the folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin. Taps will be played by a bugler, if available, or by a ceremonial bugle. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veteran’s family. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. Veteran Service Organizations (VS0) and Authorized Provider Partnership Programs may also assist in providing military funeral honors, such as detail elements for funeral honors such as rifle detail, pallbearers or escort services. For assistance please contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647.
Presidential Memorial Certificate: A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate signed by the current president. Find out how to request a certificate to honor the military service of a Veteran or Reservist.
