Palliative Services in Long-Term Care: Meeting the special needs of veterans.

ABSTRACT

War veterans in long-term care are usually elderly; consequently, a significant proportion of them are admitted with a terminal illness or will develop one within a short time. To meet the need for a palliative service in long-term care, a project was organized using a Special Projects Nurse to introduce the service. The service uses an interdisciplinary approach to address the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of the veterans and their families. Staff support and education are an integral part of the program.