Chandler-area vets group: Carts for end-of-life care

Knowing the generosity of Jewish War Veterans Post 619 and the money raised from their Veteran’s Poppy Campaigns twice a year, Jodi La Roche, Phoenix Veteran Administration Medical Center ICU RN, reached out to Gabe Forsberg at JWV to fund a new program.

She wanted to establish a way to allow Veterans’ families to remain at their bedside during their loved ones’ final hours, according to a news release.

Established in 2018, the new Bereavement Program, initially set up as a locked cabinet filled with hygiene and comfort items, has since grown to six carts so that every Phoenix Veteran Medical Center wing has one.

The bereavement cart contains simple nutrition, drinks, snacks, hygiene items, handmade blankets and other comforts that will ultimately allow the veteran to pass surrounded by their family.

The metal carts are rolled into the room of the dying veteran so that the families need not leave the room to charge their phones, freshen up and/or get a drink or snack.

Nurses have commented that “The blankets are given to the families as they leave. We have heard that they feel this is a sweet reminder that there are organizations that care about the families of these fallen vets.”

Post Commander Jules Wyatt reminds everyone that such projects are only possible with donation dollars. Mail donation checks to Jewish War Veterans Post 619, P. O. Box 13113, Chandler, AZ, 85248.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.