Compassionate Care for an Air Force Veteran When It Mattered Most

When Regina Clark brought her 90-year-old father home from New York City, she faced an exhausting period as his health declined from advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even as his mind remained sharp. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he required constant care, and Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties became a vital source of support.

From the first visit, nurses, social workers and home health aides paired clinical expertise with compassion, responding promptly and guiding her. Over nearly five months, the team managed his symptoms while honoring his dignity, including a veteran recognition with a red, white and blue afghan and a salute. For Regina Clark and her family, hospice care brought comfort and human connection.

Stories like this reflect the mission of Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, a nonprofit organization that has served the region for nearly 40 years. Incorporated in 1988, Hospice grew from community nurses who recognized the need for compassionate end-of-life care beyond traditional treatment.

Since expanding into Sullivan County in 1993, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties has served as the county’s sole hospice provider, offering patients and families compassionate, community-based end-of-life care grounded in comfort, dignity and respect.

Hospice care is designed for individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less when curative treatment is no longer sought. The focus is on comfort rather than cure, addressing pain and symptoms while supporting emotional, social and spiritual needs. Hospice care neither hastens nor postpones death. Instead, it seeks to improve quality of life for patients and families during an intensely personal time, including support with decision-making and care planning.

Care is delivered by an interdisciplinary team that includes nurses, physicians, social workers, spiritual care providers, home health aides and trained volunteers. Services include nursing visits, pain and symptom management, caregiver instruction, medical equipment, volunteer support and community bereavement services. Care is provided primarily in the home or also in hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities and the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Newburgh. Families often serve as primary caregivers, supported by Hospice education, guidance and dependable phone availability.

Hospice services are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans. For individuals who are uninsured, sliding fee scales may be available. Community involvement through volunteers, education and charitable donations helps ensure services remain available to those who need them most.

Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties honors and supports the veterans it serves and their families. The organization partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs and has achieved Community Partner Level V through the national We Honor Veterans program. Veteran-focused services include assistance navigating and accessing available VA benefits and services, as well as veteran recognition ceremonies that acknowledge military service with dignity and gratitude. For veterans and all patients nearing end of life, vigil services are available to promote comfort and peace, including a vigil box with supportive items such as tea, a candle and a small heart pillow for patients and their loved ones.

As conversations about end-of-life care become increasingly important, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties continues to serve as a trusted partner for education, guidance and compassionate care at the moment it matters most.

For more information, including Regina Clark’s video testimonial, visit hospiceoforange.com, follow Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties on Facebook and Instagram, or contact the organization directly at (845) 561-6111 or [email protected].