Central Florida Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles of the Villages
Related Articles
Submitted by Hospice of Marion County
Hospice of Marion County (HMC) honors National Hospice Month each year by hosting community programs that high-light services, outreach and the compassionate care only hospice can provide. This year, the programs are focused on veterans in an effort to improve access to care as well as honor those who served.
To kick off the month on November 1, HMC hosts a breakfast with Deborah Grassman, APRN, a national grief expert, creator of the “Soul Injury” initiative and founder of Opus Peace, which takes an innovative approach to address unresolved grief for anyone with a traumatic loss but especially veterans whom she terms “wounded warriors.” Grassman has cared for more than 10,000 dying veterans during her 30-year career and will share what those veterans taught her about the burden of unmourned loss and unforgiven guilt. An accomplished author, she has written all the materials for the national We Honor Veterans program, of which HMC is a Level 4 partner.
While the nation observes Veterans Day on November 11, HMC is extending the week of remembrance by commemorating the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home nearly 50 years ago. On November 16, Welcome Home, Vietnam Veterans will be held at HMC’s new Memorial Park and Dunlevy-Levenson-Burchel Family Veterans Circle of Honor.
An honor guard will open the ceremony in the majestic new park with its granite memorial wall and towering military monuments. Join veterans, families and state and local dignitaries to properly honor those veterans of the Vietnam conflict.
Jessica McCune, RN, LMHC, Director of Bereavement Services with Hospice of Marion County, will share the experiences of Paul Tschudi, EdS, MA, a medic in Vietnam from 1969-70 and now a faculty member at George Washington University, and how he has dealt with the subsequent emotional healing in the ensuing years. She’ll also present an overview of the “Soul Injury” program and how she has incorporated it into the grief care offered at HMC’s Monarch Center for Hope & Healing.
The Monarch Center provides counseling and activities for people of all ages who have experienced the loss of a loved one. These services are offered to the community at no charge thanks to the generosity of donors. Both the Monarch Center and the Memorial Park are on the Helen “Mimi” Walker campus just off Hwy. 441.
Mark your calendar and attend these meaningful and educational opportunities:
• Community Breakfast, Soul Injury presentation on Friday, November 1, 8:30 a.m., Elliott Center, 3231 SW 34th Ave., Ocala, FL, 34474
• Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event, Saturday, November 16, 10:00 a.m., Hospice of Marion County Memorial Park, 2895 SW 62nd Ave., Ocala, FL 34480
Both events are free and open to the public, but seating is limited. RSVP to Veronica at
(352) 873-7456 or email
vvaughan@hospiceofmarion.com.
