Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Announces New Hospice Room Available at Anna Veterans' Home

ANNA - The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs today announced that the Illinois Veterans' Home at Anna now has a new hospice room, thanks to a partnership with VNA TIP Hospice in Anna, Hospice of Southern Illinois in Marion and donations from several private donors including Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary 69, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Pekin, Stella Plott and Linda LaFoon, Anna-Jonesboro Class of 1962.    

"The new hospice room at the Anna Veterans' Home will provide a tranquil and private environment that fosters the needs of the Veterans' Home residents, friends, and family dealing with end of life issues," said Anna Veterans' Home Administrator Linda Hadley.

As people come close to the end of their lives, they and their families usually face a variety of difficult decisions.  Often, the medical end-of-life decisions are the most difficult, especially for those who care about the terminally ill person. 

Hospice helps patients and families deal with the difficult end of life issues by providing care and compassion through education and support.  Hospice is a special healthcare option for patients and families who are faced with a terminal illness with the goal of helping the person who is dying to have peace, comfort and dignity.  Hospice care can take place in the patient's home, at a hospice center, in a hospital, or a long term care skilled nursing home. 

The new hospice room at the Anna Veterans Home was designed by the home's Business Administrator, Christy Butler and dedicated in the memory of Mr. Raymond Johns.  Mr. Johns was a United States Marine Corps Veteran of the Vietnam War and was a resident at the Anna Veterans Home from 1998 through 2008.

The Anna Veterans' Home is one of the state's four Veterans' Homes.  Located in the Anna-Jonesboro community in Union County, the modern, single story facility is situated on 16 acres and provides quality skilled nursing care to 50 Veterans.  These services are provided by a multi-disciplinary group of health care professionals as well as an array of supportive staff. 

For more information about the Anna Veterans' Home and the availability of Hospice care at the facility, call 618-833-6302.