Samaritan Helps Veterans Find Peace at the End of Life

Master Sergeant Roy Glenn’s Story

At age 92, former Master Sergeant Roy Glenn of Vincentown vividly remembers the bitter cold his outfit endured during the winter of 1944-45 as they engaged in WWII’s largest and bloodiest battle. The Battle of the Bulge claimed 19,000 Allied losses and 89,000 casualties.

Samaritan hospice patient Roy Glenn surrounded by members of his hospice team. (l to r) Social Worker Colleen Fritsch, Nurse Angela DeNight, retired U.S. Marine Joe Chudzinski and (kneeling) Chaplain Anne Butts.

Waging another battle now, the veteran sleeps in a quilt-covered hospital bed stationed in his Victorian-style living room as bladder cancer hastens his “hail and farewell.”  The Glenn Family has found relief, comfort and support from Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice for their husband and father’s end-of-life mission. Samaritan provides a contingent of people to address the special physical, emotional and spiritual needs of veterans.

During these final months, Mr. Glenn has worried whether his service to his country will be remembered and appreciated.

“My hospice team is always here.  Everyone keeps checking on me. But I haven’t heard anything from anyone else about my military service.  Time marches on,” hesaid wistfully to his hospice team social worker, Colleen Fritsch, LSW.

Colleen listened and sprang into action to make sure one of our nation’s living heroes felt properly celebrated.  She said, “I love every single one of my hospice patients and their families.  The role they allow me to play in their lives is an honor. When Mr. Glenn expressed his feelings, I knew I had to try to do something for him.”

She called the Burlington County Department of Military and Veterans Services office.  A staff member there immediately invited Mr. Glenn to take part in an annual award ceremony this fall when Military Service Recognition medals are presented to county veterans.

Unfortunately, Mr. Glenn’s fragile health did not make travel to that ceremony a realistic option.  Bring on Plan B! In less than 24 hours, Colleen had secured one of the medals. She rallied Mr. Glenn’s hospice “troops” and the entire Glenn clan to gather at his bedside on a sunny afternoon – all to Mr. Glenn’s surprise!  Many of the 11 family members willingly took off from work to be present.

Samaritan Chaplain Anne Butts prefaced the medal presentation with a prayer. “Thank you for your comfort and guidance of Roy when he was tired, cold, hungry and away from family and homeland. Bless his family who continue to live his legacy of hard work and honor. May this medal be a remembrance of all he values and holds dear.”

Samaritan volunteer and retired U.S. Marine Joe Chudzinski saluted the former Master Sergeant and movingly adorned his neck with this recognition medal.

Chaplain Anne then pinned him with a token of Samaritan’s gratitude:  a red, white and blue shield-shaped medal and keepsake bookmark. The bookmark read, “On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for your service and sacrifice.”

After all honors were bestowed, the room echoed with the good cheer of family and Samaritan friends. Mr. Glenn’s eldest son, also named Roy, said, “Each visit now is focused on things in the past that we can laugh about. Laughter is the best medicine.”

With the help of Elizabeth, his wife of more than 50 years, the elder Glenn reminisced about his years in the Army.  His children begged him to tell the story “about the eggs” or “the one about the bully” or “about huddling with his fellow soldiers” or about how “mom and dad met and married” as if they were still teens listening to pop’s favorite tales and adventures.  Bursts of laughter engulfed this loving, appreciative family.

When the stories ebbed, Samaritan’s hospice team members took their leave.  As Colleen hugged and kissed her goodbye, Mrs. Glenn whispered, “Thank you so much to all of you at Samaritan. Your care, attention, love ─ and these medal s ─ mean so much to Roy.”

Samaritan’s Services for Veterans

Samaritan stands ready to deliver hospice and palliative care with dignity to those who served. This expert medical care, family support and bereavement services are part of the basic Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits package and are also covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurers.

Recent estimates indicate that an average 1,800 U.S. veterans die each day. These brave men and women are entitled to quality end-of-life care that is sensitive to their unique needs.

The effects of past traumas experienced by our nation’s veterans can affect their physical, emotional and social quality of life. For some veterans, the emotional anguish of deeply buried combat memories may surface. For others, their military training make condition them to “grin and bear pain” without asking for medication to relieve it. Others may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and the substance abuse, depression and anxieties that often accompany it. Samaritan’s care teams receive training to identify and respond sensitively to the needs and wishes of each veteran in our care – and his/her family and friends.

Samaritan’s Center for Grief Support provides counseling for grief and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) through a grant from the NJ Department of Military and Veterans  Affairs for area veterans and their families referred through the Veterans Counseling Hotline – 1-866-VETS-NJ4

Thanks to a generous multi-year grant from The Disabled American Veterans Joseph A. McNerney Chapter #41 in Hamilton Twp., NJ, Samaritan offers the Vets Helping Vets program. This program provides direct in-home care, support and respite to members of DAV Chapter #41 and all Mercer County veterans and their spouses who are receiving hospice care from Samaritan so that they can remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.

Additional services from certified home health aides may include:
•  personal care such as bathing and dressing
• assistance with feeding
• light housekeeping
• meal preparation for the patient
• emotional breaks for caregivers
• care while the primary caregiver attends appointments or family events

Samaritan is actively involved in the New Jersey Hospice Veteran Partnership (HVP); a Samaritan staff member has served as the Partnership’s Co-Chairperson for the past four years. By developing relationships with VA offices and other benefits providers, our staff works to secure the best array of services, benefits, and community resources for which any military veterans and his/her family may be eligible.

Do you know a veteran who could benefit from Samaritan’s care and support?

Please call (888) 384-4VET or visit www.samaritancares4vets.org