After Transforming Hospice Care for Veterans, BAYADA Expands Salute to Service Program

Veteran-focused program honors those who served with specialized, compassionate home care

Philadelphia, PA (Nov. 4, 2025) — What began as a heartfelt effort to honor and care for veterans at the end of life has now become a nationwide movement to support veterans across their health journey. Following the success of its hospice pilot, BAYADA Home Health Care has expanded its Salute to Service program to bring veteran-focused care, advocacy, and support to clients receiving personal care and companionship and hospice services nationwide. 

From Hospice Pilot to National Movement 

In its early hospice phase, Salute to Service delivered compassionate, veteran-informed end-of-life care that earned recognition from the National Alliance for Care at Home We Honor Veterans program and touched the lives of numerous families. Since launch, the percentage of veterans served by BAYADA Hospice has grown from 3% to nearly 17%, underscoring the program’s rapid impact and reach.  

The partnership with We Honor Veterans and the measurable success of the pilot program revealed a larger need: veterans and their families deserve this same personalized, military-informed approach long before the final stage of life—fueling BAYADA’s decision to expand Salute to Service across care lines. 

“We saw how deeply Salute to Service resonated with veterans and their families during hospice care,” said Ally O’Neal, PhD, Director of Veterans Affairs at BAYADA. “But we also realized that many could have benefited from this kind of specialized support far earlier. Expanding to additional care lines means we can reach more veterans where they are—whether they’re recovering from surgery, living independently at home, or preparing for life’s final chapter—with the dignity, understanding, and expertise they deserve.” 

A Veteran’s Mission to Transform Care 

A US Army veteran herself, O’Neal discovered her passion for hospice care after experiencing the challenges of her own father’s end-of-life journey. 

“My dad didn’t get hospice until the day he passed,” O’Neal shared. “We didn’t know what was available to us. That experience fuels everything I do—to make sure no veteran or family ever feels lost in the system, and to ensure they experience how deeply personal and healing home-based care can be.” 

Comprehensive Support for Veterans and Families 

Under O’Neal’s leadership, Salute to Service provides care designed specifically for veterans—supporting them not just clinically, but holistically, with services that honor their experiences and connect them to the resources they’ve earned. 

The program includes: 

• Personal care and companionship to promote safety, dignity, and independence at home. 

• End-of-life support that delivers comfort, peace, and meaningful recognition for veterans and their families. 

• Veteran advocacy and benefits guidance to help navigate VA systems, access coverage, and ease administrative burdens. 

• Community connections through partnerships with veteran organizations, participation in the We Honor Veterans program, support for homeless veteran initiatives, and military celebrations that bring veterans together. 

• Recognition and remembrance programs such as veteran legacy projects and family memory preservation activities. 

• Peer support initiatives, including vet-to-vet volunteer opportunities, cafés, and Operation Pen Pal—fostering camaraderie and continued service among veterans. 

All participating BAYADA caregivers receive training on the unique needs of veterans, including PTSD, service-related conditions, and benefits navigation—ensuring that every veteran’s care is grounded in understanding, expertise, and respect.  

“Veterans have given so much of themselves,” said Erik Lewis, a leader in BAYADA’s Military Community Network (MILCOM) employee resource council and advocate for the expanded program. “What makes this program special is how it blends clinical skill with understanding. When we walk into a veteran’s home, we’re not just providing care—we’re honoring a life of service.” 

Through partnerships with community organizations and the We Honor Veterans program, Salute to Service also connects families with VA benefits and resources, easing the administrative burdens that often accompany care transitions. 

“This expansion is about meeting veterans earlier in their journey, not just at the end,” O’Neal said. “It’s about advocacy, education, and ensuring that every veteran has access to the compassionate, coordinated care they’ve earned.” 

BAYADA’s Pledge to Veterans 

As part of Salute to Service, BAYADA upholds a national pledge to veterans and their families: 

• Dignity and Respect: Every veteran is treated with honor, understanding, and appreciation for their service. 

• Compassionate Care: Personalized support that ensures comfort, connection, and peace of mind. 

• Family Support: Guidance and emotional care for loved ones navigating complex decisions. 

• Honoring Legacy: Meaningful recognition of each veteran’s story, service, and sacrifice. 

• Advocacy: Helping veterans access the benefits and care they’ve earned. 

• Continual Improvement: Ongoing training and collaboration to better serve veterans nationwide. 

To learn more about BAYADA’s services for veterans, visit the Salute to Service webpage. 

ABOUT BAYADA   

Celebrating 50 years of care that comes from the heart, BAYADA Home Health Care is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit home health care provider with over 370 locations across the United States and in Germany, India, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Korea.  

Since 1975, BAYADA has been earning the public trust by helping people stay safe at home and by caring for them with compassion, excellence, and reliability, the core values expressed in its statement of purpose, The BAYADA Way®.   

BAYADA is proud to support clients of all ages and abilities with a full range of personalized nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic, hospice, and personal care services. Always anticipating future trends, BAYADA is building a movement of stakeholders to transform home health care so millions can receive the essential services they need.