As National Hospice Week begins on Veterans Day this November 11th, the overlap carries special significance for BAYADA Hospice Director Ally O'Neal. A decorated Army veteran turned hospice care leader, O'Neal embodies a profound dedication to service that extends far beyond her military uniform.
"The transition from military to civilian life can be challenging," O'Neal reflects. "But BAYADA embraced both my spirit and my experience. I feel like I've found a military family outside of the military."
As Director of BAYADA Hospice for the Greater Harrisburg and Lancaster Areas, O'Neal brings the precision, leadership, and compassion honed during her military service to guide families through their end-of-life journeys. It's a mission borne from personal experience.
Her own father's story shaped O'Neal's path to hospice care. A towering figure at 6'8" who served on the police force for 32 years, his final days revealed the gaps in end-of-life care that would later fuel his daughter's passion for change.
"The communication and education were lacking, and my family and I were on our own to navigate the healthcare and hospice systems," O'Neal recalls. "Dad didn't get hospice until the day he passed. Now, working at BAYADA, I understand how deeply personal and healing hospice care can be. I want to help make sure other families and patients can experience it sooner."
This commitment to improving end-of-life care has earned O'Neal significant recognition. The Central Penn Business Journal recently named her among their 2024 Women of Excellence, honoring her professional achievements and community impact. She's also a finalist for the inaugural U.S. Forces in Business Award, celebrating veterans who bring exceptional value to their second careers.
O'Neal is pioneering new approaches to end-of-life care education, working to normalize conversations about death across cultures and generations. Through innovative initiatives like The Death Cafe, she creates safe spaces for families—including her own young children—to discuss death openly and honestly.
"Death talk has been taboo for too long," O'Neal explains. "But these conversations are essential. Everyone's experience with death is different—sometimes sudden, sometimes prolonged - but no one should face it feeling alone or unprepared."
Her advocacy extends beyond individual families to system-wide change. O'Neal is set to become BAYADA's first Director of Veterans Affairs, a role she created and championed. She currently serves as co-chair of BAYADA's MILCOM ERC (Military Community Employee Resource Community), where she ensures veterans receive the specialized support and recognition they deserve.
For O'Neal, hospice work represents a continuation of her lifelong commitment to service. Like her time in the Army, where she graduated at the top of her basic and advanced training classes, she brings determination and excellence to every aspect of hospice care. Her transition from military service may have been unexpected – prompted by a training injury after achieving the rank of Sergeant—but it led her to a new kind of mission.
"Looking back, what seemed like an ending became a beginning," O'Neal reflects. "Whether in military service or hospice care, it's about being there for people during their most challenging moments. Every family deserves to face these transitions with dignity, support, and hope."
O'Neal's dual service reminds us that the greatest honor we can give to both veterans and families facing end-of-life journeys is to ensure they receive the care, respect, and support they deserve. Through her leadership at BAYADA, she continues to serve – one family, one veteran, and one meaningful conversation at a time.
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