title: An Ethic of Heroism Shapes Next of Kin's Perceptions of Veterans' End-of-Life Care in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
abstract: Currently 28,000 Veterans die each year within Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. As Veterans age, the Department of Veterans Affairs faces a variety of issues, including the need for comprehensive end-of-life care. Appreciation of next of kin's assumptions regarding Veterans' care can inform the culture of end-of-life services in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, contributing to the development of supportive practices aligned with next of kin's perspectives. This study explores next of kin's accounts of Veterans' hospital care during the last days of life to identify salient issues shaping perceptions of Veterans' care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 700 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233.
authors.forename: Beverly Rosa
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 700 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233.
authors.forename: F Amos
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 700 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233.
authors.forename: Patricia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Goode
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 700 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Burgio
mesh_terms: D066279:Courage; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration