PHILADELPHIA—BAYADA Home Health Care has expanded its Salute to Service program to bring veteran-focused care, advocacy and support to clients receiving personal care, companionship and hospice services nationwide.
"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," BAYADA said in a released statement. "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 company said the partnership with We Honor Veterans and the 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.
“We saw how deeply Salute to Service resonated with veterans and their families during hospice care,” said Ally O’Neal, director of Veterans Affairs (VA) 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 United States Army veteran herself, O’Neal said she 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 said. “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.”
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 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.”
To learn more about BAYADA’s services for veterans, visit the Salute to Service webpage.