Lightways veteran volunteer friends

Veteran Volunteers

Who understands a veteran as well as another veteran who has “been there”?

Lightways Veteran Volunteer Roles

Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care welcomes and trains veterans for a variety of volunteering roles including but not limited to:

  • Visiting veteran patients and families.
  • Listening to life stories or recording veterans’ reminiscences.
  • Participating in veteran recognition ceremonies.
  • Educating veteran groups on hospice services by speaking at their meetings.

Volunteer Application

Lightways Veteran Volunteers at meeting

Support for Veteran Families and Special Recognitions

To request any of the veteran-specific services below for a loved one or family, please contact your Lightways social worker or 815.740.4104.

Family Support

The Lightways We Honor Veterans Program not only provides care for the veteran but for the family as well. This program offers assistance to the families in:

  • Accessing military records.
  • Accessing VA memorial benefits.
  • Accessing VA burial benefits.
  • Supplying contact information for all other VA benefits that may be applicable.

Recognition Ceremonies

Special expressions of gratitude and recognition for veterans in our care are available upon request, in the form of a unique, customized “Pinning Ceremony”. This ceremony, performed by veteran volunteers, takes place where the patient resides.

To request a recognition ceremony, contact the Volunteer Department at 815.740.4104 or put in a request to a Lightways team member.

Volunteer Opportunities Form

Volunteer Interest Form

To honor the grieving process, volunteers are asked to wait one year after the death of a loved one before becoming a Lightways volunteer.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Volunteer Program  |  Veteran Volunteers  |  Volunteer Time Sheets