How You Can Help Aging Veterans More Than You Might Think
You might feel like you don’t have much power when it comes to assisting Veterans with their given resources. However, by serving as an advocate, there are many tasks you could do to help them get the proper care.
You could help a Veteran by:
- Researching benefits – Observe the Veteran’s situation and begin researching benefits that speak to their needs. If they are battling a chronic illness, or have a disability or mental disorder, seek services that will specifically cater to their health care and accessibility needs.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) –Knowing that there are benefits that can help Veteran at the department of Veterans Affairs is a big help. Encourage them to seek assistance for benefits they earned.
- Offering emotional support – To a Veteran, having someone to lean on for emotional support can be a powerful gesture. Physical care is one thing, but when older adults can’t complete their daily activities the same way they used to, it can be mentally and emotionally discouraging. Offering a listening ear can do wonders.
- Providing companionship – Loneliness and isolation are severe issues for senior citizens, let alone Veterans. As a caregiver , you can offer a meaningful connection that helps the Veteran feel a sense of community. Open yourself up to hear beloved stories about their past, take walks with them, and spend quality time together.
- Providing home care service – If you see that a Veteran needs home care consider helping them get things started. Getting care in the comfort of your home can help the Veteran maintain a routine that keeps them on schedule.
Finding long-term care for your loved one doesn’t have to be complicated.
Five Services Elderly Veterans Can Take Advantage of
While there are many services and benefits Veterans can take advantage of, here are five of the most common ones you should know.
1. Veterans Affairs Benefits
VA benefits assist Veterans with every part of daily living. Depending on the Veteran’s needs, VA offers compensation , pension, health care, home loans, insurance, education and training, employment, and burial.
Keep in mind that Veterans are not always alerted to these benefits, even if they may be eligible.
2. VA Aid and Attendance Benefits
Aid and Attendance is a type of VA benefit that offers a pension for qualified wartime Veterans and surviving spouses. To apply for Aid and Attendance, the Veteran must successfully demonstrate that they need another person’s assistance to perform activities of daily living like feeding, bathing, physical mobility, and taking medication.
Aid and Attendance has a few other requirements, as well. For example, as of December 1, 2022, recipients must have a net worth limit of no more than $150,538.
3. Surviving Spouse Benefits
Surviving spouses of deceased Veterans are also entitled to many of the same benefits. Some of the Veteran’s benefits they can take advantage of are:
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
- Aid and Attendance
- The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
- VA-Guaranteed Loans
4. Veteran Home Health Care
People know of the services assisted living facilities and nursing homes offer, but not too many people know that home health care services are an option for aging adults, as well. While all personal care is beneficial for Veterans and other senior citizens, home health care can be the preferred choice for people who want more flexibility and independence at home.
Veterans who are eligible can have a caregiver come to their home.
5. Mental Health Care
Mental health care is another part of personal care that can’t be neglected. Veterans dealing with mental health issues for conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, grief, anxiety, and more can use specialized services even if they’re not enrolled in VA health care.
Veterans in need can reach out to VA for any combination of counseling, therapy, and medication to cope with their respective ailments.
Does Your Loved One Need Assistance? Connect With AVCC.
If you’ve determined the aging Veteran in your life needs assistance, consider reaching out to American Veterans Care Connection. We understand that signing your loved one up for the services they deserve may seem overwhelming. That’s why AVCC will handle everything.
Our organization was founded on the premise that those who’ve given so much to serve our country should enjoy the benefits they deserve.
If you’re ready to find incredible Veterans benefits, we’re here to help. Contact us today.
