May is Family Reunion Month and for elderly veterans, especially those who may be living alone and could be feeling a bit isolated lately, planning a family get-together, whether as a surprise or not, can be a wonderful way to help improve their emotional state of mind.
The risk of depression can increase with loneliness.
If the elderly veteran has a tendency to spend most of his days alone, that may increase the risks of feeling isolated as well as depression. While only a doctor should diagnose a person with depression, most people have a pretty good understanding about what depressive symptoms look like.
When a veteran has a wonderful family reunion or get together, he or she will be able to reconnect with loved ones they might not have spoken to in a long time. These could be adult children, grandchildren, siblings, and much more.
Summer is a great time for these family get-togethers.
It could be a full-fledged family reunion, but it could also be a regular barbecue. Summer is the best time for barbecues because people love spending time outdoors, in the nice weather, playing games outside, lounging around under the sun, and it can be a great excuse for everyone to get together in one place to spend some quality time with this aging veteran.
It can offer inspiration.
If this elderly veteran has been told on numerous occasions about the benefits of home care support, they might not even consider the idea because they don’t want to lose any of their independence or autonomy. While that’s not going to happen when relying on experienced home care aides, they may simply be adamant about their opposition to discussion of this idea.
When they are surrounded by close family members and other loved ones who all share the same concerns about their safety, quality of life, and support, they may help convince this veteran about the benefits of home care options.
Depending on the size of the family and when this reunion could take place, there may even be some members of the family who understand common concerns veterans may have about home care support. Some of these family members may even have heard about the Aid and Attendance Benefit through the VA, which could provide financial assistance to qualifying wartime veterans to pay for home care support when they can prove this is necessary at this point in their life.
This month, planning a family get-together can be a wonderful way to start an elderly veteran thinking about home care options.
Our VetAssist® Program can help you apply for the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit and access the home care you need. For more information and to learn about The VetAssist Program, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
