Veteran’s Care
In recent years Memorial Day has become more about family picnics, having fun out on the water, and ushering in the official start of summer. Even though summer doesn’t ‘officially’ start until June 21, Memorial Day is the first major weekend when people spend time at area beaches.
Memorial Day is about those soldiers who gave their life in service for their country. It is a time to remember their sacrifice and the ultimate price they paid in the name of freedom. This year, it’s also a good time to talk about proper care for veterans who have also sacrificed a tremendous amount for their country.
There are millions of veterans who have injuries (both physical and emotional) that are the result of their service. Aging veterans may experience a number of other challenges as they get older, just as any elderly individual may face. Getting proper care at home is an important aspect of assisting those aging veterans, whether they have emotional trauma, physical disabilities or injuries, or other challenges that make it difficult to carry out their daily tasks in a safe and healthy manner.
There is a particular program called the Aid and Attendance Benefit that was developed after World War II as a way to help returning soldiers get proper care for their injuries and disabilities, including what was then referred to as shell shock and what is now called Post traumatic stress disorder. The Aid and Attendance Benefit is available to veterans of all ages, but for those under 65, they would have to be injured or disabled during their active time of service and for those 65 and over, they need only a professional recommendation (usually from a doctor) for professional home care assistance.
In order to qualify for this particular pension program, the veteran would need to have served at least 90 days of active duty service in one of the major branches of the United States military with at least one of those days occurring during an active time of official combat, such as World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, or the Gulf War.
Keep in mind the true purpose of Memorial Day this year, and then remember those veterans who may be struggling with their basic care at home.
For more information and to learn about veteran’s care, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
