Mick Jagger once sang, “what a drag it is getting old.” Today, millions of seniors face challenges they may have never thought possible in their younger years. This includes aging veterans.
When veterans begin struggling with their own basic care at home, getting support is necessary, not only for safety, but also to maintain a higher quality of life.
Why would some veterans need home care support?
It could be following a major medical emergency or surgery, for example. If they are going to be working through recovery for several weeks or even a couple of months, those veterans might need assistance to get out of bed, take a shower, to exercise, work with a physical therapist, check their vital statistics, and much more.
It can also be for elderly men and women whose strength has diminished due to the natural process of aging, some health issue, or other factors. When they begin losing strength, it can be more difficult for them to maintain their balance and get up and down the stairs, get out of bed, and so on.
For some veterans, asking for assistance is not always easy. They might rely on a spouse, adult child or other family member in the area, friends, or even neighbors for assistance doing some of these basic tasks, at least at first. For example, they might call their neighbor to help them take out the garbage once a week.
Most neighbors are not going to have a problem with that. They will certainly be more than willing to help every once in awhile, but that’s just one sign that things are beginning to decline for that elderly veteran. In other words, they will need help with more and more things around the house, around the yard, and throughout the day.
They might be able to lean on a spouse, adult child in the area, or other family and friends but eventually they should consider home care options.
Some veterans don’t want to look into this because they are either fiercely independent and see this is a sign of weakness or don’t believe it’s affordable. Home care is the most affordable senior care option there is, but for some veterans who may qualify, there is a pension that can help pay for at least some level care support.
That is called the Aid and Attendance pension. Qualifying veterans are encouraged to apply for it as soon as possible and be patient; the approval process take many, many months.
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.
