Stephen was 58 when he had a relatively mild stroke. Even though it was considered ‘mild’ by his doctors, there was no escaping reality: his life had changed dramatically already.

Aging Veterans Care: Early Plans For Veteran Support

Aging Veterans Care: Early Plans For Veteran Support

 

Stephen was having difficulty moving around on his own. His doctor expected him to recover with intensive physical therapy, but it was going to be a long, slow process. As a veteran, he understood the importance of discipline and was determined to do what was necessary to recover.

 

His doctor recommended a home care aide.

Before he was discharged from the Veterans Hospital and sent home, his doctor told him to get a strong support system waiting for him. He didn’t have family or friends in the area. He had moved to this region relatively recently, after a divorce, and being alone was suddenly a bit unsettling.

His doctor recommended a home care aide or even a series of caregivers, but that notion was almost laughable to him. He could barely rub two pennies together these days, so how would he even think about paying for a home care provider?

He found out about the Aid and Attendance Benefit, made available through the VA. Since he served during a time of official combat, since he could prove home care was necessary, and since he barely had enough money to make ends meet at home, he felt he could qualify for it.

 

He just wasn’t sure if applying for it was the right course of action now.

What if he recovered fully? What if only a couple of months of support was needed? Would he still be eligible to receive financial support for home care services in a few years if it became necessary again?

Many of these questions can easily be answered through the VA and their information page on their website, but one thing every veteran should be admonished to do is fill out the Aid and Attendance Benefit as soon as they realize a specific need for home care support. It could take months to be approved, but in the meantime, that senior could still be getting home care support services because the VA offers reimbursement while the application is pending.

Stephen eventually applied and started leaning on home care support while his application was pending. He was denied at first and was a bit perplexed. Upon following up, the ruling was overturned and he truly became stronger as a result of the home care support he received.

If you or a loved one are considering assistance with aging veterans care, please contact the friendly staff at Veterans Care Coordination™.  Call today: 1-855-380-4400

 

Posted in Aging Veterans Care

About Kyle Laramie, Founder & CEO

Kyle founded Veterans Care Coordination in April 2011. As its founder and CEO of VCC, Kyle is driven by the memory of his grandfather, a World War II Veteran who unnecessarily missed out on essential VA benefits because Kyle’s family wasn’t aware of available opportunities. In recognition of his impact in leadership, Kyle was named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list and St. Louis Small Business Monthly’s “100 St. Louisans to Know” in 2014. VCC was named a St. Louis Small Business Monthly “Top 20” small business and a finalist for the St. Louis Post Dispatch Top Workplace (2015-2022), St. Louis Business Journal Best Place to Work (2019 & 2022), and the Arcus Awards (2014). The team has served more than 14,000 Veteran clients and their families. Kyle frequently speaks on Veterans’ benefits, addressing conferences such as the Home Care Association of America and Decision Health. He is passionate about giving back and has built a charitable-minded organization that supports various philanthropic efforts.