Aging Veterans Care Archives | Veterans Care Coordination™

When Freedom Sounds Different: a service member in camouflage holding his head near a lit sparkler, over an American flag

Supporting Veterans Through the Fourth of July For many Americans, the Fourth of July means backyard barbeques, parades, and fireworks lighting up the night sky. But for some Veterans, those same sights and sounds can bring back memories they never asked to revisit. The loud booms, flashes, smoke, and unpredictability of fireworks can serve as…

This Military Appreciation Month, the National Association for Veteran Rights (NAVR) launched its Right to Choose: Veterans Helping Veterans campaign—a documentary-style video series sharing the firsthand experiences of Veterans navigating the VA benefits system and the challenges they faced accessing the support they needed. The campaign is an important reminder of something we see…

Veteran of the Month May 2026: William Carter Duberry in Marine Corps dress uniform, on an American flag background

At just 17 years old, William “Carter” Duberry voluntarily enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was born on December 31, 1956, and raised in the small town of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, located about 60 miles south of Nashville. Duberry was the second-oldest of four children, with two brothers and…

Veteran of the Month February 2026: James Bodenheimer as a young soldier standing in front of a tank, on an American flag background

James Bodenheimer was born on September 8, 1950, in Jefferson City, Tennessee. When he was three years old, his family moved to Knoxville, where he grew up on the outskirts of the city with two older sisters, a younger sister, and a younger brother. He remarked that there was always something happening when he…

2026 Cost of Living Adjustment, by Tamara Rowland, Head of Client Care: senior couple smiling at a laptop together

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Veterans and surviving spouses who receive VA pension benefits, including Pension with Aid and Attendance, is an annual increase intended to help benefits keep pace with inflation. The adjustment is based on changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), specifically the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage…

Daniel Smith as a young Navy man in sunglasses beside a recent portrait in a suit and red beret

Daniel Smith was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of eight children in a family of four boys and four girls. Being the baby of the family, he admits with a laugh that he was a “mama’s boy.” Growing up, Smith enjoyed playing sports, including baseball, football, and basketball, and worked various odd…

Senior man wincing and holding his shoulder while sitting on a sofa at home

Chronic Pain in Older Adults: What It Is and How Home Care May Help Chronic pain is a common and complex issue among older adults, but it can often be managed effectively with consistent support at home. Nearly one in four adults in the U.S. experiences chronic pain, with rates even higher among those…

August National Wellness Month: seniors doing stretching exercises at home, with home care support

August is National Wellness Month, making it the perfect time to focus on self-care, healthy routines, and establishing lifelong wellness habits that support mind and body. If you haven’t started a wellness routine yet, no worries—it’s never too late to begin. In fact, a recent study published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy found that older…

Elmus Miller Jr. in a U.S. Air Force cap and sunglasses, Veteran of the Month February 2025

Elmus Miller Jr. was born in Wellston, Missouri, in 1940. Shortly before his second birthday, his parents divorced, and he moved to Arkansas, where he lived with his grandparents. His family worked on farms, pulling corn and picking cotton, and would often relocate in southeastern Missouri and parts of Arkansas for work. As a child, he enjoyed…

Memories or Mess? A cluttered storage area full of old household items

As our parents age, we may notice unexpected changes in their behavior or personality. These changes can occur gradually over time or suddenly and unexpectedly. One common change that surprises many people is when an elderly parent begins to accumulate belongings. I have witnessed this firsthand and heard countless stories from families sharing their…