I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all. – Leo Rosten

No one knows more intimately the sacrifices our Military Veterans make in serving our country than the spouses who stand by their side.

Making sacrifices is certainly a part of the role of ‘military spouse’ as well—they often face multiple relocations, single parenting during deployments, and the constant worry about the wellbeing of the Veteran they love most.  They display strength, courage, and patriotism. They often must become experts in resiliency and in managing through crisis. There’s no question that these spouses are a true source of strength for our Veterans and for our country.

May is Military Awareness month, but here at VCC we focus on Veterans all year long. So, we’ve decided to spend this month honoring the unsung heroes who stand beside our Military. We’re not alone; Congress officially named the Friday before Mother’s Day as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. And the VA recognizes the contributions they make to the welfare of this country by earmarking VA Pension funds for Veterans with spouses and the surviving spouses of Veterans.

Help for Aging Heroes and Their Spouses

There are nearly 10 million U.S. Veterans over age 65. Roughly seven in 10 are married. That’s 7 million Military spouses who have stood by a Veteran’s side through deployments, relocations, and times of uncertainty. The VA knows this and has set aside VA Pension funds that could supplement your income.

Help for Aging Heroes and Surviving Spouses

Almost 80% of older adults have at least one chronic disease, such as such as hypertension, arthritis or diabetes, according to the National Council on Aging. These ailments of aging can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial strain. Many of these conditions can make it difficult to perform regular activities, such as bathing or doing laundry, alone. The VA also has set aside funds intended to assist eligible wartime Veterans and surviving spouses in need of home care services, such as:

  • Meal preparation
  • Navigating stairs
  • Dressing and undressing
  • Bathing and other personal hygiene activities
  • Medication reminders

Whether you are a surviving spouse of a Veteran who passed away recently or many years ago, you may be eligible for the VA Pension with Aid & Attendance benefit. These funds are designed to ease the financial burden of much-needed home care.

At Veterans Care Coordination, our mission is to help Veterans and the spouses who have stood by their side remain independent and age in place. We partner with quality home care providers, and we help navigate the process of applying for VA Pension funds, maximize pension benefits, and get care started as quickly as possible.

For more information click here or call 855-380-4400

If you’re a home care provider interested in partnering with VCC in our mission, click here.

Posted in Aging Veterans Care, Care for Aging Veterans, Surviving Spouse Spotlight, Veterans Spouse 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.