Posted on Apr 16, 2019
What is the one piece of advice you would offer to other military and veteran caregivers to help navigate their health journey?
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Are there certain resources you have used? VA or other? Specific activities that have helped reduce stress or organize life? Certain apps or websites that have provided aid?
Caregiver
Health
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veteran Caregiver
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 39
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If your spouse is SC 100% wether, IU, T&P, or is awaiting a C&P claim to become SC at any of these ratings, try to apply for Medicaid as well as CHAMPVA for your children and the beneficiary. This way when staff decide to improperly conduct the VEAT examinations by segregating the participants for illegal individual examinations. This is exactly how they manage to manipulate the data that they document into the records. Also apply the veteran for Aid and Attendance, preferably get examined by a non VA provider. This will prevent a tremendous financial hardship when the VEAT carelessly lowers tier levels from 3 to 1 instantly changed and in affect the date of the letter. Lastly, have a different veteran who you know but is not in the caregiver support program, and have them submit a FOIA request for a hard copy of the local facilities training materials/Powerpoint used for training the designated VEAT on how to perform the eligibility examinations. VISN 20 & 21’s training manual contained all kinds of unethical, and unlawful protocols for conducting the eligibility examinations.
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Do not get discouraged or give up the fight. Our vets count on us to get them thru the tough times of dealing with doctors and insurance. We are in the Mission Act and it was not program that was tested for extreme health conditions. The stress of having to struggle every day with either VA or Tri West has made this a more stressful situation than it needs to be. Thanks to a VA doctor my husband's health has been let go for so long that he can't even be repaired now and lives in heart failure and stage 4 kidney failure. My job every day is fighting to have just one more day with him. I talk with the VA caregiver support line and have a transition nurse that was acquired after my husband's 2nd stay in the Corvallis Heart Hospital. I have to thank those 2 and Nicole and Dr. Fraser with the Samaritan Health Group and Corvallis Heart Group for doing what they can to keep my husband as healthy as possible.
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Rennae Christman
The hard part is seeing them decline and remembering back to better days. Prayers for you both. Nobody cares for our hubby's like we do. Know that others care and understand. Take some time to care for yourself Sherlyn.
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Always ask "WHAT'S NEXT?" Is there any thing else I should do? Any suggestions?
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Rennae Christman
We are blessed with a wonderful VA in our area and are able to do just that. They are kind and helpful. Any time I have a question I can call and they respond.
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Use the Vet Center in your local community. I was referred to a therapist there and that is where I really began my journey to reintegrating to civilian life. Individual therapy, group therapy and even a group for my wife to attend.
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I vote DOWN but this site eon't let me do it because I don't have 15000 points? I voted this way b/c I have tried for THREE years to get full pension w/aid &attendance for my brother, the veteran, and have been hindered with roadblocks all along tbe way. We really need these funds since the VA won't give my brother enough homemaker home health hours - so I will have to pay for someone to help me care for my brother. He's paralyzed, bedridden and meets ALL the criteria for A & A. It's one excuse after another, more hurdles for me to jump. The VA put erroneous info for his income yet the burden of proof is on me to correct their mistake. All the while, the pension and A & A is not distributed to him.
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Rennae Christman
Do you have a VA representative that works with you one on one? At our local VA we have a single person who helps us with applications and follow ups. I do understand what you mean though. We had applied for A&A and there was an appointment scheduled. We would have had to drive over an hour and be able to spend the day for evaluation. That in itself wears on my husband who tires plus the time on the road and bathroom needs on top of it. I had a family member at the time who was actively dying and who lived 2 hours from us so I called to let them know we couldn't make the appointment and the reason why but that I would call back to reschedule as soon as we returned. Within a week we had a denial in the mail. I am a proud woman anyway and didn't call or repeal. My husband is 100% Service connected disabled. He was examined head to foot by VA doctors in the first place so tell me why he should have to be subjected to a day of being reminded of everything he can't do for himself which equates to nearly everything but eating and even that isn't easy. We are grateful for the aid that we do get but that really stung given the situation as a whole. You shouldn't have to correct a mistake that someone else made and shame on anyone for putting you in that position!
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Ginger Palumbo
Oh yes--the application for Pension & Aid & Attendance was pretty much a nightmare. When they flooded me with documents & forms to fill out, I flooded them right back. I downloaded all the forms & typed in all the info so none of it was hand-written. I never submitted anything hand-written. This "conversation" of a ream of paper & govt double talk going back & forth between me & the VA was well over a year in process, but I would not give up! I think they try to tire the applicant out with the mountain of paperwork they want, but don't fall for it! The Veteran Service Orgs near me where of little to no help, so I got all the doctors to fill out the paper work myself. The doctors were on our side thankfully. If you research the type of conditions that warrant payment & work with the doctors, informing them of the wording the VA is looking for to approve the benefit you might get a better outcome.
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Katharine Harrington
Rennae Christman No. This local VA has no one who really knows what to do, how to do it. I think it was the guy who helped us in the first place - in the Benefits area - who made this mistake. They are just volunteers - not employees of tbe VA. I no longer trust them. I've submitted documentation to support our case, but have heard nothing. I called for an IRIS inquiry and a hardship expedition if funds and was told that "they don't do that unless he's 75." My brother is 70. It's frustrating - and it isn't like this is the only thing I have to do. Keeping track of whether my requests are fulfilled just adds to my work. Oh, and my IRIS request call isn't in the system - no record of it. So, calling is out. What I need is an OMBUDSMAN - but when I called the VA here about that, they told me that they don't know what that is - and added that they don't have that. I do need a real, knowledgeable advocate.
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The VA Adult Health Day Program has been a blessing! - for me and for my elderly father with Alzheimer's. Knowing he is in a safe, secure, loving place several times a week. Knowing he has 'friends' and staff whom he recognizes and can have a laugh with. Having people who know him - know what is his norm - is huge for me as a caregiver. It helps with affirmation, a second set of eyes/ears to assess needs and changes over time. And having others with whom I can share the day-day ups and downs - very comforting for me as caregiver. B/c of the memory issues - he can't provide history/symptoms nor remember doctor instructions, so I have to go to ALL doctor consults - but his being in the building where tests/labs can be done without me having to be there - means I can devout my time to the doctor consults.
And also having transportation provided by local Veterans agency.
And also having transportation provided by local Veterans agency.
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Have a competent, compassionate, motivated resource help you get what you want accomplished and to give you the resources you need. We do everything so the Veteran doesn't have to, offering peace of mind, reduced stress, and an opportunity to focus on healing.
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http://www.vahelp.claims
Veterans Law Attorney | Veterans Legal Advocates | United States
We're passionate about helping America's Veterans securethe disability benefits they deserve. Founded by a Veteran, former VA employee, and attorney, Veterans Legal Advocates provides real disability benefit advocacyservices to deserving Veterans across the United States.
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If a veteran is in hospice, there is a program (free) that will send another veteran to sit with that person to talk, play cards, movies, read and the like.
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