Welcome to my website. I don't believe I've seen you post before. It just so happens that I went to a Veteran's Benefit meeting last month. The first place to start is NOT with the Veteran's Administration. Every county has what is called a Veteran's Service Office. These are people who are trained to help you find and utilize whatever benefits to which you are entitled. Veteran's are entitled to Federal AND State benefits. As with any government program, the information is complex. I can give you a little of it, but you will definitely need to contact the Veteran's Service Office in your county.
Since you say your husband is a Viet Nam veteran, I am assuming he was in combat. They have to have served at least one day in combat during war time to be eligible. Some of the services for which he may be eligible are - disability pension; life insurance; medical insurance, including prescriptions. There are nursing homes for Veterans, both Federally and State run. There is also a program known as "Cadets for Vets", where you can get young cadets to come to do home repairs.
You and your husband could be missing out on a lot, so contact the Veteran's Service Office in your county.
Diane is the one with the vietnam vet. mY husband is a WWII vet. I have been reading the posts for several months, but have just started posting. I will make phone calls TUES THANKS
Thank you for the information on the Veterans Service Office. I will give them a call on Tuesday as well. My husband was in active combat during the Viet Nam War.
My husband was in the Army Transportation Service during WWII. I've been told so many stories--that he was not a veteran but a civil servant. He served in war zone. I've found the document where he was awarded his bars but can't locate any discharge or enlistment papers. He can't remember much about it. I've contacted his cousin and he gave me a form to fill out but I haven't done it yet. I'll contact that office on Tuesday morning. I'll let you know what I find out--if anything. Thanks so much.
It is my understanding that they do NOT have to have been IN combat ... they have to have been in the service during a period of time when there WAS combat. There's a specific set of dates that I've seen somewhere...
Also, there is a website like this one where many of your questions can be answered: http://veteranaid.org/forums/index.php?board=2.0
The paperwork can be a significant pain, so I'm told. Some people have recommended that if you have a local chapter of the American Legion, ask them to help you apply. It goes much faster with the help.
Others have been very happy with the help they received from the local VA office.
It can take a long time to get the paperwork in place, but they do backdate the payments to the date they RECEIVE the application, not the date everything is finally approved. So the first check can be a nice, big, fat one.
Oh ... and be persistent. If you get an answer that you don't like when talking with one person, find someone else. Many people have been turned away the first time, but gotten support the next time they tried.
To those checking out VA benefits--make sure you ask about "Aid and Assistance".. It's a program that gets little publicity--there are men at my husband's daycare whose attendance is paid for by that program. I think it also covers a certain amount for nursing homes and the spouse may also be included. I found out about it last year when we were researching care facilities for my Dad, but he was only in the Reserves.
Marilyn, that's what all those links in my earlier post (above) are about. The money can be used for care in the home or in a facility, and yes, the spouse is also covered. Anyone who was in the armed forces for at least one day during a "period of war" qualifies (provided they meet total asset and income requirements, too). The person does not have to have been in combat, and does not have to have a service-related injury or illness.
My DH didn't qualify because of our combined income and the fact that we haven't had to use outside paid care, nor any medical supplies, etc. So the income factor alone knocked us out. If you have been paying for care, etc., it would apply against your income. Kind of confusing, but it is what it is. I will apply again if my situation changes. He qualifes as far as the veteran is concerned.
I and my DH are both Vietnam Vets. We are both entitled to and access benefits thru the Vets Medical Admin. You do not have to be combat vet nor do you have to have retired. If you or your loved one served in any branch of the armed forces you are entitled to medical benefits. If you have med insurance you are still entitled, they will just bill the insurance first. The application process is simple and if you run into any snags there are counselors there to help you. If you run into large snags just call the local office of your state senator. Not all VA hosp have a dementia unit, but they can still help anyway. The meds are much cheaper as are supplies. I place my father in a state of the art alz. unit in the hosp in Lake City FL. the staff were top notch. when I was told that there was not a bed on the unit, I was allowed to admit him to a skilled nursing floor until the bed was open and thus a smooth transition for him. The dentist is on site as well has the optometrist, etc. He was taken on outings and to regular social activities. If you think you are qualilfied, go thru the process, everyone on the street will tell you that you are not, but go ahead and apply you will be pleasantly surprized. Phyllis
Phyllis, are you talking about TriCare? I've found the people at the DEERS office to be very helpful in making sure the computer records are correct, and answering questions you may have about who to contact. (And so far, they've answered the phone right away, too, no sitting on hold!)
Sid seems to have fallen under the radar in the Veteren's department. He was in the National Guard for six years - all six years were during the Vietnam War, but he never saw combat, and he doesn't have any service related injury or illness. Does that mean he is eligible for absolutely NOTHING?
Joan....I think the answer to that is yes....my husband was the same...in the National Guard during 'Nam but outside of being able to join the American Legion, there was nothing for him. Our funeral director did give us a free gravesite in their cemetery because my husband was a "veteran". I am not complaining, these benefits need to be preserved for the real warriors who were in battle and I am happy that there is help available for them.
Nope not tricare, Veterans Administration and Veteran's benefits. The National Guard should get benefits also. Contact the local VA and apply. All veterans get the burial allowance and a brass plaque and a service if so desired. Tricare is what you pay for, it is like private medical insurance. Phyllis
We have Tricare and don't pay for it except for minimal copay for meds. G was active duty at Camp Pendleton for two years and then 18 years of Reserve. The medical is our third insurance so have not used it very much..and they are very picky about what they pay.
There is a list of eligible "dates of military service" posted, for veterans who served during World War II, (for example, until December 31, 1946) Korean War, Vietnam War etc.
My husband served toward the end of WWII, within the eligible dates, however, because he receives a pension check, he is not eligible for the benefits that are up to nearly $2,000 a month that would apply for in-home care or nursing home care.
I argued with them,...saying that other veterans who were self employed and have much more money ARE eligible, and as with Social Security, if you contributed to the service at the time (or paid into SS) you should be eligible. It's hard to get past the inital people.
I believe most government people begin with NO and it is up to the veteran or senior citizen to keep up the fight. They make it very difficult for us, and it's so hard to call, be put on hold time after time, and as you all know, we cannot afford the time to sit and 'hold' indefinitely. I give up, most of the time. Do you think they'count on that?
The exact dates are not available to me now, but "APlaceForMom.com" is able to give the eligibility dates to anyone. (My service dates and amount of pension is approximate, not exact!)
I have been told both versions of eligibility by our local VA Hospital (Togus in Augusta, ME) 1st they said he just had to be a veteran, then they said he had to have seen combat. He was in during the Vietnam War but was in Europe most of the time. I will check into all the listed web sites. Thank you!
Joan, no -- Aid & Assistance does NOT require injury-related disability of any sort, or any combat at all. It just requires being in the armed forces for at least one day during an official "period of war."
The most recent "periods of war":
World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, extended to July 25, 1947, where continuous with active duty on or before December 31, 1946.
Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955.
Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964, through May 7, 1975. However, February 28, 1961, through May 7, 1975, for a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period.
Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law.
Congress has not enacted legislation that would make the periods covering the 1983-1984 Lebanon crisis or the invasions of Grenada and Panama wartime service.
My husband was in Viet Nam - served on an oiler off the coastline. In 2005 he signed up with the VA and had to use it here in Portand in 2006 when he almost cut his finger off with the table saw. We do have to fill out a financial statement every year but no worry cause our finances are low enough to qualify. I have no idea what the threshold is. We have no other insurance but if we did they would be primary. He gets his eyes checked every two years but not his glasses - those we have to buy outside the VA. My son was injuried while in the Marine Corp - 20% disabled right now - so gets his medical, dental and eye glasses. You have to be on military disablity to qualify for anything more than medical. But, we are happy for what he does have.
A friend whose husband is 100% disabled from military service told us we should apply for the 'aid and assistance' and in the future may look into that.
My FIL served in WW2 but never used the VA medical until 2001 when my MIL died. He was a runner, therefore needed to be in a secure facility. The Alzheimer unit was full so the only way we could get him in was through the 'backdoor' - the psych ward claiming he was a danger to himself. It took about a month to get him transferred to the AD unit. They are great to him and say they enjoy him. The VA takes most of his SS check leaving a portion to go towards the upkeep of the house (even though no one is no longer living there). His brother lived in it until he got married a couple years ago and now uses it for storage of all his jaguars autos that he says he will fix up.
Advise please. Yesterday my DH saw the Physicians Assistant at the VA - the same medical professional that has given him his VA medical check up annually. My DH also sees a team of medical professionals regularly outside of the VA: neurologist, geriatrician, etc. The PA told us that he sees "no traces of AD." I spoke to the PA later and explained that my DH is a fooler socially, but has no "executive function", cannot pay a bill, write a check; cannot follow a movie plot, a group conversation; gets confused, etc. The PA said that he has seen many cases of AD and feels that this may be MCI, but not AD. I tried to keep my blood pressure in check as I explained that his chart must reflect the diagnosis -- after testing -- of his other medical professionals. The PA said that it would be in his chart as AD. Do I follow with a call to someone else at the VA to be sure that his record reflects the accurate AD diagnosis or leave it alone? My DH was delighted that the PA agrees with him for DH feels that he has no significant problem.
Brooke - sorry you are having to travel this path with the "unknowning". We spent several years with me being told that somehow it was my fault and that he was fine. We saw professionals that were experts in their field of memory disorder. Even with the MRI result and Catscan which showed the tangles, it was ruled that it wasn't really AD. We finally have a physician who believes both of us and treats us with respect and also treats him for AD. It is so frustrating to be looking for needed help only to be sent away with a delighted AD spouse who now has more reason to torment everyone. I don't care what "symptoms" they need to see, they need to listen to those that live with them 24/7. You are the expert on your husband's symptoms.
Even when I told this medical professional that just last week my DH had made a deposit on a car for his adult daughter. A car that she has never seen and didn't want. DH didn't remember how much of a deposit he had made and had lost the receipt and his copy of the CONTRACT. Our caregiver had driven him to the dealership and stood by while he "bought" this car! " Money was refunded and contract canceled and no one seems impressed with this incident as a sign of dementia - neither family nor the VA. I feel like Alice In Wonderland,
Brooke - you can order a copy of his medical records, including this visit from the VA. Go online to the VA site, print out the consent form listing what you want copies of (can be all records or just that visit) and either fax, mail or take in to the office. They will give you one copy of your records for free. He is just one of many doctors and test your husband has had. And he is a PA, not a full fledged doctor that specializes in AD. PA have their place in the field of medicine, but unless they have taken extra training in AD and dementias, I would not trust them.