As we move in 2021, let us move forward cautiously with hope for health, economic recovery and a return to family and friends.  Let us also remember those who are grieving, fearful and suffering.

A group we all need to remember and support is our veterans and their families.  In this blog I’ll highlight a couple veteran’s resources.

Veteran Centers such as this one being relocated in Anoka, Minnesota, are community-based counseling centers, providing a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. These services help veterans make a successful transition from military to civilian life.  They also help after a traumatic military event. Looking forward to learning more about this facility when it opens.

As many of you know, veterans can receive healthcare and medications from a local VA Center.  They also offer mental health services and suicide prevention programs.   Your county likely has a Veterans Services Office (VSO) who can help connect you with benefits.

Here are a couple veteran’s services that may not be well known.

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

Eligibility for the PCAFC has expanded.  Go to this website to download all these free materials:

https://www.caregiver.va.gov/

new Caregivers PCAFC – Expansion Booklet (PDF)

Caregivers PCAFC – Application Process Fact Sheet (PDF)

Caregivers PCAFC – Expansion Fact Sheet (PDF)

Caregivers PCAFC – Eligibility Criteria Fact Sheet (PDF)

Caregivers PCAFC – Monthly Stipend for Primary Family Caregivers Fact Sheet (PDF)

Caregivers PCAFC – Current Participant Fact Sheet (PDF)

The veteran and caregiver will need to apply together and participate in an application process to determine if you’re eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. You’ll both need to sign and date the application and answer all questions for your role.

You can apply online right now.

Aid And Attendance

This is my dad, as a young Navy soldier.

Another benefit was a life-saver for my parents, and one I had not heard of until my sister and I attended a dementia conference at the University of Minnesota.  It is a special benefit to war era veterans and their surviving spouses called Aid And Attendance.  You can read in my book “Dancing With Lewy: A Father Daughter Dance Before and After Lewy Body Dementia Came to Live With Us” how this benefit helped my family.

This tax-free benefit provides financial assistance to help cover the cost of long-term care in the home, in an assisted living facility or in a nursing home.  It is for those veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person or caregiver in at least two of the daily activities of living such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring.

It may take time to obtain the benefit. However, if your loved one qualifies, they will pay the monthly benefit back to the day you first apply.  If the application process seems overwhelming to you, contact your local VSO, or an elder care law attorney.  I had to follow up and be quite persistent when I applied for the aid for my dad, but he received the backpay, plus the healthy monthly allotment for several years. This allowed my folks to live in decent housing and have the resources they needed to live almost to the end of my dad’s life. I called the local VSO a number of times for advice on how to obtain this benefit.

• If you or a loved one are veterans, be diligent in seeking out resources.
• If you have the means, support veteran’s organizations that supply housing, healthcare, mental health resources or other needs for our veterans.

May God bless each one who is serving, has served, or has loved one who has faithfully served our country.