By Larry Dandridge
I cannot tell you how disappointed I am in the vast number of veterans and veterans’ family members who do not know what their veterans benefits are. I am especially concerned about our beloved elderly veterans who gave so much to our country in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts.
Daily cries for help
I get calls daily from elderly veterans, their family members, and their friends asking me to help them understand their federal (VA) and state veterans benefits, apply for VA health care, and apply for their benefits and VA services.
Many of these senior veterans have reduced cognitive powers, have done little end-of-life planning, do not have a power of attorney or will, or medical directive or living will, or living trust, do not have any relatives to advocate for them, and have never thought they would need the valuable VA and state benefits they earned with their blood, sweat, tears, and separation from family.
Elderly veterans at risk
Making matters worse, many of these older veterans believe in the myth that other veterans deserve their benefits more, and they should not apply, and therefore deny other veterans their benefits. Some veterans also do not own a computer, are not computer literate, do not text, do not have email, do not drive or own a vehicle, are suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental disorders that prevent them from applying for benefits and VA healthcare.
Good news
The good news is that there are county and regional VA-accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), Veteran Service Organization VSOs (American Legion, VFW, VVA, AMVETS, FRA, etc.), VSOs working in some VA Medical Centers, VSOs collocated with Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Headquarters, and VSOs working at State Veterans Service Organization Headquarters, ready and willing to help veterans.
VA-accredited Claims Agents and Attorneys can help veterans, but they charge for their services. Learn more by reading Sep. 4, 2024 The Island News article, “Things you need to know about VSOs” at https://bit.ly/3LA98wf.
More good news
There are also Veteran Service Organizations (VFW, AL, AMVETS, VVA, DAV, PAV, FRA, etc.) chapters, branches, and posts with Veterans Benefits Advisors who can help veterans find a local VA-accredited VSO, their VA Medical Center or Community Based-Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Social Worker, their VA Medical Center or CBOC Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT Team), transportation assistance, and their local VA Medical Center and CBOC Patient Advocate’s Office.
These advisors are not VA-accredited VSOs, but they have limited training, skills, and knowledge of VA benefits and services and of how to connect the veteran with a VA-accredited VSO, social worker, patient advocate, transportation coordinator, or other VA professional.
How can you help elderly veterans?
Here are some recommendations on how you can help elderly veterans.
- Check on the veteran. If you know an elderly veteran, check on them to see if they are safe, and do a safety check of their home for tripping and falling hazards, fire hazards, health hazards, insect infestations, pet care shortcomings, and proper nutritional support. Ask them whether they have fallen recently and whether they are experiencing any health or other problems.
- Ask if the veteran is vaccinated? Ask if they have had their immunizations for the flu, RSV, COVID, and shingles. Explain to them that if they are enrolled in VA healthcare, they can receive these lifesaving and sickness reducing immunizations at their local VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
- Ask if they are enrolled in VA healthcare. Ask if they are enrolled in VA healthcare. If they say no, encourage them to enroll either online, in person, by phone, or by mail. Learn how to enroll at the VA webpage titled “How to Apply for VA Health Care” at https://bit.ly/3Z7OWFf. If they say yes, ask them whether they know who their VA Primary Care Provider (Doctor, Physician Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner) is, and whether they know the names, titles, and how to contact the members of their VA Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT Team). And remind the veteran that if they do not make an appointment to see their primary care physician at least once a year, the VA may disenroll them in VA healthcare, and the veteran will have to re-enroll.
- Tell them about world-class VA healthcare and a PACT Team. Explain that when they enroll in VA healthcare, they are quickly assigned to a Primary Care PACT Team at their supporting VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Tell the veteran that their PACT Team is led by a VA primary care provider (Physician, PA, or NP) and consists of a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse or medical assistant, a pharmacist, an administrative clerk, and a social worker. Other specialists, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, may also be assigned to the PACT Team as needed. Learn more about VA PACT Teams at the VA web page titled “Patient Care Services (Patient Aligned Care Team – PACT)” at https://bit.ly/3LVJnqf and the VA web page titled “Your VA Primary Care Provider and PACT Team” at https://bit.ly/4pJDmuN.
- Ask the veteran if they need transportation help. Ask if they are having transportation problems. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides free van rides to and from VA health care facilities for veterans without other transportation options. DAV van resources work with county Veterans Affairs Directors to provide transportation for veterans to and from VA health care centers for scheduled medical appointments. Find South Carolina County Veteran Affairs Directors at https://bit.ly/3NCLsrw. These vans transport veterans throughout South Carolina and Georgia. Veterans can schedule a DAV van ride by contacting the Hospital DAV Service Coordinator for their county at least three days in advance. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center DAV Coordinator can be contacted at The Medical Center, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401 or by phone at 843-789-6555. Other veteran-specific transportation services, including buses, shuttles, and wheelchair-accessible transport, are available to patients. Contact the Ralph H Johnson VAMC Transportation Office at 843-789-6555 to schedule a ride. Learn more about transportation for veterans at the VA web page “DAV Vans: Transportation for Veterans” at https://bit.ly/49unjfr.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a former Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA and Durham VA Medical Centers, a Fisher House Charleston Goodwill Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for his local AUSA Chapter and VFW Post 7383. Larry is also the author of the award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) and a contributing freelance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
