The Veterans of this country dedicated their lives to defending our freedoms and protecting our lives. They spent years in service to our country, and now as they transition back into civilian life, it’s up to us to provide them with the services they need to be as independent as possible. Many veterans have always been independent, but if they have been injured or affected by their time in combat, they may need a little help. Many of them, however, aren’t comfortable or used to asking for assistance.
Whether it’s limited mobility due to physical injury or a mental block from PTSD, veterans often need a little help. Unfortunately, many veterans don’t have the help they need or are being told their only solution is to move into an assisted living facility.That’s where Reliant Home Care Services comes in. Our team can help you, your loved one, and your family navigate the challenges a veteran faces when returning to civilian life.
Let’s take a look at how our in-home care can support your loved one’s independence while also addressing the unique care needs a veteran has.
The Enduring Value of Home for Veterans
“Home” isn’t just a house where a person lives – it’s where they made memories, experienced life, and feel safe. For veterans, it can be a sanctuary from the horrors they experienced. It’s a familiar space that they know and are comfortable in.
This is why staying in their own home can be more than just a nice option for veterans. Moving into an unfamiliar setting, even if it’s a loved one’s home, can make PTSD and other disorders worse. When they can continue with their established routines in their familiar home, it not only impacts their well-being, but it also allows them to live with dignity and independence. They are able to control their environment. Even those who may have to have a structured routine and daily help are able to have some say in their home, even if it’s limited to décor.
Remaining in their home also allows them to stay connected to their community. When someone moves into assisted living or in with a relative, their friends may no longer visit them as often. Even family members may not visit, especially if it’s a longer drive or is out of the way. Veterans who move may have to give up being part of a local veteran organization or other group, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Both are bad for mental and emotional health.
Common Challenges Veterans Face as They Age
Veterans face a number of challenges as they age. Many still want to remain as independent as possible, but they may find that they cannot do everything on their own any longer. Over the years, the challenges presented by their unique experiences, compounded with the challenges that come with aging, can make living alone difficult.
One of the biggest challenges veterans often face is physical. They may have physical limitations due to things they experienced while serving in the military, including mobility issues, chronic pain, and even loss of limbs. When combined with conditions that come on with aging, such as arthritis, loss of vision, and balance issues, can make it not only difficult to complete some basic tasks but also unsafe.
There are mental challenges as well. PTSD on its own can be difficult, but when that condition is combined with dementia, memory lapses, and cognitive decline, it can make it difficult for a veteran to remember appointments, manage their finances, or even do something as simple as prepare a meal. This can lead to emotional outbursts as individuals who once prided themselves on their sharp minds find themselves unable to remember simple facts or complete tasks they’ve done thousands of times before.
Medication management can present another challenge for veterans. Many may take multiple medications a day, some of which need to be taken with food, without food, in the morning, at night, or under other specific conditions. This can quickly become overwhelming to those who are in cognitive decline. Trying to keep up with these medications, even with a pill sorter, can become nearly impossible.
Finally, there’s the challenges that come with dealing with the U.S. healthcare system. While the Veterans Affairs system does provide many resources, including financial resources, for aging veterans, accessing them may require specific paperwork, meetings, and other requirements. It can be difficult for some to fully understand their benefits and how to use them. Even veterans and family members without cognitive challenges may get overwhelmed while trying to navigate a system they’re unfamiliar with.
How In-Home Care Specifically Promotes Independence
Our in-home care specialists don’t come in and take over a veteran’s life. That’s never the goal. Instead, we work with them and their families to learn what care is needed and how that care should best be provided. Sometimes, this means working with family caregivers as backup or respite providers. Other times, it means creating a daily schedule of care. The point is to always make your loved one feel in control and respected, no matter what they need. We do this in several ways:
Personal Care Assistance:
We help veterans with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and eating. This helps veterans maintain their personal hygiene and appearance while still following their own established routines.
Medication Management & Health Monitoring:
Our caregivers will help your loved one take their medications as directed and at the right times. For those who need it, we can dispense the medication, but for others, we can create a schedule and help sort or label pills so that the veteran can take them on their own. We can also help with monitoring vital signs, symptoms, and recovery from injuries to ensure everything is on track.
Meal Preparation & Nutrition:
Some veterans need to eat a special diet in order to keep chronic conditions in check, while others simply need to eat healthy meals. Our caregivers can help with preparing meals tailored to your loved one’s needs and preferences to ensure that they’re eating regularly and healthily.
Light Housekeeping & Errands:
We can help your loved one maintain their home with some light housekeeping, including tidying the house and doing laundry. We will also assist in making the home safe. We will do a home safety audit that focuses on identifying fall risks and other dangers such as low lighting. Often, many of these risks can be mitigated with a few small modifications such as grab bars or moving a few pieces of furniture around.
Navigating Veteran Benefits for In-Home Care
Understanding the VA isn’t always simple, even if you’re a veteran. It’s not that the support isn’t there or isn’t available: it is. But like any government system, it can take some time to fully understand what paperwork needs to be submitted and how to fully take advantage of everything. However, it’s well worth it. The VA benefits provided to veterans are substantial and can greatly reduce the financial burden a veteran and their family face. If you aren’t familiar with the VA or how it works, having a little guidance is never a bad thing.
Choosing the Right In-Home Care Provider
While there are many different in-home care agencies out there, they are not all equal. You want to work with a caregiving team that understands what veterans are going through and what unique care needs they have. Reliant has that expertise. One of our goals has always been to help veterans and their families get the care they deserve. With a veteran-centric approach, we’re uniquely qualified to provide that care.
In addition to understanding what veterans need, we also create personalized care plans for every patient. There is no one-size-fits-all care plan because every person is different. Even those with the same health challenges will need slightly different care plans. We work closely with every patient, their families, and their care team to create a personalized care plan that will address all the patient’s needs.
Reach Out to Reliant Today
Our veterans deserve the best care they can get, and that’s what Reliant Home Care Services aims to provide. While veterans do face unique challenges, those challenges are not insurmountable. With a little help, many veterans can live a life of dignity and respect while remaining in the home they love so much.
Want to learn how Reliant can help you and your loved ones? Reach out today.
