Did you know that approximately half of Home to Stay’s clientele are veterans? Currently, there are more than eight million veterans over the age of 65 in the United States alone and of those veterans, around half a million are living with Alzheimer’s. As these veterans continue to age, the unique needs and challenges that they face demand our attention and support – from the lasting physical and mental health issues of service to the common health challenges of aging.
Home to Stay plays an important role in supporting our nation’s heroes, ensuring their well-being, dignity, and quality of life as they age peacefully in their own homes.
Health Challenges of Aging Veterans
Physical, mental, and social challenges are commonly faced by veterans, highlighting the need for ongoing care and attention for these individuals.
Physical health concerns stem from injuries and disabilities acquired from their time serving in the military, along with typical age-related problems. Common service-related injuries and disabilities include shrapnel and gunshot wounds, lost limbs, head and brain injuries, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss, sprains and strains, and limited range of motion. There may also be a risk of problems from exposure to environmental hazards, such as contaminated water, chemicals, infections, and burn pits.
Mental health problems are also a substantial obstacle for our aging veterans. Being away from home and family during combat can have long-lasting effects on these individuals. Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use, and suicidal tendencies are all seen in military veterans.
Social challenges can also be a product of veterans’ mental health issues. Elderly veterans who live alone or far from family may experience isolation and depression, impacting their overall quality of life. Vets also often find themselves feeling detached from their military community after they are finished with service, which may impact their sense of identity, purpose, and camaraderie. Community initiatives, mentoring, and connection groups can help with the social challenges veterans face.
The Role of Home Care Services for Veterans
As you can see, many potential health problems create the need for ongoing care of our veterans. Home care services like ours can play a significant role in providing the necessary support for these individuals.
Through custom care plans, home care services are able to address each veteran’s specific service or age-related health issues. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, taking medications, and transportation to medical appointments are also all covered by home care providers.
Another way caregivers provide support is through companionship and actively engaging with veterans. For those dealing with PTSD, depression, or isolation, having a compassionate presence can make all the difference. Building trust and understanding is central to the care they provide.
Veterans Living with Dementia
Given our history of providing care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and the growing number of veterans receiving a dementia diagnosis, we are uniquely equipped to support veterans living with dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), the annual number of veterans newly diagnosed with dementia has increased over 22% since 2008. Furthermore, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – two to five times more common in veterans – has also been linked to an increased risk of dementia, possibly a doubling of the risk.
This fact sheet highlights more eye-opening statistics collected by AIM.
Benefits of Using Home Care Services
One of the main benefits of choosing home care for veterans is allowing them to age comfortably in their own homes; many aging adults are reluctant to move to a nursing home or an assisted living facility, as they do not want to give up their sense of independence. Because they are able to stay in a familiar setting while receiving care, their overall quality of life also improves.
Implementing a custom care plan for each veteran ensures all the individual’s unique and basic needs are met, something you may not be able to find in a traditional care setting or from a family caregiver. Family caregivers are also afforded respite when utilizing the services of an in-home care company.
Finally, the VA covers most of the cost of in-home care for eligible veterans, making care more affordable for vets and their families. In addition to saving money on care costs, by providing proactive care and monitoring, many health issues can be addressed before they escalate, which reduces potentially costly and disruptive hospital stays.
Contact Home to Stay’s VA Program
At Home to Stay, we take pride in serving the needs of those who serve our country. If you or a loved one is a veteran who is permanently disabled or housebound due to service or age-related health reasons and is eligible for Veterans Benefits, we can provide you with the in-home care and assistance you need at an affordable rate so that you can age comfortably in place.
All our service providers are highly skilled, trained, bonded, and insured and our services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us today at 856-321-1500 or use our contact form to find out more about our services.
