Caring for Veterans
Special | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Activities of daily living may become difficult for aging veterans, but help is available.
Veterans may find the activities of daily living difficult as they age, and many are not aware of available benefits. Daily chores like cleaning or laundry can be challenging for older veterans due to physical limitations. Through the VA, many veterans qualify for benefits like a home health aide or respite care that does not require them to have a pension or be disabled.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Aging Matters is a local public television program presented by WNPT
Caring for Veterans
Special | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Veterans may find the activities of daily living difficult as they age, and many are not aware of available benefits. Daily chores like cleaning or laundry can be challenging for older veterans due to physical limitations. Through the VA, many veterans qualify for benefits like a home health aide or respite care that does not require them to have a pension or be disabled.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Aging Matters
Aging Matters is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- My brother was in Korea and the first thing he told me, "Don't let the army get you."
So, I kept checking the draft list and when I got down to number two, the Air Force recruiter happened to be right next door to the draft board.
So, I went around the corner outta one door into the other and signed up.
Enjoyed it so much, I just made a career out of it.
I lost my wife a couple years ago or better.
It was just all this stuff I couldn't do.
I have osteoarthritis in my back.
I have a hard time standing at the sink doing dishes, 'cause it hurts my back so bad.
But I still tried to do it and then I was in bad shape.
- As we see our veterans aging, the most common need is really help around the house.
As we become seniors, we have a lot of joint issues.
We have arthritis.
So, typical tasks that we take for granted, maybe like putting a load of laundry into the washer, can become complex or can become difficult.
Amada Senior Care is a non-medical in-home care agency.
We provide what are called certified nursing assistants or home health aides, and we help folks with activities of daily living.
We have had the honor of being accredited by the VA hospitals, both in Nashville and in Murfreesboro, as a preferred provider for non-medical in-home care.
- And I did not know about this program until Kevin told us about it.
- [Kevin] I dedicate a lot of my time to education in our local communities with veteran groups, and I was surprised of the lack of knowledge of of these services.
Veterans need to understand that the benefits that the VA health system can give them are not necessarily dependent on pensions.
They can be as simple as, I need help around the home.
I need help with housekeeping.
I need help with personal care.
They can qualify to get services from Amada Senior Care to help them in those times of need.
- [Narrator] For more information on veteran caregiving, visit wellbeings.org, a multi-platform campaign from public media that creates awareness and resources for better health and wellbeing.
(soft music) (soft music)
Support for PBS provided by:
Aging Matters is a local public television program presented by WNPT