Posted on Apr 16, 2019
What is the one piece of advice you would offer to other military and veteran caregivers to help navigate their health journey?
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Are there certain resources you have used? VA or other? Specific activities that have helped reduce stress or organize life? Certain apps or websites that have provided aid?
Caregiver
Health
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veteran Caregiver
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 39
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Look into the VA’s Aide and Attendance Program. It provides some financial assistance to certain war veterans who meet financial thresholds with about $2,300 a month for help with care.
I am working with my local VSO on a claim for my 87 year old Korean War veteran father now.
It’s a nice benefit and the vets do not how’ve to have previous VA disability rating to file a claim.
I am working with my local VSO on a claim for my 87 year old Korean War veteran father now.
It’s a nice benefit and the vets do not how’ve to have previous VA disability rating to file a claim.
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Cpl Mark Oresko
Ginger Palumbo Jennifer Gerrub is the Chief experience Officer. Her response to my circumstance without any exaggeration was, “Im just a social worker, what’s happened, happened and there’s nothing I can do about it.” A few weeks later someone filed a disruptive behavior report note and flagged my records. Then I receive an email from our facilities myhealthevet rep, only the email was completed and signed by Jennifer Gerrub. She alleged that I was using the secured messaging improperly and gave me a warning that she would restrict my account. I informed her that it was unfortunate that her communication couldn’t have been in a professional manner and that she read the Myhealthevet policies under section 508. These guys exaggerate my behavior or straight up lie. I know this was all retaliation for finding out my caregiver support coordinator was not a licensed clinical social worker. That social worker (Jennifer Daly-Dawson) made clinical determinations that resulted in veterans taking their lives.
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Cpl Mark Oresko
SPC Nancy Greene im a 100% total & permanent with IU. They still claimed that I recovered from all 14 active issues on my medical records problems list. You can only imagine what social security said when they read in my records that nothing is wrong with me.
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Ginger Palumbo
Cpl Mark Oresko - If I was in this situation, I would request copies of everything that was being used to determine the decision, going over every detail that was stated about me. If there were any errors being stated about me or my condition I would dispute that detail with the provider making the erroneous claim about me & have them amend their report about me. That is what I had to do for me handicapped stepson to continue receiving SSDI.
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Cpl Mark Oresko
Ginger Palumbo I did this and nothing mattered. I have all the evidence required and they still claimed all of my records were accurate, relevant, complete, and timely. None of that was true. The HIMS spent almost two months reviewing my notes and still denied my amendment request. I did a SPARS report. It shows that the Chief HIMS only accessed my account twice.
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when there is a life change to the veteran, ask the caregiver how they are. I am my husband's caregiver and recently our son killed himself and we were both heartbroken. 10 days after his death I took Bob to the VA Medical center in Wyoming Michigan. I told the intake person what happened. They informed his group of Drs and specialists we were seeing that day. When we went back into treatment area, everyone was all over Bob, hugging him and letting him know they were there for him. They all know I am his wife but not one person asked how I was doing. They need to be a little more sensitive to us caregiver on how we are doing. Sometimes taking care of the vets is a struggle for us too
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Dorothy Zirkle
Hopefully your message will reach all healthcare providers in the VA. The health well-being of caregivers of veterans is crucial for the vital support necessary in the care of veterans
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SPC Nancy Greene
You have some good Providers! You’re one of the lucky ones!!! I have AWESOME providers who have been through HELL with me and we all survived!!!PO1 Michael Scott
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Be prepared for a laundry list of things you can expect dealing with the VA:
1) Not being the priority. While some VA facilities and most employees of the VA truly are there to help vets and their families, you will run into more than a few who do not get that without those vets they would not be working.
2) Hurry up; Wait. It is always recommended by the VA to be 15 minutes early to your scheduled appointment(s). They appear to have no obligation to see you within fifteen minutes of said appointment. And the more specialized the clinic/clinician the longer you may have to wait.
3) Any documentation they want, never ever give them an original or last copy. Scientists are more likely to find light escaping a black hole than the VA is of locating and returning a document you need.
4) Be prepared for good surprises. There are a lot of good folks working at the VA who will help as much as and as best as they can. Make sure you let them know they are appreciated. I’ve had the same primary care doc thru the VA for about a dozen years or so and she is excellent as is the team of nurses working with her.
5) Use the HealtheVet portal. It allows you to access your med records and can even be used to let any non-VA providers see stuff in that record if you provide the permissions. It also allows you to directly messsage your provider and check on upcoming appointments and such.
1) Not being the priority. While some VA facilities and most employees of the VA truly are there to help vets and their families, you will run into more than a few who do not get that without those vets they would not be working.
2) Hurry up; Wait. It is always recommended by the VA to be 15 minutes early to your scheduled appointment(s). They appear to have no obligation to see you within fifteen minutes of said appointment. And the more specialized the clinic/clinician the longer you may have to wait.
3) Any documentation they want, never ever give them an original or last copy. Scientists are more likely to find light escaping a black hole than the VA is of locating and returning a document you need.
4) Be prepared for good surprises. There are a lot of good folks working at the VA who will help as much as and as best as they can. Make sure you let them know they are appreciated. I’ve had the same primary care doc thru the VA for about a dozen years or so and she is excellent as is the team of nurses working with her.
5) Use the HealtheVet portal. It allows you to access your med records and can even be used to let any non-VA providers see stuff in that record if you provide the permissions. It also allows you to directly messsage your provider and check on upcoming appointments and such.
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SPC Nancy Greene
You are also able to print out the parts of your records needed. You can always request, in writing, copies of your VA medical records! Let them make the copies! I request a month or two at a time, so I have chronological bind of my medical records including my original Active Duty Medical Records! I worked in med records when I was assuring Med Hold at 2nd Field Hospital in Germany. I copied the original down to the last detail. Put the copy in the file and took My original record with me!
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