Advising veterans and their surviving spouses is an important part of our law practice at Rebecca W. Geyer & Associates. Along with helping to ensure that veterans’ estate planning documents are in order, we want to be sure veterans are aware of the many benefits available through the government, including education programs, job search and training resources, home loans, and pension and survivor benefits. For today’s blog post, we interviewed two professionals from Amada Senior Care of Greater Indianapolis – CEO/owner Belinda Schluchter and Executive Director Gordon VanBibber II…
There is “a lack of understanding… in the general public about what military service was like and the challenges associated with integrating into life back home,” ARAGlegl.com notes. “With the emotional, physical and personal stress inherent in military service (and especially related to combat-related duty), major concerns for veterans can include both mental and physical struggles. Through a variety of nonprofits, caring citizens can volunteer in several ways, helping build and outfit homes, train and place service dogs, and provide internet and phone access, the ARAG website explains.
Having himself suffered a hearing disability in the course of service in the U.S. Navy, Amada Senior Care executive director Gordon VanBibber knows that the biggest “lack of awareness” is often on the part of the veterans themselves, who not only do not realize the extent of the benefits available to them through the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Medicaid system, but have no idea how to navigate the system to access benefits.
VA and Medicaid benefits that can help pay for in-home care or residence in an assisted living or skilled care community are often a complete surprise to senior veterans and their families, Belinda Schluchter knows, describing her personal mission as a dedicated advocate for improving seniors’ quality of life.
At Geyer Law, our clients are often the surviving spouses of veterans who have passed, who have not remarried, whose income and net worth meet certain requirements, and are therefore eligible for a survivor’s pension. Their deceased mates may have served in Korea, Vietnam or in the Gulf war, and they may or may not qualify for Medicaid benefits.)
The three main benefits that can be used to cover the cost of in-home care with no out-of-pocket costs to the Veteran Schluchter and VanBibber explain, include:
- Aid and Attendance – cash benefit paid monthly directly to wartime veterans over age 65 who require assistance with bathing, dressing, eating or meal prep, incontinence, or who need a protective environment due to mental decline. These benefits are also available to spouses of deceased wartime veterans who are over age 65 and require assistance in the areas noted above.
- Homemaker/Home Health Aide – trained aide provides help with personal care and grooming (bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.) and companionship, usually provided by a home care agency.
- Respite care – pays for care to give family caregivers a break to run errands or get care for their own medical needs. This benefit may include care from a Home Health Aide in the home, attendance at an adult day care program or even a short-term stay in a VA nursing home or medical center. Thirty percent of family caregivers die before those they are caring for so giving them a much-needed break is critical to keep them healthy. Amada Senior Care meets with Veterans and their families in their homes to help them navigate the process to obtain the benefits above as well as helping them increase their disability ratings and VA pensions.
As the attorneys at Rebecca W Geyer & Associates and the professionals at Amada Senior Care are each keenly aware, the process of applying for veterans benefits is not easy…A vet’s MMAPR (Maximum Annual Pension Rate) will depend on many different factors, including how many dependents one has, and what the actual medical expenses are in addition to Medicare and Medicare supplement premiums.
Bellinda Schluchter and Gordon VanBibber shared one of many heartwarming success stories…..
The Amada bookkeeper’s grandfather, after serving in Vietnam, had developed cancer and dementia due to exposure to Agent Orange; he also has PTSD and hearing impairments from his service in the military. Struggling to provide care for him, Grandma found her own health in steep decline. With Belinda and Gordon’s help navigating the application process, the couple qualified for both Home Health Aide assistance and respite care, allowing Grandma to have her own medical care needs addressed while providing help with personal care, meal preparation, transportation, and other needs for Grandpa.
At both Amada Senior Care and here at Geyer Law, the goal is bridging the gap and helping veterans and their survivors improve their quality of life.
by Ronnie of the Rebecca W. Geyer & Associates blog team
