Disabled Veterans, Caregivers Must Not Be Left Behind

[allan]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2009

Disabled Veterans, Caregivers Must Not Be Left Behind

As Veterans Day approaches, the Disabled American Veterans is urging lawmakers to take prompt, decisive action to approve vital legislation that is being held up by a lone Republican Senator. "As the nation honors the service and sacrifice our nation's brave defenders, it is unconscionable that the arbitrary actions of one Senator is preventing consideration of a measure to improve health care to women veterans and provide vital support to family members caring for severely injured veterans," said DAV National Commander Roberto Barrera. The DAV is urging the Senate leadership to take every action necessary to bring the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S. 1963) to the floor for immediate consideration. The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee has previously approved veterans caregiver and health care legislation with unanimous bipartisan votes. Currently, women make up approximately 15 percent of the active force, are serving in all branches of the military and are eligible for assignment in most military occupational specialties except for direct combat roles. The increase in the number of women serving in the military significantly impacts the services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has been ill-prepared to meet the full range of needs for female patients. The types of injuries suffered by our servicemembers in the global war on extremism and tyranny are in many cases so severe that family members put their lives on hold to care for their loved ones. These family caregivers often face devastating financial and emotional hardships as they help their wounded sons, daughters, husbands and wives. Unfortunately, they do not receive sufficient support services or financial assistance from the government. Approval of S. 1963 would provide an array of vitally needed support services for family caregivers, such as respite care, financial compensation, vocational counseling, basic health care, relationship, marriage and family counseling and mental health care. "Our government has an obligation to provide the support and services that are essential to caregivers while they provide for our disabled veterans, both men and women. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act should be voted on and passed without further delay," said Commander Barrera. The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation's disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization's Web site, www.dav.org.

[timetowinarace]

I feel that limiting this benefit to only post 9/11 veterans is unfair. I separated in Sept 2000 and now require around the clock care due to service connected ALS. Explain to me why because I separated 364 days early that my wife doesn't deserve the same time off as those who separated after 9/11. To limit this benefit to post 9/11 vets only is simply discriminatory. There are tens of thousands of veterans suffering from ALS, TBI and various other conditions that require this type of care. They developed or incurred their conditions while serving. What does the date of service matter? If the bill opens up to support all vets it will have my full support.

I don't disagree with you.

I have a thought though. Would it be better to kill this bill and chance that it not resurface? Or would it better if it passed, got put on the books, then put pressure on them to include the rest of us?

I feel it is much easier to change a law to make it fair, then to create one out of nothing.

Just my thought's.

I'm also pre-9/11. I don't want to exclude a veteran in need just because I don't have the same opportunity at this time. I would rather get that veteran what he/she needs and then fight for the rest of us.

[ZenArcher]

Changing the law is not necessarily a simple process. It is better to get it done right the first time. I've written my senators one of which is a cosponsor. While thanking him for his support of veterans I asked why I didn't deserve the same consideration.

[timetowinarace]

I agree with your position and wish you already had these opportunities.

I also do not want to hold others back who may benifit from the current version. They deserve my support.

No one benifits if it dies in committe and does not return. I'd rather see it pass in it's current version than disappear.

I'm not in the 'if I can't have it neither can you' camp.

[halos2]

A disabled vet is a disabled vet no matter what era he/she served. We all served in the era's of our youth, therefore the time of our need should not be excluded by orientation of dates. One for all and all for one. The care that is needed for the vet, young and old, no matter the disability, that requires total assistance needs to relate to the vets condition/limitations/care/ and not age related or era related.

With the advent of more adaptive equipment do we limit those to younger vets...NOT...all vets are entitled to the latest equipment to help them achieve their maximal potential .

If the govt wants to deliniate help to certain eras vets, then do we go back and give those now fighting equiptment of days gone by, or the latest inventions available to protect them.

With the remarkable advances in health care industry the caregivers for all vets need to be treated equally too. 24 hr care at home per private pay would not be afordable for the largest majority of vets...they should not have to live in nursing homes/facilities if they have family/friends who are able/capable of providing their care. 24 hr care requires rest periods...so others need to fill in.

No one wants to be dependent on someone else for all their care, all would like to be as independent as possible, but when health issues dictate the impossibility of this the vet doesn't need the added burden of How do I pay someone, where can I get the funds, etc.

VA sponsored homes pay the nursing facility bill and the vet keeps his/her comp check...private pay takes the vets check and gives them around 50 per mth spending $(might be up to 80 now?)

We are talking about the nurs.fac. charges at a minimum of at least $108 per day...plus other expenses++the vet at home gets maybe 5 hrs at what cost? Doubt if it is equal to the nursing facility charges. Let vets stay home as long as they are able and be cognitive of the sacrificies all are giving. Therefore in the final analysis remember for ALL vets the Caregivers must not be left behind!! Thank them for their services too! JMHO halos2 :)

[john999]

Older vets are forgotten vets. I guess us nasty old Vietnam vets will be left to rot in a nursing home because a grateful nation won't spring for in-home care. If you are over 55 and are P&T the VA writes you off just like a bad debt. To limit this care to 9/11 vets is typical of congress. From all I hear it is cheaper to treat vets in-home than in a nursing home, and the outcomes are better. You know if you are not at least 70% SC the VA won't even provide nursing home care. You have to go on medicade. I bet if the VA does not have room for you even if you are 100% vet they farm you out to the cheapest nursing home in the area. You better have someone looking in on you every day or they will let you rot or starve to death. I speak from experience. If you have a loved one in a nursing home you need to check them from head to foot every day. I sued a nursing home for half a million dollars for abusing one of my relatives. Frail people don't last long in nusring homes. Every effort and expense should be made to keep them at home. What can you expect in a nation where people die because they don't have health insurance?

[sixthscents]

The reason the bill was rescheduled was because a Senator raised exactly this point. He didnt want to stall the bill, but wanted it to encompass all veterans. I don't think there is any way to kill this bill. There is simply too much support for it. However I do think they WILL amend it to consider any veteran. In any case it will be coming up soon, it is in position 190 on the calendar.

Personally I agree with all of you. It should include all vets.