Jane and Ron are both veterans in their 70’s who live at home, and unfortunately, both are experiencing serious health issues. In addition to their health problems, Jane and Ron are struggling financially and contemplating bankruptcy. To complicate things even further, both of their children live more than six hours away. Jane and Ron are […]
Does the VA Prioritize Mental Health Care?
Supporting and appreciating our nation’s Veterans is vital. This month, in addition to being Military Appreciation Month, is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day (their biggest supporters of all)! These observances make this an ideal time to recognize our Veterans and look at what is being done to address […]
Top Benefits Veterans Might Not Be Aware of in 2023
Q. Veterans Day is tomorrow. Our military Veterans have served our country, fought for freedom, and they deserve our utmost respect. My father is a Vietnam Veteran, and he and my mother (and me) are unaware of what benefits might be available to them. Can you help steer us in the right direction? A. Thank […]
How Will You Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War on March 29, 2023?
This week, we commemorate two significant days, National Medal of Honor Day on March 25, and National Vietnam War Veterans Day (NVWVD) on March 29. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that today there are more than 7 million US Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad, along with 10 million families of those who […]
Which Veteran’s Benefits are Expanding and Increasing in 2021?
Chris, a 75-year-old Vietnam veteran, is planning on moving to Northern Virginia to reside with his son and his family. He is eager to remain at his son’s home for as long as possible, but is concerned he won’t be able to manage without help. Chris, and his son who is a more recent 9-11 […]
VA Caregiver Support Program Expansion Begins: What it Means for Veterans and Caregivers
Q. I am a caregiver for my father, a U.S. Navy veteran. He and I recently celebrated Veteran’s Day and my understanding is that it is National Family Caregiver’s Month all through November. In light of these two important observances, I was hoping you could update me on the VA Caregiver Support Program expansion, which […]
After 40 Years, “Widows Tax” is Finally Eliminated
Q. My friend, Kim, lost her husband Brian in a helicopter crash in Iraq 15 years ago while he was serving our country. After he died, she was told that she would have to forfeit benefits that her husband had paid into for years, because she already receives other benefits for survivors through the Department […]
Open Enrollment 2020: How Veterans Can Best Maximize Their Benefits
Dear Rune, I am a veteran who wants to add Medicare Advantage benefits during open enrollment this year. I have a few questions about my veterans benefits and Medicare plans, and I’m hoping you can help. First, can Medicare Advantage and VA benefits work together? Also, are there any specific Medicare Advantage plans for veterans? […]
Mission Accomplished or Mission Impossible: Is the MISSION Act Really Benefitting Veterans?
Q. As a veteran, my father used to have to wait weeks to see a VA doctor, and that doctor was more than 35 minutes away. I heard about the MISSION Act, where he will have access to community care and can find a doctor who is closer to his home, much faster than before. […]
Veteran’s Benefits for Spouses
Dear Hayek, Welcome to the Critter Corner team! I’m hoping you can help answer my question about veteran’s benefits. My wife was a veteran before she passed away last year. I miss her dearly and am just getting around to figuring everything out. I am wondering if you can tell me what veteran’s benefits […]
Veterans Benefits for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Q. I read that Veterans who experienced brain trauma in the course of their service are at a 60% higher risk for developing dementia, while those who have experienced PTSD are twice as likely. My father is a Vietnam Veteran who suffers from PTSD. His family also has a history of dementia. With his risk […]
Changes to Veterans Pension Rules Are Looming — Plan Now!
Q. I’ve been an avid reader of your newsletter for many years. A couple of years ago, you published an article indicating that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was proposing significant changes to needs-based benefit programs, such as the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance pension. You mentioned that the new rules were going to include […]
Can Your Spouse Get Paid for Being Your Caregiver?
Joseph quit his full-time job to provide full-time care for his wife, Stephanie, who is suffering from early-onset dementia. He bathes and dresses her, prepares her meals, takes her blood pressure, gives her prescribed medications twice a day, and takes her to all of her medical appointments. Joseph had to quit his job to fulfill […]
Top 17 Articles of 2017
From the passing of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act to offer much-needed support to caregivers, to Trump’s tax overhaul, we covered a lot of ground in 2017. It was a year that included a massive data breach, the ACA almost being repealed, and amazing new technological innovations to help seniors age-in-place. At the Farr Law […]
Programs Affecting Veterans and Progress this Year
There are currently more than 25 million veterans who served our country during wartime and may be eligible for some form of veteran’s benefits. Many of these veterans and their caregivers, who need assistance, don’t realize that they may be eligible for certain benefits that will help them. In this article, we will look at […]
Caregiving for a Veteran
Dear Ribbit, My husband is an partially disabled veteran and I am his caregiver. Sometimes, it can be stressful, and I can use all the help, support, and educational resources I can get. A friend told me she thinks that there’s some type of program that offers “comprehensive assistance” for family members who provide […]
Military Families Feeling Financially Stretched by Elder Care
Captain David Steere’s father was a Class of 1931 Naval Academy Graduate. At the end of his life, he was living in assisted care and having trouble making ends meet. David is now retired from the Navy himself, and is concerned about his own ability to afford long-term care, should the time come when he […]
The Death of Long-Term Care Insurance?
Maureen’s husband is retiring within the next few years, and her family is now planning in advance for long-term care, in case the need should arise in the future. Recently, in doing some research on long-term care insurance, Maureen read that John Hancock is leaving the long-term care market early next year. She couldn’t believe […]
Veterans May Have a Higher Risk of Getting Alzheimer’s
Currently, 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 (44 million people worldwide) live with Alzheimer’s disease. These numbers are staggering! Even more startling, is research cited in the Los Angeles Times that reveals that veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are 60% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or a late form of […]
Veteran Caregivers and Spouses: Benefit Clarification
Q. My 76-year old father, Larry, served during the Vietnam War, and suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). My mother, Anne, is his caregiver. They live on Social Security checks and his pension, and I help them out whenever I can. In my opinion, there have to be more benefits that […]