Maria Shriver’s March on Alzheimer’s – October 24, 2010 – Long Beach, CA

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“Alzheimer’s is a mind-blowing disease that disproportionately impacts women – both as victims and caretakers of loved one’s suffering from it. With more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s in this country and every 70 seconds a new person developing Alzheimer’s, I believe it’s time to pick up the pace and start marching to defeat this devastating disease. We are inviting both women and men of all ages to join us in Long Beach.”

Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver is a “child of Alzheimer’s” and has been a long-time vocal advocate for families like hers who are struggling with Alzheimer’s disease.  Shriver is the executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary, “Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?” which is based on her best-selling children’s book, “What’s Happening to Grandpa?” and is part of HBO’s The Alzheimer’s Project.  The film tells the story of children who are coping with grandparents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. In 2009, Shriver testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, offering advice to families and caregivers who are affected by Alzheimer’s.  This year, she continues her efforts to bring awareness to the disease with the inaugural Maria Shriver’s March on Alzheimer’s…… READ MORE

Maria Shriver\’s March on Alzheimer\’s – October 24, 2010 – Long Beach, CA

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Relief for Disabled Vets and Caregivers: President Signs Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act

WASHINGTON - MARCH 03:  US President Barack Ob...
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We  at Caring For Mom and Dad applaud this latest piece of legislation that will help our disabled veterans and their families get the help they need. Hopefully, this sets a precedence to helping the millions of civilians who need this help. Civilians like us. Here is the story.

On Wednesday, President Obama signed into law the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. During the ceremony, speaking to a group including disabled veterans and caregivers, Obama said, “As we all know, keeping faith with our veterans and their families is work that is never truly finished. As a nation, as the beneficiaries of their service, there’s always more we can do and more that we must do. And that’s what we’re doing today, as I sign this important legislation.”
The law provides several measures to assist disabled veterans and their caregivers, including mental health services, respite care, medical care and a monthly personal caregiver stipend. Women veterans’ health services will be enhanced, such as a development of a thorough study of the barriers to the provision of comprehensive health care women vets encounter. There will also be a program established to provide graduate medical education for mental health professionals who provide counseling, care, and services for female veterans suffering from sexual trauma and post traumatic stress disorder. Read the full story.

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Long Term VA Benefits: Aid and Attendance

GREAT FALLS, MT - JULY 23:  Walter Breuning, a...
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by Rose Broyles

Serving your country has its benefits, and thankfully, veterans are taken care of in many ways when they reach their golden years. Of the disability programs that  a retired vet can apply for, several benefits come attached to them — one of these is called Aid and Attendance.

What is Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance is a benefit paid to claimants who are so helpless or so nearly helpless as to require the regular aid (help) and attendance (presence) of another person in order to avoid the dangers and hazards incident to their daily environment. This definition includes blindness under the Federal definition (corrected bilateral acuity of less than 5/200 or less than 5 degrees of concentric vision), inability to feed oneself or attend to the wants of nature (incontinence), or maintaining ones self and environment in an ordinary clear and presentable manner. (38 CFR 3.352(a))

Aid and Attendance is a monthly benefit that is attached to a disability program which is service-related or non-service related . It is not a separate program, but more of an added benefit or enhancement for those who are eligible. For Compensation and Pension purposes, the veteran claiming the benefit must be rated totally (100%) disabled due to a combination of age or infirmity. Total disability is defined as the inability to work.  This is not just available for assisted living residents, but rather any veteran who needs the extra care, and thus the extra expenses to receive that care.

Medical Conditions for Qualification

  • Blind or with vision corrected at 5/200 in both eyes or concentric contraction of the visual field of 5° or less.
  • Patient in assisted living, nursing home, etc. because of mental or physical disability
  • unable to dress themselves
  • frequent need to adjust orthopedic or prosthetic devices
  • incontinence
  • require assistance from someone else  for safety

Who is Covered?

Veterans and spouses are qualified under the following conditions:

  • If the veteran is receiving additional Service Connected Disability Compensation, their spouse can qualify
  • A surviving spouse or parent receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
  • A surviving spouse receiving Death Pension  or Death Compensation

Qualifying Factors

The VA will look at the ADLs, or the Activities of Daily Living of the veteran as well as the disability in question. ADLs include what is mentioned above regarding daily living tasks: bathing, dressing, incontinence, etc. Based on physician’s reports: VA or non-VA facilities and the reports from the care giver the VA will then determine if this added benefit will be awarded to the claimant.

Compensation

You can look at the current compensation tables at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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