ARTICLE: Why Care Managers Should Understand VA

We received this article as part of our monthly newsletter from the Veterans Advocates Group of America and thought our clients and colleagues would find it interesting. Visit their website at http://www.vagamembers.com for more information about their group. Please contact our office if you would like more information on Veterans Benefits available to your family members or your clients, and how we can educate you about how to qualify for these benefits.

Why Care Managers Should Understand VA

When adult children of seniors turn to a geriatric care manager for help, they are typically lost in a sea of issues, dilemmas, decisions and questions about the multitude of resources and services now advertised in our society for the elderly. Often, the very first task of the care manager is to provide emotional support to the adult child, so that the person can think logically and rationally again, as often the decisions to be made can de-stabilize the family, old conflicts can arise again and the senior also reacts to the adult child "stepping in" and taking new actions.

The next task of the care manager is to educate - about what resources/services are out there and very importantly, WHEN they are to be tapped. Knowing about Veterans Benefits is critical to so many families being able to either keep their loved one in the home safely with the in-home benefits or to move their elder out of the home with the Aid and Attendance Benefit for assisted living and personal care homes. In my experience, I have been privileged to see the utter relief of many middle class family members when the senior qualifies for the Benefit, as the financial assistance the benefit provides literally makes the move to assisted living possible.

It is key for the geriatric care manager to educate the family or point them to a resource that can educate them about the timing of many factors that must come together property to qualify for VA benefits. When the family understands the financial parameters that must be met, then the family can make sound financial decision s that support getting to the goal of financial qualification. If not, then qualifications may not ever happen.

Geriatric care managers are experts in helping educate the adult children about the physical/medical status of the senior and this is also a critical factor in deciding when to apply for the Veteran's benefits. For example, it is very common for family members to wait too long to address their loved one's situation and often the veteran may need nursing home placement by the time the family is willing to act versus acting sooner and allowing the veteran to use his or her benefit for assisting living and enjoying this more independent, less intrusive level of care for perhaps years.

With knowledge about Veteran's benefits and all the factors that influence decisions the family must make to qualify, the geriatric care manager has served that Veteran in a critical time -Our veterans deserve no less!

Mallory Long, Geriatric Case Manager
Atlanta, Georgia


------------------------------------------
The Law Offices of Jeremy W. Howe, LTD. are ElderLaw attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate, and Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.

They also are Newport Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers, Attorneys, Mediators, and Arbitrators providing services for Family Law issues such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Support, and Military Family Law. 

Call them today at 401-841-5700 or visit them on the web at http://www.CounselFirst.com.