Carefree Aging in Place for Veterans

Veterans who served their country in war deserve the right to spend their retirement in peace. In an ideal world these brave men and women who stood their ground in hardship would never find themselves in need of support, yet many of them struggle with medical or financial difficulties.

There are a number of stipends, pension and caregiver services available for veterans, but typically these proud soldiers refuse to ask for help, for fear of it making them look feeble. However, if they’re hoping to age in place happily, then they should change this mindset, since those who are willing to accept help have a higher chance of retiring independently.

Insurance and pension

Veterans are eligible for several types of life insurance. There is the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, which is available for most active duty servicemen and can be converted into Veterans’ Group Life Insurance.

Those who suffer from blindness, paraplegia, or underwent an amputation as a result of their service are eligible for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection.

Lastly, there is the Service-Disabled Veterans’ Life Insurance for veterans who live with any form of disability. Additionally, all wartime veterans may receive a supplementary income, but only if they are at least 65 and served 90 days of active duty (or 24 months of active duty after 1980).

Support for disabled veterans

Veterans living with a disability because of their service find it the hardest to cope with the difficulties of everyday life. The Purple Heart Homes has a special program called Veterans Aging in Place where volunteers help the aging veterans modify their home to better fit their needs. It’s also important to mention that caregivers who are helping veterans are eligible for additional stipends for doing so.

Living with a disability can also mean that the person must change their entire wardrobe, since regular clothes become too difficult to put on. Adaptive clothing is designed with war veterans and disabled seniors in mind. These kinds of garments come with certain benefits, such as opening on the back or side to make it easier for the wearer or caregiver to put on these clothes, saving everyone from any unnecessary struggle. People who lost a limb or are living in wheelchair can also make use of these to dress themselves effortlessly.

Medical alert systems

War veterans have access to several Medicare benefits, coupled with a series of veteran programs and non-profit insurance. Still there could be situations where they might end up in dire need for instant help.

In these cases, medical alert systems embody everything that a veteran senior might need: round the clock monitoring service with kind and thoughtful care agents; easy to use help buttons that can be pressed easily should they need it; and most importantly advanced monitoring technology that incorporates fall detection, GPS tracking and even geo-fencing. In short, medical alert systems are a mobile safety net that invisibly follows – and protects – the wearer everywhere.