Blog Posts - VETERAN BENEFITS

National Invest in Veterans Week:

3/2/2020

This week is National Invest in Veterans Week. During this week, we recognize and honor the sacrifices our veterans have made by supporting veteran businesses.
According to the Small Business Administration, small business firms owned by veterans employed 5.03 million people, had an annual payroll of $195 billion and receipts of $1.14 trillion. Representing only 9.1 percent of all U.S. businesses, veterans have an unquestionable invaluable impact on economic ecosystems nationwide.

Here are some ways you can observe National Invest in Veterans Week:

Buy from veteran-owned businesses
Partner with veteran owned businesses
Mentor a veteran entrepreneur
Promote veteran owned businesses or National Invest in Veterans Week on social media

National Caregivers Day:

2/21/2020

Today we recognize the efforts and dedication of caregivers providing long term and hospice care. The medical or personal care they provide may be demanding and they may have to put in long hours, yet they remain patient and compassionate while still delivering quality care.
You can support a caregiver you know by:

Writing a card of thanks
Expressing your gratitude
Letting their supervisor know how much you appreciate their services

Veteran Access to Better Health:

2/18/2020

How the VA is using technology to ensure better care for Veterans:

Our veterans deserve it! They fought for us and risked their lives and health to keep us safe. With new technologies in place, the VA is ensuring that all veterans have access to the health care they deserve, even those veterans with little or no access to VA facilities.

When Walmart collaborated with the VA in rolling out telehealth locations, it increased the ability for veterans to be in touch with their doctors regarding their care. It enables veterans to consult with specialists who are not local and might otherwise be unavailable to them. Veterans may have supplemental items to help doctors properly diagnose patients, such as a floor mat embedded with thermographic sensors that can detect temperature variations in diabetic patients.

Prosthetics and robotic exoskeletons are delivering mobility to those previously confined to a wheelchair.

The VA is working with Artificial Intelligence systems to further help veterans. They have developed an AI program that can predict kidney disease. They have also developed an AI program in the pharmacy to help with the dispensation of medicine. More research is being conducted to further incorporate AI in various VA programs.

Troops secure another big pay Increase:

2/13/2020

Under the new federal budget proposal for 2021, service members would secure a 3% pay increase. This marks the first time in a decade that military personnel will receive significant raises in consecutive years. This pay raise reflects the Department of Defense’s recognition of military members’ service and sacrifices. It is also an effort to stem the drain of skilled and trained personnel from leaning to the civilian workforce.

Both Republicans and Democrats have voiced their support for the salary boost.

National Salute to Veteran Patients Week:

2/10/2020

This week, we honor the brave men and women who are in VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, domiciliary, or nursing homes. During National Salute, you can express your appreciation by sending cards to veteran patients or participating in events or activities. To be a part and salute America's heroes, contact the nearest VA and see what you can do by clicking here:

Find a Local VA

5 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health:

2/3/2020

If you worry that you or someone you love will get heart disease or even have a heart attack, it’s understandable.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).Research shows you can lower your risk, particularly if you team up with family, friends or co-workers. This kind of social support may be the key to your success.
To mark American Heart Month, NHLBI, one of the National Institutes of Health, is inviting people across the country to team up and join #OurHearts, a national heart health initiative that encourages people to improve heart health together.
“Studies show that having positive, close relationships and feeling connected to others benefits overall health, blood pressure, weight and more,” said NHLBI’s Dr. David Goff, director of cardiovascular sciences.

Consider these five tips that can help lower your risk of heart disease:

1) Risk: Inactivity
Solution: Move more throughout your day. Aim for at least 150 minutes each week of physical activity. Build up to activity that gets your heart beating faster and leaves you a little breathless. If you’re busy, try breaking your daily activity into 10-minute chunks.
Stay motivated: Make walking dates. Join a pickup soccer or basketball game. Join a fitness class with your neighbor. Grab a loved one and dance in your kitchen.

2) Risk: An unhealthy diet
Solution: Consider an option like NHLBI’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which is free and scientifically proven to lower high blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.
Stay motivated: Invite friends to cook up heart healthy recipes together. Start a lunch club at work and trade recipe ideas.

3) Risk: Smoking, even occasionally
Solution: Quitting can be beneficial to your overall health, even if you’ve smoked for years. Set a quit date and let those close to you know. If you’ve tried quitting in the past, consider what helped and what made it harder.
Stay motivated: Ask your family and friends for support or join a support group. Find resources and connect with a trained counselor at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or smokefree.gov.

4) Risk: Inadequate or poor-quality sleep
Solution: Sleeping 7-8 hours each night helps improve heart health. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Getting a 30-minute daily dose of sunlight may also improve sleep.
Stay motivated: Resist that late afternoon nap. Turn off all screens at a set time nightly. Relax by listening to music, reading or taking a bath.

5) Risk: Uncontrolled stress
Solution: To help manage stress, try relaxation therapy and increase physical activity. Talk to a qualified mental health provider or someone you trust. De-stressing may also help improve sleep.
Stay motivated: Join a friend or family member in a relaxing activity like walking, yoga or meditation every day.

Learn about heart health and heart healthy activities in your community at nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts. Use #OurHearts on social media to share how you and your friends, colleagues or family members are being heart healthy together.

Technology Tips for Seniors:

1/28/2020

We live in a progressive time; technology has become innovative, ever-present, and is changing the way we live. With technology’s advancements, there is more out there for seniors to take advantage of and to live more independent lives.  Some of these include:

1. Medication Management
There are many options for pill reminders or vibrating alarms that can aid in medication management. One such reminder is MediSafe Medication Reminder, an app that reminds you when it’s time to take your medicine. It will also notify you when your prescription is running low. Other features include drug warnings for medications that cannot be taken together and an alert system to notify caregivers or family members if a dose is missed.
2. Safety Devices
There is a variety of options with safety devices as well, based on price range and safety selections. One top rated company is Medical Guardian. Medical Guardian offers multiple options at various price points based on devices, 24 hours support, and fall prevention options.
3. Apps
There are countless apps that can help seniors maintain their independence and their freedom to enjoy life. Park N’ Find is an app for those who may forget where they parked. Click find and the app will show the way back. There is also a Magnifying Glass app that allows the phone to be used as a magnifying glass thereby allowing one to read a menu, prescription, and any other small print item with ease.
4. Virtual Reality
Rendever is a virtual reality company that gives seniors a chance to check off bucket list visits, create new friendships, and revisit meaningful locations. Seniors can feel a strong sense of isolation, but virtual reality allows them to have the experiences they’ve always dreamed of and create new encounters with the world.

Veterans at an Advantage in Wage Earnings:

1/20/2020

Households headed by veterans on average earn more than their non-veteran counterparts. Veteran household earn approximately $188,000 while non-veteran households earn approximately $76,000. Particularly with veterans that are minorities or those with less education, the financial disparity is striking. While black veteran households earn a median income of $77,400, non-veteran black households earn an average of $50,300. Hispanic veteran households earn more than $30,000 more than the average Hispanic household. There is no reason given why veterans are at a greater advantage, nevertheless this is a trend that has existed for over 40 years.

VA Budget gets Big Boost:

1/13/2020

The VA budget got its’ largest ever budget increase. The $217 billion budget for VA operations is more then a 9% boost for the agency. Three-fifths of the budget consists of mandatory spending on medical benefits and disability with $92 billion going towards discretionary spending, an increase of 6%. The budget also includes $125 million for processing “blue water” Navy veterans claims. This money will go towards hiring new staff and paying for overtime. Benefits are estimated to be over $6 billion. Other figures in the new budget include: $80.2 billion for the Veterans Health Administration which incorporates $9.4 billion for mental health, $222 million in suicide prevention and $330 million in rural health initiatives. Additionally, $11.8 billion will go towards homeless veteran assistance and $9 billion for health care outside of VA facilities. However, they do reassure that the VA will continue to improve the VA facilities and services even while allowing medical care to be sought outside of the VA.
With the new, increased budget, many hope those that served our country with bravery and distinction will receive the care they deserve.

Feel Stuck? Uber may be the Answer.

1/13/2020

Many times, due to loss of mobility, vision problems, or other health related issues, seniors may have to give up their keys and, what may seem like, their freedom and independence. Now, however, with the increase in ride-sharing technology, seniors are gaining the ability to go places, meet people, and continue to enjoy life without being dependent on others. Some companies, like GoGoGrandparent, bridge the gap between smartphone use, ride-sharing, and the elderly. They are a hotline that connects seniors who don’t own or don’t feel comfortable using a smartphone to ride-sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft. They can even check whether drivers are comfortable with walker and wheelchairs.
With the technology in place and services to enhance the use of the technology, ride-sharing services are giving seniors more options to live independently.

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