ORLAND MEMORIAL POST 111

Caregiver Programs and Services

VA has long supported family care givers as vital partners in providing care worthy of the sacrifices by America's Veterans and Service members. Each VA medical center has a Caregiver Support Program coordinated by a Caregiver Support Coordinator (CSC). The CSC coordinates caregiver activities and serves as a resource expert for Veterans, their families and VA providers. Several programs are available for all Veteran caregivers including:

In-Home and Community Base Care:  Skilled home health care, homemaker/home health aide services, community adult day health care and Home-Based Primary care.

Respite Care: Designed to relieve the family caregiver from the constant burden of caring for a chronically ill or disabled Veteran at home. Services can include in-home care, a short stay in an institutional setting or adult day healthcare.

Post-9/11 Caregiver Program:  The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 allows VA to provide unprecedented benefits to eligible Caregivers (a parent, spouse, child, step-family member, extended family member, or an individual who lives with the Veteran, but not a family member) of eligible Veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty on or after Sept 11, 2001 (post-9/11 Veterans) under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.

Services include: 

    >Monthly stipend based on the personal care needs of Veteran

    >Travel expenses including lodging and per diem while accompanying

       Veterans undergoing care

    >Access to healthcare insurance through the Civilian Health and

       Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs

       (CHAMPVA) if the Caregiver is not already entitled to care or

       services under a health plan

     >Mental Health services and counseling

     >Comprehensive VA Caregiver training

     >Respite care

     >Appropriate caregiving instruction and training.

VA currently provides multiple training opportunities, which include pre-discharge care instruction and specialized caregiver programs in multiple severe traumas such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury/disorders, and blind rehabilitation. VA has a caregiver website, http://www.caregiver.va.gov, which provides tools, resources, and information to Family Caregivers.

Family Support Services: These support groups can be face-to-face or on the telephone  They include family counseling, spiritual and pastoral care, family leisure recreational activities and temporary lodging in Fisher Houses.

Travel: VA's Comprehensive Assistance for family caregivers Program entitles the designated family caregiver to beneficiary travel benefits. These benefits include:

    >Transport, lodging and subsistence for period of caregiver training

    >Transport, lodging, and subsistence while traveling as Veteran's attendant

       to and from VA Health care as well as duration of care at VA or VA authorized facility

    >Mileage or common carrier transport

    >Lodging and/or subsistence at 50 percent of local federal employee rates

Other Benefits: VA provides durable medical equipment and prosthetic and sensory aides to improve function, financial assistance with home modification to improve access and mobility, and transportation assistance for some Veterans to and from medical appointments.

Veterans Canteen Service

Established in 1946, the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) was created to provide merchandise and services at reasonable prices to Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, caregivers, and visitors. The VCS PatriotStoreDirect 1-800-664-8258 provides services to those who cannot visit a VA facility. For more information, visit VCS online at http://www.vacanteen.va.gov

(To Be Continued Next Month)

Reminder: All paid Legion members are eligible for the Legionnaire Insurance Trust benefit program, but members must confirm on the following web site: thelit.comand navigate to the PRODUCTS menu bar item and select No Cost LegionCare. On the No Cost LegionCare page, select the Sign Up Now button. You will need to supply the following: Zip Code, DOB info, Department (IL), Belong To info, American Legion Member number, Email Address, Name Info, Street Address info, Phone and Gender. You must perform the sign-up process. You will be covered with $1000 accidental death insurance and $5000 while on official American Legion business.

Sick Call For the Months of Oct/Nov 2020

Greg Bowling, Sal Estrada, Warren Koerner, Robert Lewis, Henry Callahan, Robert Palucki, Stan Kuchta and Ralph McCurdy and Rich Graff.