Veterans: Don’t Let Obstacles Deter You from these Benefits

While there are benefits available to veterans to assist them with in-home care or senior living community expenses, many are so bombarded with scams and hoaxes that they just give up and end up not getting a penny of what is rightfully coming to them. Other obstacles can include being confused by the application process and not being able to gather the correct documentation.

One of the most under-used VA benefits is the Aid and Attendance pension benefit. Some veterans or surviving spouses might even think it a scam due to the scam artists who try to gouge seniors out of their hard-earned money with promises of being able to fully guarantee acceptance. This, of course, can only be done by the Department of Veteran Affairs itself.

What are the obstacles?

• As immoral and unbelievable as it may sound, there are unscrupulous people out there who make a good living off of charging exorbitant fees to seniors who just want to gain VA benefits. They often promise a guarantee of eligibility – but seniors shouldn’t be deterred by these scam artists because the Aid and Attendance pension benefit is a real benefit that has helped thousands of families in the past.
  
• Many veterans and/or surviving spouses don’t realize that they might be eligible for this VA benefit. It’s a commonly held belief that to be eligible for the Aid and Attendance pension, the veteran must have sustained injury during combat or service. This simply isn’t true. Some of the eligibility requirements that most people might not be aware of include that the veteran didn’t have to see combat; the veteran doesn’t have be retired from the military; and they don’t have to have a service-related injury to receive this pension.
  
• Finally, one of the biggest obstacles remains how very complicated the process can be. Here’s where you can count on the website: VeterainAid.org for help. They list all of the information you need, and provide assistance – all for free – with every step of the eligibility and submission process.

Are you a senior living in the Fallston area interested in senior veterans care in Baltimore County or home care in Harford County? You are encouraged to contact the Always Best Care Fallston location at 410-877-3787 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to chatting with you about your bright future!

The Pros & Cons of Alzheimer’s Testing

Alzheimer’s disease strikes one in nine people over the age of 65. This is a current and terrifying statistic that makes many people shiver with dread over the prospect of growing older. With more than 5.4 million people in American currently suffering from Alzheimer’s, it’s natural to consider the idea of testing for Alzheimer’s disease.

While there are plenty of medical tests that one can have done to determine risk factors of a certain disease, many people are against medical tests on healthy people for Alzheimer’s disease. The real question is – is the information worth knowing ahead of time?

Here are some reasons why Alzheimer’s testing might not be feasible for healthy people:

• Most health insurance companies won’t even cover brain scans or genetic testing involved to determine an Alzheimer’s disease risk. Plus, it’s possible that life insurance companies, along with long-term care insurance companies could deny coverage if they know about the individual’s risk. 
• Most people who develop Alzheimer’s disease don’t display any genetic markers, so, although genetic testing can reveal the risk, it isn’t definitive. Environmental and lifestyle factors also play a role in developing the disease, so probability and predictions cannot be made on genetic testing alone.
• Once a person is tested, the knowledge can cause undue stress on that individual. Likewise, if a person tests negative for increased risk, they may still develop it because other factors are involved.

On the other hand, an individual who finds out that they are at a greater risk of developing the disease may want to take the time to learn more about it, talk to their families about it and, as they say, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. It isn’t a life sentence, but some people might feel better armed with the knowledge.

Always Best Care has been in the caregiver industry since 1996. During the past two decades they have assisted over 25,000 seniors maintain their independence and improve their quality of life. If you live in the Upper Chesapeake area and are interested in finding out more information about in-home senior care in Bel Air, or senior veteran’s care in Baltimore County, you can call the Always Best Care Fallston location at 410-877-3787 and set up a free consultation.