I always amazed at the things we do to the old people of our generation. I watch my grandparents that never had much struggle just to survive on what they are allotted each month. Now I find out the my uncle, a combat veteran who was promised that his medical care would be taken care of through veterans affairs, is left hanging.
My aunt is a very dear and kind woman. My uncle is her second marriage. She has taken care of him for as long as I can remember. My uncle has Alzheimer’s and has been fading for a couple of years now. He has also had a couple of strokes of the last few years that have made the burden of care huge for my aunt. Now he is fading fast and he is far more than she is capable of caring for.
She is so brave to have held on this long, but it cost her. The VA will not help him. They will not put him in a VA nursing home or treat his condition because it is not service related. This guy is an 81 year old WWII combat vet. In his life he has never taken part of the VA services. He was a hard working man and took care of himself.
My aunt has very little savings and at the very least several more years of her life to live. If she has to bear the cost of putting him in a nursing home she will loose at least half of her savings to pay for his care.
The VA told them that the policy changed two weeks ago. That two weeks prior, they were still treating non-service related illnesses. I want to help in some way but I don't have extra piles of cash lying around and I'm not even sure that is the best sort of help. The best thing that could happen is that he is put in a nursing home. He is wandering in the streets and has had a violent temper in the past. I don't want to see my aunt have to put herself in danger any longer.