For many of us in the United States, military service touches our lives, whether through family, friends, or our communities. Our veterans have sacrificed so much and genuinely deserve our heartfelt gratitude, compassion, and care. Sadly, many of these brave individuals feel isolated and face daily challenges with tasks most of us take for granted, like preparing meals, keeping up with household chores, or managing their own wellbeing.
As veterans grow older, it becomes more important to provide the support they need to remain independent at home. After years spent in service to our country, these individuals deserve dignity, comfort, and attentive care. By investing in the health of our senior veterans, we help them enjoy a higher quality of life and honor their commitment to us all.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes these needs and provides veterans home care funding in Maryland Heights, MO, to assist servicepeople and their loved ones. What many families don't realize is that long-term care options - including in-home care - are included in programs like ameriCARE's Veteran CARE services.
Today, many of our veterans are vulnerable to a variety of issues that can impact their quality of life. However, through our Veteran CARE services, we're able to provide customized, compassionate care that addresses those issues and provides families like yours with peace of mind. Whether they're returning from combat with new health challenges or simply need an extra hand throughout the day as they age, our team is here to help.
Our agency owners are dedicated to guiding veterans through the process of accessing their benefits and understanding their eligibility. This important service, available at many of our franchise locations, empowers veterans to overcome the often confusing world of entitlements. With empathy and expertise, we strive to honor veterans by delivering personalized care and knowledgeable guidance, supporting them in living fuller, more independent lives.
The VA offers valuable benefits that include coverage for home health aide and homemaker services to veterans who require help with daily living activities. Through collaboration with one of our care partners, we learned that, out of more than 8 million veterans in the VA healthcare system aged 65 and older, only about 150,000 are utilizing this support. This means fewer than 2 percent of eligible veterans are getting the care they've rightfully earned. In some cases, such as with "Aid and Attendance," surviving spouses of veterans may also be eligible for benefits.
ameriCARE is committed to linking veterans and seniors nationwide with compassionate, highly trained caregivers from their own communities. We're proud to say that our mission goes beyond care - in fact, we're happy to help guide veterans and their families through the complexities of the VA system, offering hands-on support during the entire approval process. Many of our franchise owners team members are veterans themselves, who are dedicated to ensuring you or your loved one receives reliable, personalized care at home.
Regardless of how long they served, many military veterans leave service with a litany of health issues - both mental and physical. Some of the most common problems that older veterans face after leaving the military include
Research from the National Center for PTSD reveals that as many as 23% of veterans will experience post-traumatic stress disorder during their lifetime. For some, symptoms may not surface until later years, often following retirement. Notably, the development or worsening of PTSD in older adults has been linked to an increased risk of dementia, suggesting a complex relationship between trauma and cognitive decline as veterans age.
A recent study featured in the National Library of Medicine examined the prevalence of malnutrition among older veterans receiving home-based primary care. The researchers discovered that 15% of these individuals were classified as malnourished, highlighting a significant health concern within this population. Malnutrition in elderly veterans can lead to a range of complications, such as weakened immune response, slower recovery from illness, and increased risk of hospitalization. These issues underscore the need for veterans home care funding in Maryland Heights, MO that helps seniors with eating and nutrition challenges.
Studies show that older veterans face a 25% higher likelihood of reporting multiple chronic health issues compared to their nonveteran peers. This trend underscores the unique health challenges veterans may encounter as they age, which often stem from service-related injuries, stress, and more.
Veterans often carry the weight of their service, having endured challenging circumstances and shouldered responsibility for the security of others. As they grow older, preserving their sense of independence becomes deeply intertwined with their mental and emotional health. For many, shifting from self-reliance to accepting help with everyday activities can be a significant adjustment.
A skilled caregiver who understands veterans' unique backgrounds can make this transition smoother. Building trust through respect for personal boundaries, clear communication, and trauma-informed care is essential to fostering a strong partnership between veterans and their in-home caregivers.
Many ameriCARE locations provide their caregivers with specialized training to better support our veterans as veteran cases can be complex and deserve tailored care.
Our caregivers offer support with meal preparation, grocery shopping, and managing dietary needs. They also encourage healthy habits and lifestyle choices, ensuring you or your loved one receives personalized nutrition and wellness guidance.
Tasks like bathing, using the restroom, getting dressed, and maintaining oral hygiene can become challenging because of aging or ongoing health conditions. Our dedicated caregivers are specially trained to assist with these personal routines and always prioritize the veteran's comfort, privacy, and self-esteem.
A tidy living space does more than promote good hygiene. It fosters a sense of comfort, security, and overall wellbeing. Our caregivers help with everyday household tasks, making sure your home remains a safe, inviting, and organized environment.
When driving becomes a challenge, whether for you or a veteran family member, our caregivers step in to help. They can handle errands such as grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, ensuring appointments are kept, and providing reliable support for many other daily needs.
In-home caregivers from ameriCARE are dedicated to supporting your loved one's mobility and safety. From accompanying them on short walks to guiding them through physical therapy routines, we help promote regular movement and keep them engaged in activities that support their health and independence.
Our caregivers foster engagement by offering gentle support and uplifting encouragement. We create opportunities for veterans to participate in enriching activities, make social connections, and develop genuine bonds with their in-home caregivers.
We can accompany you or the older veteran in your life to medical appointments. We can also help relay any information or instructions provided by doctors.
Coping with the effects of aging, disability, or recovery from injury often involves juggling multiple medications with specific timing and dosages. Our caregivers can help ensure that you or your veteran loved one receives the correct medications at the right times, providing peace of mind while supporting overall health.
Our comprehensive care extends to beloved pets as well. We can assist with daily dog walks, feeding routines, arranging transportation for vet visits, and maintaining pet hygiene. By helping with day-to-day chores like pet care, we help enhance the wellbeing of senior veterans and their animal companions.
While many veterans have a primary care physician or a home health care professional, they may still need a real human connection beyond medical care. Veteran-funded home care can help you or your loved one maintain a more balanced life, one visit at a time. That's where ameriCARE comes in. We work tirelessly to connect dedicated, welltrained, and dependable caregivers to veterans across the United States.
If you're looking for a locally-owned home care company that provides veterans with personalized support, Request More Info today. It would be our honor to help you and your family navigate the VA and to act as your liaison throughout the benefit approval process.
Ready to get started on your journey with ameriCARE? Request More Info today to schedule your consultation and learn more information about how we can assist you or your senior loved one.
A routine mail route turned critical when a USPS carrier found a 96-year-old woman who had fallen outside in the freezing cold and couldn’t get up.MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — On Dec. 1 in St. Louis, over three inches of snow blanketed the region and many people stayed home. It was the second round of snow in three days and over 6 inches of snow was on the ground from the first snowfall just hours before, according to the National Weather Service.But one United States Postal Service mail carrier decided to deliver mail a...
A routine mail route turned critical when a USPS carrier found a 96-year-old woman who had fallen outside in the freezing cold and couldn’t get up.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — On Dec. 1 in St. Louis, over three inches of snow blanketed the region and many people stayed home. It was the second round of snow in three days and over 6 inches of snow was on the ground from the first snowfall just hours before, according to the National Weather Service.
But one United States Postal Service mail carrier decided to deliver mail and that decision ultimately saved a stranger's life.
"It was snowing," Deanna Chatman said. "And (USPS) told us 'Don't go out and deliver mail if you don't feel safe,' but something told me just to go."
As she was in the middle of her route in a Maryland Heights subdivision, she saw an older adult waving her hand from inside her garage doorway.
"I stopped and asked, 'Do you need help?'" Chatman said.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, replied yes and asked her to call 911 because, unable to stand, she thought she had broken her hip or leg. Chatman made the call.
Little did Chatman know, the woman — who lives alone, is in good health and still drives — fell by the mailbox at the end of her driveway and crawled up to the garage and tried to open her door.
Chatman waited for the ambulance to arrive, which was a 20-minute wait.
While they waited, Chatman learned the woman was 96-years-old, in a little pain, and had been waiting for three hours without a coat for someone to come by so she could ask for help.
When Chatman asked the woman what she was doing outside, the 96-year-old woman told her that she was trying to put outgoing mail in her mailbox.
The older woman yelled when she heard the snowplow and then again when she heard her neighbors, her granddaughter said.
"She heard people, but they couldn't hear her, until Ms. Chatman came to drop off mail and heard her and ran into the garage."
"She must have slipped on her driveway because she didn't have any shoes on," Chatman said. "She just had on some pants and a shirt. No socks or anything."
The 96-year-old's granddaughter said she couldn't get into her house because of the steps. She said her grandmother told her she was trying to yell for help, but she didn't have her phone. However, she was able to open the door to the house to feel some warmth as she waited for help.
Her pants were covered in mud and scratched up because she was trying to drag her legs. They noticed those details when she arrived at the hospital, her granddaughter said.
A flood of emotions came over her granddaughter when she realized how her grandmother had been lying in that garage for hours.
"(The family) all tried to put ourselves in her shoes, like how scary that must have been, just lying there and no one hearing her or seeing her."
In Chatman's six years at USPS, she said she has never stumbled across such a dire situation.
"I'm blessed that I got a chance to save someone's life," she said.
Chatman is monitored on her routes to ensure that USPS workers are not sitting in one place for too long, so she called another carrier while she waited with the older adult and let them know why she had not moved. When the ambulance arrived, she was able to proceed with her route.
When Chatman returned to the post office, she intended to tell her supervisor what happened, but she was unable to locate her.
The 96-year-old's granddaughter said it was probably just another day for her.
"It probably happens more than we know, but the mail people are helping people all the time. Like she did this and probably went on with her day. ...She didn't think anything of it."
Chatman said she covers a different area each day, but she got a call a few days later from the supervisor she had on Dec. 1.
"You did an awesome job," Chatman said the supervisor told her. "Her granddaughter said if you hadn't called the ambulance, she wouldn't have made it."
Chatman reacted with tears, not realizing that the woman's pelvis had partially shattered and she was freezing to death.
'It was a blessing that I was there to help her, and she(her supervisor) was like "Yes, it was Chatman.'"
Chatman was recognized by her manager and USPS for her heroism with balloons and flowers.
“Deanna’s actions made a real difference that day, and we couldn’t be more proud of her conduct and dedication," said USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Tara Jarrett. "We are excited for her to receive her Postmaster General Award, which recognizes exceptional heroism that reflects positively on the USPS.”
"Ms. Chatman 100% saved her life because it was so cold. By the time the ambulance had gotten there, they couldn't get a temperature on her because she was so cold. ...There are no words to express how grateful we are for her," the granddaughter said.
The 96-year-old woman has been in the hospital since the fall. She has been sharing all that she has overcome, like two pandemics, multiple wars and the death of her husband. The traumatic fall is now added to her impressive list.
"She has had surgery, and you wouldn't even know that it happened, which is just wild at her age," her granddaughter said.
She is expected to be discharged from the hospital and undergo rehabilitation soon.
The family's gratitude is immeasurable, and Chatman reminds us that ordinary work can lead to extraordinary moments.
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