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Veterans

Assisted Living for Veterans: Caring for Those Who Served

The image is iconic. A soldier returns home and is wrapped in a hug.

Jim Ranieri does that today, from his home at Country Meadows, but the hug is in the form of a quilt.

Ranieri served in the Army Adjutant General Corps from 1959 to 1962. “It is a soothing thing to receive a quilt,” he said. Then he explained that during the presentation family or friends wrap the quilt around the veterans, and thank them for their service.

Quilts of Valor recipients, Jim Ranieri center.

The quilts are official Quilts of Valor (QOV). The organization’s website explains: A Quilt of Valor® (QOV) is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war (and) says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”

Partnering with programs like this is just one way that Country Meadows supports the men and women who served and are now call our senior living community home. Whether in independent or assisted living for veterans, we want to make sure our residents that served in the military are, in their senior years, cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually.

The quilts are made by local volunteers at the TLC Stars and Stripes group in Middletown, Pa. Ranieri has nominated many veterans, from multiple branches of the U.S. military. “As a veteran, I feel like it is what God is calling me to do,” he said of his efforts.

At Country Meadows, we celebrate and honor our veterans year-round, but especially in November, with special Veterans Day activities. We also know that the challenges of transitioning to a senior community can be just as emotionally charged for vets as for all our older loved ones. We work with veterans and their families to meet these challenges, and overcome them, so that they are truly comfortable in their new home.

Assisted Living for Veterans is Intentional

At Country Meadows’ Frederick, Md. campus, veterans get a special welcome the day they move in. Each veteran receives a magnet on his or her door that states, “A Veteran Lives Here.”

“This is an important message to share with fellow Veterans,” Melanie Long, Dynamic Living Director, Frederick campus, said. “They can check in on each other.”

Long, as the military mom of a Navy SeaBee, has a distinct perspective that guides her. She knows about the sacrifices service members make, including time away from their loved ones, the hardships of training, deployments and potential risks involved. In the community where she works, and others that offer independent and assisted living for veterans and all seniors, she wants to foster a sense of unity and gratitude.

One way that manifests is with the Veterans Café, which began in October and has become a monthly Veterans Support Group. Programs like this address the need for continued support for veterans, especially those who may be dealing with physical and mental health challenges and are in assisted living for veterans who are residents.

Veterans Day: Celebrating Our Veterans

VeteransEvery November we put up yard signs to honor all our residents who are veterans. These signs line our driveways so everyone can read the names of these outstanding seniors who served our country.

We also have individual honorary celebrations on our campuses each November. Many campuses host a lunch and ceremony with a special presenter. Each branch of the military, and those who served in it, are recognized during the Armed Forces Medley. Then we hand out certificates and have a pinning ceremony.

Veterans have their own, unique, reaction to our celebrations. They have shared with staff feelings of gratitude, appreciation and pride. But there’s also humility, the idea that they were “just doing my job.” Sometimes they are uncomfortable with the recognition because the brothers/sisters they served alongside didn’t make it home.

Yet, the celebrations are primarily validating, and validation can aid in their healing, help our veterans feel that their sacrifices are understood.

Navigating the Financial Side of Assisted Living for Veterans

Making the decision to move into assisted living is both emotionally charged and tied to practical considerations.

VetsVeterans have the same options as any other senior, including the possibility of a tax deduction for some assisted living costs. But assisted living for veterans can also be covered, in part, by the Veterans Aid & Attendance Program. This is a pension benefit available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for wartime veterans and their spouses who have limited income and require the regular attendance of a caregiver to perform activities of daily living (ADOLs.)

The amount awarded is determined by a veteran’s assets, income and medical expenses.
On average, it takes seven to eight months to receive payment but benefits are typically backdated to the month after the application is submitted.

The local county Veterans Services office is a good start for general questions.

Country Meadows Retirement Communities offers assisted living and independent living, in neighborhood locations in Pennsylvania and in Frederick, Md. We have a vibrant community life and a wide range of amenities including professionally prepared meals, scheduled transportation and convenient housekeeping and laundry service.

Each community has a team of local experts to help answer questions you may have about Country Meadows, or senior living in general. Call our friendly co-workers and ask them about assisted living for veterans at Country Meadows. Or schedule a tour today.

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November 11, 2024

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