From the Stars and Stripes:
"Helping wounded vets move from 'surviving' to 'thriving'"
Back when Michael Baker was a nuclear submarine technician in the Navy, he was a triathlete who spent as much time as he could exploring the Hawaiian outdoors near his naval base. But since a motorcycle accident eight years ago left him with extensive brain damage and without half of his right foot, much of his life is now spent confined to a couch of in his parents’ home in West Virginia.
His mother, Cathy, is relieved that he isn’t in a medical institution, but she quibbles with government officials labeling him a veteran who is “living independently.” He requires 24-hour supervision; some days even crossing the room seems an insurmountable challenge. “He still wants to do things, to be productive and useful with his life,” she said. “He has lost so much, but he hasn’t lost everything.”
In recent years, lawmakers and veterans groups have focused largely on making sure the Department of Veterans Affairs is prepared the fulfill the basic medical needs of the wave of new veterans: ending the benefits backlog, improving mental health care and expanding outreach efforts.But absent from much of that conversation is an in-depth look at what it means to fully repay — or repair — veterans who return from service with life-altering injuries. Benefits from the VA can be generous, but they are limited to medical needs and crises. They often don’t cover broader emotional and spiritual needs, like the desire to be a productive member of a local community. This year, officials from Wounded Warrior Project will set aside $30 million to help about 300 injured veterans get closer to true independence, through additional medical care, therapy and assistance programs. It’s a dramatic expansion of the group’s three-year-old Independence Program, designed to provide financial security and peace of mind for wounded veterans. It’s a lot of money, but officials say it meets just a fraction of the need. “There’s a new vision of success for many of these wounded veterans,” said Steve Nardizzi, executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project. “It’s not institutional care or isolation at home. “The vision for success should be the same as you and me: Having a happy life, getting back with their families, getting a job and being as independent as they can be.” Veterans in the WWP program are screened to ensure financial need and potential for a better life. Organizers conducted several interviews with Baker and his parents on their hopes before sketching out long-term goals for the family and coordinating with local community groups.
Of the $30 million set aside this year, about $10 million will go toward 250 veterans with brain injuries, missing limbs and other potentially limiting serious injuries. All receive financial help from VA programs, but Nardizzi said the limitations of those funds demand help from outside groups like his. About $20 million will be set aside in a trust for the long-term financial support of 40 families, ensuring independent living for at least 20 years. Among those recipients is Matt Keil, a former Army staff sergeant who has been a quadriplegic since a sniper shot him in the neck during a patrol in Iraq. Today, he lives at home with his 3-year-old twins and wife, Tracy, who serves as his 24/7 caregiver.
Her biggest fear is that if she dies, Keil and his children wouldn’t be able to stay together. “He’s capable of raising them, but he couldn’t do it alone,” she said. “He can handle finances. He can make household decisions. But because of his injuries, he can’t feed himself. He can’t pick them up. He can’t be in the house alone with them.” The couple lives in Colorado with his sister and near her siblings, who helps Tracy Kiel for trips to buy groceries, get a haircut — even take a call from a reporter. VA provides support, including a $2,100 monthly caregiver stipend for Tracy Kiel. But hiring a 24/7 nursing team to care for him at home would cost more than $50,000 a month, making institutionalization a more cost-effective solution. The couple understand that, but they also know it would be devastating for their family to live apart. With the WWP trust, Kiel could use the money to hire help and live in his home, without being a constant burden on his extended family.
^ For too long the US Government and Military has had the "use them then loose them" attitude with regards to soldiers that can wounded and need care after they serve. These same officials have no problem sending the men and women to dangerous places and yet nickel and dime them when they truly need help. I understand that being in an institution can save money, but you have to take everything into account and that includes the spouses and children left behind. I personally believe that if someone in your family gets hurt or needs your help then it is up to you to step-in and do whatever you can for as long as they need it whether it is days, months or years. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.