Veteran’s Day: Our Nations Heroes Deserve the Best Care

Every year on November 11th the nation dedicates its thoughts to those actively serving in the military or veterans who previously served. Although this special day is behind us for 2022, it’s still important to take a moment and recognize those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our freedoms—now and throughout history.

However, history has shown us that the brave men and women in military service might return home with physical or mental health issues affecting them for the rest of their lives. Here at To The Rescue, we assist veterans with experienced home care services that improve their quality of life for years to come. With Veterans Day just passing, here are some common issues our veterans deal with post-service and how we can help them year-round.

Identifying Health Issues Following Military Service

As mentioned above, it’s not uncommon for veterans to return from duty with some form of health issue. According to a study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), both male and female veterans are more likely to develop multiple chronic health conditions as compared to non-veterans, especially at the pre-elderly ages of 25-64 years old. While the conditions of those affected will drastically vary based on their role and experiences during their time in the military, let’s review some of the commonly reported health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, physical injury, and health issues related to toxic material exposure.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health illness caused by experiencing traumatic events. Symptoms of PTSD can vary in severity per the individual’s experience but can include anything from flashbacks of tragic events, nightmares, lack of emotion, and more. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) states that over 10% of veterans involved in wars suffer from PTSD and this number jumps closer to 20% for those involved in conflicts in the Middle East. It’s recommended to seek the care of a mental health professional if you believe you are suffering from symptoms of PTSD.

Sadly, PTSD is just one way that veterans’ health is impacted by serving. The unsettling reality of service people involved in combat is the physical injuries they may have endured and the effects on their lives after returning home. Combat injuries and their effects can vary, but these injuries often require medical attention over the years after returning to civilian life. On the less severe side of injuries, veterans may suffer from sprains and strains that require physical therapy or surgery to alleviate any associated pain. More severe and debilitating issues include but are not limited to gunshot wounds, amputation, and paralysis—which generally require medical attention and/or specialized home care for continuing civilian life.

Another factor that has influenced veterans’ health throughout history is exposure to toxic materials during their service. Although the exposure dangers of toxic materials may not have been known at the time, materials like asbestos were used in military equipment and facilities for decades. In fact, veterans make up 30% of mesothelioma cancer cases caused by asbestos exposure during their service. Veterans are often diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer later in life due to the latency period of symptoms and might require home care services to help combat this rare but aggressive cancer. Aside from asbestos, there are many more toxic materials that veterans were exposed to throughout history that could drastically affect their health later in life. Overexposure to radiation, radon, lead, and other toxic materials can all lead to health issues post-deployment.

To The Rescue Helps Veterans Age in Place

We believe that veterans deserve the best home care so that they can comfortably continue making memories with friends and family. Through our home health skilled nursing, human services, and transportation services, veterans will find peace of mind in knowing their partner in medical care has them covered at home and gets them where they need to be.

Home Health Care

Whether you live in assisted living or your own home, our Home Health Care Services will provide medical care right where you’re most comfortable. We understand that skilled nursing and home care services are not a one-size-fits-all solution, so we carefully evaluate your medical needs and curate a plan just for you. For veterans, our at-home skilled nursing solutions will help with the following and much more:

• Wound care
• Pain management
• At-home physical therapy
• Post-surgical care
• Management of serious and unstable health conditions

However, our home care expertise doesn’t stop there—our homemaker services will help with tasks around the house to keep your mind at ease. Homemakers will happily assist with house cleaning, meal preparation, and pet care.

Human Services

When it comes to providing the right care for those with disabilities, To The Rescue answers the call. For veterans, this choice is important to ensure your needs are met and the proper accommodations are made. With our supportive community living, disabled veterans will benefit from the 24-hour availability medical care along with other support programs such as skill development and community activities.

Transportation Services

For senior or disabled veterans, getting where you need to go in the world may not be as easy or possible as it used to be. That’s why we offer licensed transportation services to help our clients safely reach their destinations such as work, grocery stores, family events, etc., with wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The next time you or a family member needs accommodated transportation, don’t hesitate to reach out and we’ll help you stay one step ahead.

Finding Community Involvement in Civilian Life

Addressing health issues and receiving care is just half the battle for our veterans. Oftentimes, veterans will still lack that sense of purpose or normalcy in life after leaving the military. While we offer a variety of community services, sometimes finding that connection needs to happen on a person’s own behalf. Finding a sense of purpose in your community can come from something as small as taking an afternoon walk every day, to volunteering in the local community. Connecting with the people around you can provide comfort and help you feel more normal outside of the military.

Thank You to Our Veterans and Service People

On behalf of the To The Rescue team, we’d like to thank our veterans and active service members for their dedication to protecting our country. It’s all too easy to take our freedoms for granted and get lost in the day-to-day motion of life, but going out of your way to express gratitude to those who sacrificed so much to preserve our civilian life is a heartwarming gesture.

Even though Veteran’s Day has passed for the year, being proactive about helping veterans in your community year-round is what’s important. If you, a family member, or someone you know needs the expertise of a dedicated home care team, contact To The Rescue to get more information.