Memorial Day 2011 is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service.

At Comfort Keepers of Gainesville, Ocala, and The Villages, Florida we feel privileged to have the opportunity to care for Veterans and salute those who have served our country with their lives.

Ironically, many veterans don’t know that they may be eligible for in-home care through their veteran’s benefits.

How Do I Qualify For Senior Home Care Using Veterans Benefits?

If you or your spouse served 90 consecutive days of active military duty – at least one of those days during a U.S. declared war – you may qualify or be partially qualified. Other qualifications include specific financial criteria and documented physical need for in-home care. To begin the application process, you will need:

• Original discharge certificate
• Marriage certificate (divorce papers from any prior marriages, if applicable)
• Death certificate of veteran (if applicable)
• Social Security numbers for the veteran and spouse

If you qualify, you may be eligible for the follow VA supported programs:

• Improved Pension Benefit Program
• Homemaker/Home Health Aid Program
• In-Home Respite Program

Once you become an approved participant in a VA program, Comfort Keepers will provide the quality care and companionship you deserve. We feel that serving our veterans is this capacity is one of the many ways we celebrate our veterans on Memorial Day, and every day.

How will you celebrate your Memorial Day today? Check out how these Polk County senior veterans have planned to celebrate theirs:

Not sure where to start?

Contact us today! We can help you apply for the veteran’s benefits you need to get you started. Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.

photo credit: GoodNCrazy

It’s called an Honor Flight — a trip to our nation’s capitol for World War II veterans. Born out of an Air Force veteran who personally flew WWII veterans to Washington D.C. in his small plane back in 1998, Honor Flights are now organized and sponsored by communities across the nation.

Since 2005, more than 35,000 veterans have taken an Honor Flight to see the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. that honors them.

On October 28, 2010, two of Comfort Keepers’ own heroes and Honor Flight veterans prepared to take this very special flight from Ocala Regional Airport in a privately charted Boeing 737. Comfort Keepers was able to sponsor one veteran this year, through sponsorships from the community. Karen Anne Regan, the general manager of Comfort Keepers in Ocala, was part of the committee to make this happen.

It is our honor and privilege to present to you our Honor Flight Veterans:

Phillip Salmone
Age: 88 yrs.
Branch of Service: Air Force, Flight Engineer
Mr. Salmone is originally from Brooklyn, where his parents immigrated from Sicily.
He worked for the City of New York as an electrician for the subway system.
He loves his cat, Tommy, and loves anything related to airplanes and aeronautics.
Phillip has been a Comfort Keepers client since June 2009.

“Red” Kincaid
Age: 89 yrs.
Branch of Service: Navy
Mr. Kincaid is originally from California, and has been a Comfort Keepers client since May 2005.

Comfort Keepers salute our veterans!

Red Kincaid & Lynn Domenech

Phillip Salmone & Karen Anne Regan

Upon arrival to the Baltimore Washington International Airport, the veterans were greeted with fanfare and an honor guard. While in Washington, the veterans visited Arlington National Cemetery, where they enjoyed the changing of the guard and a tour of the city.

We want to hear from you!

If you or a loved one has flown on the Honor Flight, please share your experiences here in the comments section!

Do you know any WWII heroes that you want to honor?  If so, share their stories here.

Have you been to the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.? Were you impressed? What did you find particularly moving about it?

Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.

photo credit: rhettigan (World War II Memorial)

photo credit: pwbaker (Arlington National Cemetery)

Tomorrow is Veterans Day, when we salute the men and women who have served in our country’s armed forces. The United States Department of Veteran Affairs produced a video highlighting ways people across the country celebrate and honor their veterans:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBfTQK5mPe8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

As you watch, think about how you can thank the veterans in your family, community, or workplace!

Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.

If you are a veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran, requiring in-home care, you may be eligible to receive pension

Ocala Veterans

benefits through the Veterans Non-Service Connected (NSC) Improved Pension Benefit Program.  Comfort Keepers® of Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages can help.

For aging veterans, one of their most important benefit programs is the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension Benefit Program. Established to assist qualified veterans, and/or their surviving spouses and family, the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program provides financial support that enables veterans to live independently while receiving the quality of care they deserve.  In particular, funds are available for aging veterans who need assistance with medical and non-medical care both in the home and in qualified facilities.

In many cases, veterans, along with their spouses and family, are unaware that this program exists. According to VA analysis, only 27 percent of veterans and 14 percent of widow(er)s who are likely eligible, actually receive any money from the program.

To qualify for the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Programs, a veteran must have 90 days or more of active duty with at least one of those days served during a US-declared war. The benefits are designed for those who meet specific financial criteria and demonstrate a physical need for healthcare.

The Department of Veterans Affairs determines active duty as full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Other qualifications and considerations:

•             Discharge for any reason other than dishonorable conditions

•             Over the age of 65 or disabled

•             Total financial assets

•             Physical condition

•             Current marital status (if you are the surviving spouse of a veteran)

•             Total gross income versus medical deduction

Comfort Keepers can provide professional guidance while the applicant is completing the necessary paperwork and being assessed for eligibility for the Veterans Improved Pension Benefit Program. Once approved, Comfort Keepers can be the solution for quality in-home care.

We provide Personal Care Services such as bathing, mobility assistance, transfer, and incontinence care along with other services like cooking, light housekeeping, transportation to a doctor appointment, or simply the companionship of a caring person.  By providing these services, Comfort Keepers® of Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages has helped hundreds of people stay in their own home.

The Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program may cover the cost of these care services and we will be happy to assist you in accessing the information necessary to evaluate your eligibility for the program.

We are honored to help provide you, and other veterans you may know, the information you need to fully understand the benefits for which you may qualify.   Call Comfort Keepers at 855-592-0013 today and see how we can provide loving in-home care for you or your loved one.