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Health & Fitness

Honoring our Veterans on Memorial Day

Identifying good affordable housing for seniors, including veterans, is difficult. As we approach Memorial Day, learn more about the Aid & Attendance program to finance senior living for veterans.

For many of us growing up, Memorial Day meant the end of the school year, the day the swimming pools opened and even the day northern girls could “officially”
start wearing summer clothes and white shoes!

What got lost, perhaps, along the way is what Memorial Day really means. 
Originally called Decoration Day, it is a day of remembrance for all who have died in service to our country. Although its origins date back to the Civil War and many Southern cities claim to be its birthplace, it was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y. the official birthplace in May 1966 and Congress passed the holiday into law as the last Monday in May in 1971.

Along with the parades and festivities, Memorial Day reminds those of us who work each day with seniors of the growing need for high quality, affordable living options for our aging veterans.

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One excellent option that is often overlooked is the Aid & Attendance Program, offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help offset the cost of rent in assisted living communities for veterans and their spouses. Although it is not a new benefit, many of those who are eligible are unaware of what it can provide.

Under Aid & Attendance, veterans may qualify for up to $1,704 monthly and surviving spouses may qualify for $1,094 monthly to assist with rent at an assisted living facility.  For a couple (married veteran and spouse), the benefit is $2,020.  There are also benefits available for the spouse of a veteran, even if the veteran is still alive but will not be living in the assisted living facility.

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Information on Aid & Attendance is available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and many assisted living facilities.  In addition, we invite you to join Plantation South Duluth as we host a free seminar on VA Aid & Attendance at the community, 3450 Duluth Park Lane, Duluth, GA 30096 on Saturday, May 18,
at 10 a.m. For more information about Aid & Attendance or to RSVP, please contact 770-884-4636.

About this column: Identifying good affordable senior living options is an important task, and there are resources available. Farnece Roberts, executive director of Plantation South Duluth (http://www.plantationsouth-duluth.com/) a senior living residential community, gives you resources to help you along the way. Contact her at 770-884-4636 or ED.Dul@smacommunity.net.

 

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