Building Community Partnerships with the VA: Providing ... · Things We Have Learned Veteran...
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1 A nonprofit service and advocacy organization © 2013 National Council on Aging May 19, 2015 Building Community Partnerships with the VA: Providing Options Counseling to Rural Veterans Audio Portion: 1-866-740-1260 Web Portion: www.ReadyTalk.com Code: 4796976
Transcript of Building Community Partnerships with the VA: Providing ... · Things We Have Learned Veteran...
1A nonprofit service and advocacy organization © 2013 National Council on Aging
May 19, 2015
Building Community Partnerships with the VA:
Providing Options Counseling to Rural
Veterans
Audio Portion: 1-866-740-1260
Web Portion: www.ReadyTalk.com
Code: 4796976
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Today’s Presenters
Bret Hicken, Geriatrics Domain Lead for the Veterans
Rural Health Resource Center Western Region
Jennifer Morgan, director of the Utah Aging and
Disability Resource Center
COVER to COVERConnecting Older Veterans (Especially Rural) to
Community Or Veteran Eligible Resources
Veterans
Benefits
Administration
(VBA)
Veterans
Health
Administration
(VHA)
National
Cemetery
Administration
(NCA)
One VA-Three Agencies
9
State Offices of Veterans Affairs
http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm
2010: Veteran Benefits Information
2010 National Survey of Veterans
41.0% had basic understanding of their VA benefits
-Knowledge of specific benefits lower
28% had used VA healthcare
-42% of nonusers not aware of VA healthcare benefits
-26% did not know how to apply for healthcare
2012 ADRC National Survey
57.9%
36.8%
5.3%
Always
Usually
Never
Do you regularly assess a caller’s Veteran
status?
2012: Nationwide Needs Assessment
Challenges Rarely connect with VA
to address Veteran needs
Lack basic information about most VA benefits
General awareness of VA information resources—not very helpful
Most positive feelings about VA resources with a personal contact at VA
Utah
ADRC
VRHRC-
WR
2013: First Contact
Utah Active Re-Entry contacts VBA specialist about veteran outreach
Utah
ADRC
VRHRC-
WR
VBA
Specialist
Active
Re-Entry
2013: ORH Funds Pilot (4 ADRC Sites)
Goals
Create access point for rural Veterans
Provide options counselors training in VA Benefits
Build relationships with the VA and ADRC
Expand to all Utah ADRC sites in rural areas
Disseminate to ADRC programs nationwide
Utah
ADRC
VRHRC-
WR
VBA
Specialist
SL
County
Bear
River
Mountain
Land
Active
Re-Entry
Participating Area Agencies on Aging
Bear River - AAAServing: Box Elder, Cache, Rich
Salt Lake Aging and Adult Services - AAAServing: Salt Lake County
Mountainland - AAAServing: Summit, Utah, Wasatch
Active Re-Entry- CIL*Serving: Grand, San Juan
Five County - AAAServing: Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Washington Counties
2014: VA Trainings Hours = 1276February 1 2013 –April 30, 2015
VHA Healthcare
Mental Health
Caregiver Support
Aid & Attendance
Pension
VA Nursing Home
Burial Benefits
Disability Compensation
Branches of
Veteran
Affairs
C&P
Veteran Service Officers
Deborah Crowther
Bear River
Joey Allred
Active Re-Entry
Melanie Haws Mountainland
Rachel Stoddard SLCO
Stephanie Herrig SLCO
Making a Difference
Who do we serve? Older Veterans, Caregivers, Widows
Many have never received VA Benefits or know that they are eligible
425
194
126
28
133
Veterans Served 906April 2013 - March 2015
80+
70-79
60-69
59-
Widows of Veterans
Connecting Veterans to VA Programs
Veteran Healthcare Enrollment
In-Home Services
Disability Compensation
Pension
Aid & Attendance
Veterans Homes
Burial
VA In-Home Services
Services help chronically ill or disabled Veterans of any age remain in their homes. Veteran can receive more than one service at the same time. **Must be enrolled in VA Healthcare**
Adult Day Health: VA can cover the cost of veteran going to Adult Day Care from approx 8am-5pm. (There may be $15 co-pay)
Homemaker: 1-2 times a week to help with laundry, light housekeeping, meal prep, if there are no family members who can help with this.
Home Health Aid Care: Assist with bathing and changing the Veteran up to 7 days a week.
Respite Care: VA can provide caregiving for 1-6 hour a day for a total of 30 days per calendar year in order to give caregivers a break.
www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Home_and_Community_Based_Services.asp
Bear River – Veteran Story
Client
WW II Veteran, Age 90
Wife/Caregiver, Age 89
Veteran suffers from multiple health issues, primary
COPD
Their goal is to keep Sam at home
Intervention:
Client called Bear River AAA/ADRC to find services
Veteran had a VA Primary Care Physician but was
unaware he may be eligible for VA In-Home
Services
Options Counselor coached the veteran on how to
request these services from the PCP
Veteran is now receiving In-Home Services
Veteran’s wife/caregiver is participating in the
Caregiver Support Program through the AAA
2014: Reaching New Partners
UDVMA (State VA)
Caregiver Support (VHA)
Geriatric Social Worker (VHA)
Outreach Worker and VA Project Champion (VBA)
Utah
ADRC
VRHRC-
WR
VBA
Specialist
VHA
Specialists
SL
County
Bear
River
Mountain
Land
Active
Re-Entry
State
Office of
Veterans
Affairs State
Nursing
Homes
Five
County
VBA
Leadership
Veterans
Homeless
Fellowship
Working Hand in Hand
Collaboration in Veteran Outreach
Deborah Crowther Larry Dawson
How did we make VA Connections?
Finding Supporters
Making Introductions
Requesting Training for ADRC staff
Additional Training Request for ADRC staff
Asking for Direct Phone Numbers
Learning VA Programs and Navigating the System
Understanding the Gaps: what the VA offers and what it does not
Tracking clients – DATA
Commitment to help veterans
Overcoming Challenges
Finding direct VA contacts
Agency building trust with the veteran
Agency building trust with the VA
Learning the VA Language
Understanding Military Culture
Trainings, Partnerships take…..
Things We Have Learned
Veteran Affairs have many silos
Physicians TREAT patients and typically do not make referrals to VA programs
Many veterans do not know they are eligible for programs
Many veterans may have been told they were not eligible for services – BUT THAT MAY HAVE CHANGED
VA staff will give out their direct numbers
VA staff are willing to provide training
Better serving veteran clients is a common goal
What we did not expect
Endorsement from VBA for TRIP training
Sponsorship from the Utah Department of Veteran and Military Affairs for Veteran Service Officer (VSO) accreditation
Invitations to VA trainings
Potential to self refer to the VD-HCBS program
Divert veterans from State Program waitlist to VA Programs
ADRC Staff were eager and enthusiastic to receive VA Benefits training
Reach out to your VA Partners
Thank You for your Service!
Bret Hicken Geriatrics Lead, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center –
Western Region [email protected]
Jennifer Morgan ADRC Director/VA Project Lead [email protected]
