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matt819

(10,749 posts)
Tue Aug 1, 2017, 12:23 PM Aug 2017

Question about veterans' services

A friend of mine told me about a veteran who committed suicide recently. He was a Vietnam vet, late sixties, just had leg amputated. Lived in a 3rd-floor walk-up. Although transportation services were available, he couldn't afford local service that would literally carry him downstairs and back up, and he was unable to do that himself so soon after surgery and little physical therapy.

Are there any services in the VA, accessible through local Vet Center or VA Hospital that could have provided this service? Too late now, of course, for this veteran, but it is valuable information for the future. Also, moving away from veterans, do you know of local service groups (Rotary, Lions, etc.) or typical social services agencies that might provide this? Specifically, this is in the Nashua, Manchester, Concord (NH) corridor.

Thanks.

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Question about veterans' services (Original Post) matt819 Aug 2017 OP
At my county courthouse, there is a veterans office that assist local veterans Kaleva Aug 2017 #1
A third-floor walk-up may not be feasible with a recent amputation. But, ... JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2017 #2
Local VSO's The River Aug 2017 #3
Thanks all matt819 Aug 2017 #4

Kaleva

(38,173 posts)
1. At my county courthouse, there is a veterans office that assist local veterans
Tue Aug 1, 2017, 12:34 PM
Aug 2017

It's provided by the state and is not conected with the VA but can provide info on what the VA offers or who to contact in the VA to find out.

The River

(2,615 posts)
3. Local VSO's
Tue Aug 1, 2017, 01:04 PM
Aug 2017

Local veterans service organizations like the DAV, VFW, Am Legion etc. There are also community groups that provide transportation services.
Depending on the vets disability rating (if any) the VA will pay for home health care and special adaptions for housing.

Too many of us Vietnam Vets still fall through the cracks and never get the help we've earned.


matt819

(10,749 posts)
4. Thanks all
Tue Aug 1, 2017, 01:24 PM
Aug 2017

So much is wrong with this picture. Sure, there may be services in the community and from government agencies. But what do you do when you're alone - no family, few friends. Who's going to make those phone calls? Who's going to look in? Who's going to get things rolling for home health care, etc. I recall a post on DU last week from someone looking for transportation from the hospital to home after a procedure. What happens to loners? Especially loners without the resources or who are older/elderly. My mother is on her own, but at least she is ambulatory and can afford transport to the grocery store, etc. And she speaks to my sister every day (she's the good child). There's the connection. What about those who don't have that? As I said, too much wrong with this picture.

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