When I hear, “Thank you for your service,” I appreciate those who express it, but I also feel that the six years on active duty during Desert Storm and three years in the reserves during Iraq were not enough. I served, but I was not involved in combat. Nevertheless, I am still a veteran! My service made a difference to our nation. Still, I don’t feel I gave as much as our heroes of WWII, Korea and Vietnam, or the service members still involved today.
Although “Thank You” feels like an inadequate expression of gratitude, I am extremely thankful for the unyielding commitment and sacrifices that our Veterans have made. Sacrificing life, family, education, employment and more.
As people age, how they live their lives becomes increasingly important to ensure a true quality of life. Becoming physically or cognitively disabled and relying on others is difficult for everyone, but especially so for those who were strong, independent and brave enough to face battles of other kinds. Because people do not enjoy asking for help, often that transcends into also neglecting to seek available resources.
Veterans do not know what benefits are available for them. As an elder care attorney, I have the benefit of helping WWII and Korean war veterans and their widowed spouses every day with estate planning and long term care planning. The biggest concern is how to pay for long term care. The Veterans Administration has a program, Improved Pension (with Aid and Attendance) that pays up to $2,054 of tax free income to help pay for home health care, assisted living care and nursing home care.
Having access to this benefit is life-changing and life-saving. But, not if no one knows about it. Thus, as a Veteran and an Elder Care Attorney, I have made it my mission to get the word out and ensure there are competent lawyers to help Veterans. To further the mission, I founded Lawyers for Wartime Veterans to help lawyers help Veterans.
Through Lawyers for Wartime Veterans, and as an elder care attorney, I feel I am serving my country now more than ever before – by helping one veteran at a time through a nation of competent lawyers.
Happy Veterans Day! Know that we are thankful for you and here to support you.
Victoria L. Collier is a Veteran and Certified Elder Law Attorney, Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Co-Founder of Lawyers With Purpose LLC, and author of “47 Secret Veterans’ Benefits for Seniors—Benefits You Have Earned … but Don’t Know About.”
The team at Lawyers With Purpose would like to thank Victoria for serving our country and contributing so very much to our membership. To learn more about Victoria please visit www.lawyerwforwartimeveterans.com
Add a Comment