- We met with yet another CHOICES representative yesterday. This time, she scheduled the interview for Thursday, then called yesterday and said she was in the neighborhood...so I agreed, although it disrupted the plans for the day. She asked the same questions the other two representatives did, and seemed very rushed for us to make a decision about where he will go, or what services he wants. This is ridiculous because we didn't receive a list of facilities that accept the program until a few days ago and after calling all of them (as in my previous post), only ONE actually accepts this program. The interview lasted two hours and they requested yet more records from the VA documenting his dementia needs. My frustration continues to mount.
- They offered another alternative, but only contribute $139.00 to the home. This would be a home setting, with someone there 24/7. Three "roommates" split the bills. They would charge him a total of $340.00 a month. However; this means that I write a check or get a money order for the rent, then over and above that pay $68.00 for cable, and utilities. There is no housekeeping, so I would have to drive to Whitehaven (which is 30 minutes from my home) and do his laundry. I just don't trust this, and I fear that he would wander, because he likes to take walks. An enclosed facility would be better for his condition.
- Just spoke with the woman at Riverdale, and the pricing quote the CHOICES representative gave me was incorrect. It is around $3200.00 a month. Nothing will happen with that place unless he gets a pension.
- Also, she mentioned that perhaps somewhere not in Memphis...like Jackson, Tennessee may have better priced facilities. I just cannot believe there are no other options in this region that are reasonable.
Here is a copy of the letter to Congressman Cohen:
Dear
Ms. Reynolds,
Thank
you for reaching out to the Office of Congressman Steve Cohen. For
assistance, please contact Jonathan Donald here in our office at
901-544-4131. Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday.
Location: In Tennessee
Meeting points: Hi Mr. Cohen,
I am writing because for the last five years my father has tried and failed to get his pension benefits from the VA. We do not know where else to turn at this point. His care worker through the CHOICES program suggested we write to you. I am his daughter and have done everything in our power to get his service records reconstructed so he can receive his pension/benefits and we get the run around. This all started in 2010. I've helped him apply and they send a letter stating "they cannot find his records." Apparently they were burned in the 1973 St.Louis fire, however; he has his honorable discharge papers and has been treated medically through the VA his entire life. He is now 77 years old and battling dementia. He receives a take-home of 598.00 for social security. It would be higher, but the SS office send 187.00 a month to my mother for past child support (you heard right). He has the qualifying symptoms for agent orange exposure, which he was exposed to at Ft. Dix and Ft. Drum, in 1959. He is now living with me, and requires 24/7 care because of his dementia, COPD, and recently diagnosed lung cancer. He was recently approved for the CHOICES program through TennCare; however, it will only pay $1100.00 of the cost for his care. Coupled with his social security, that would bring it up to around $1700.00 coverage. If the VA would grant him his pension, and back pension for all these years he's been living below the poverty line, finding the proper care for him would not be an issue. We refiled for his records over three months ago, and have not received a response, or a letter. The VA administration in the VA hospital on Jefferson will not let him apply for his benefits again without those records. They keep requiring a DD-214, and the records department keeps saying they cannot provide one because his records burned. In addition, the VA security arrested him for visiting the VA in "off" hours, I told them that he has dementia and they didn't care. Neither did the prosecuting attorneys, but after four months of court dates, they finally dismissed the charges. He needs help. I've created a blog, and have been documenting all of this. Can you help? What else can we do? We did talk to a lawyer at Morgan and Morgan, but they too asked for his service records. I am at a loss, and my father needs help. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Tasha
Subject: Help with my fathers VA benefits
Comments: Created by IMA Incoming #2178.
Meeting points: Hi Mr. Cohen,
I am writing because for the last five years my father has tried and failed to get his pension benefits from the VA. We do not know where else to turn at this point. His care worker through the CHOICES program suggested we write to you. I am his daughter and have done everything in our power to get his service records reconstructed so he can receive his pension/benefits and we get the run around. This all started in 2010. I've helped him apply and they send a letter stating "they cannot find his records." Apparently they were burned in the 1973 St.Louis fire, however; he has his honorable discharge papers and has been treated medically through the VA his entire life. He is now 77 years old and battling dementia. He receives a take-home of 598.00 for social security. It would be higher, but the SS office send 187.00 a month to my mother for past child support (you heard right). He has the qualifying symptoms for agent orange exposure, which he was exposed to at Ft. Dix and Ft. Drum, in 1959. He is now living with me, and requires 24/7 care because of his dementia, COPD, and recently diagnosed lung cancer. He was recently approved for the CHOICES program through TennCare; however, it will only pay $1100.00 of the cost for his care. Coupled with his social security, that would bring it up to around $1700.00 coverage. If the VA would grant him his pension, and back pension for all these years he's been living below the poverty line, finding the proper care for him would not be an issue. We refiled for his records over three months ago, and have not received a response, or a letter. The VA administration in the VA hospital on Jefferson will not let him apply for his benefits again without those records. They keep requiring a DD-214, and the records department keeps saying they cannot provide one because his records burned. In addition, the VA security arrested him for visiting the VA in "off" hours, I told them that he has dementia and they didn't care. Neither did the prosecuting attorneys, but after four months of court dates, they finally dismissed the charges. He needs help. I've created a blog, and have been documenting all of this. Can you help? What else can we do? We did talk to a lawyer at Morgan and Morgan, but they too asked for his service records. I am at a loss, and my father needs help. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Tasha
Subject: Help with my fathers VA benefits
Comments: Created by IMA Incoming #2178.
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