Our Timeline

November 13 - 

• Received a call from Jonathan at Congressman Cohen's office.  He is so nice and helpful.  Although, they seem to be giving him the run-around too.  He said in order to move forward they need a military questionnaire completed, signed, and sent.  We've done this at least five times since 2010.  The first was in 2010.  The second was in 2011.  The third and fourth were 2013 and 2014.  Now, they are requesting the information again.
• We filled this out at the VA and submitted it in 2010 - 
• The pension denial letter request - still no response from July's request.
• A representative from CHOICES came and hooked up a monitoring system for him in case he has an emergency, he just pushes the alert button....mind you...he may not remember he has this system at all :/.
• I compiled all of the information and sent it to Jonathan.  I sent him:
• The new questionnaire (with the same info from the last 5).
• A copy of the original from 2010.
• A copy of the NARA Vetrecs form (original)
• A copy of the follow-up request to NARA Vetrecs.
• A copy of the pension letter stating they are "working on it"
• A copy of the request for pension denial letter 

October 28 -  

• Today I sent over the consent form to Congressman Cohen's office.
• While I was at the doctors office, I got a return call from Mike, the man who runs the group home.  I got the address and decided to do a little google-ing.  This is what I discovered.
• The little star hiding under the red balloon is the exact address - the two balloons are the crimes that have occurred there within the last three months.  

This doesn't look like a place for Dad.  Thanks anyway.  Also, I wouldn't park my car there either.

October 23 continued 2...

Good news!  I received a call back from Congressman Cohen's assistant, he sent us a request form to start searching records!  He said they would help him!!!!  I'm so happy to finally have someone on his side!  Yay!

October 23 continued....

I'm getting in the habit of recording phone calls.  This man was helpful, although the information and status of the URGENT request we submitted on July 16th is in limbo mode in their system.  The paperwork said to wait 90 days before inquiring.  90 days came and went on the 16th of this month.

Here is the original request:

Here is the e-mail stating they received the request.

Here is the conversation: conversation

I was on hold for nearly 20 minutes.  I cut out the hold music to save you the annoyance and anything regarding personal information.

October 23 - 

Yesterday, after speaking with the CHOICES representative, she suggested that I write the senator of our district.  This would be congressman Steve Cohen.  I've met him a few times, and he is a good man who really works hard to help people.  I hope this works.

• 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.

October 22 - 

• Good news, he was approved for the CHOICES nursing care level. They are rushing a bit to get him admitted which always make me nervous, because to me that sounds more like a money issue than a care issue...given that I am taking good care of him.  Regardless, this is good news.  
• The CHOICES program will pay for $1100.00 a month.
• This is wonderful!  However, the facilities cost $2200.00 a month or more and even with his full social security check going to foot that bill, he is short by almost $700.00 - which puts us back to square one. 
• The VA records department has not returned our requests.
• Wrote Senator Steve Cohen and requested a meeting.
• Spoke with a lawyer and will set up a meeting for later this week.
• Not sure what to do at this point.  

The CHOICES representative gave me the names of four dementia care facilities.  Not very promising, given that the woman at Apple Grove listed the cost at nearly $4600 a month, and the woman at Cordova Estates said that the only place that accepts CHOICES now is Riverdale.  Riverdale is reasonable, but still $500.00 over budget.  If they VA would approve his pension all of this would not be an issue.

I said the lady sounded like she was on drugs - I recorded the conversation... you can listen here

	Phone		Dist.	Cost	Private	Semi		Notes
Apple Grove, 3575 Hacks Cross Rd, Memphis, TN 38125 http://www.applegroveliving.com/	901-755-1244		28		$4595	$3595		Diane
Riverdale, 6880 East Raines Road, Memphis TN 38115 http://www.brmch.com/riverdale/riverdale-center.html			26	3200	Yes
Cordova Estates, 1535 Appling Cart Lane, Cordova http://www.brookdale.com/communities/emeritus-cordova/	901-377-7500		22	Don't accept choices anymore
Ridgemont Manor, 3805 Ridgemont http://www.ridgemontmanor.com/	901-384-9205		16					Sounds like they are drugs

September 16 -

These were supposed to be on a CD/DVD.  I am now tasked with sorting through this pile to find the information we need for tomorrows interview.

• Today I called the VA records department again to figure out what happened to the record request.  Again they are telling me that they were mailed out on July 24.  Then again she says that her records show that they were picked up by the individual.  Nope.  None of that happened.  
• Rosa, once again is insisting that someone picked up his records and they do not allow records to be released without showing an I.D.  I've been with my father 24/7 since July 4.  We did not pick them up, they were not mailed.  
• Rosa finally said that she will hit "print" again.  "You can pick them up today, all I have to do is push print."  She said she "closed the record" on July 24th.  She obviously made a mistake doesn't want to admit that she did.  She said someone showed a picture I.D. or the records, which makes me believe that someone stole my fathers identity.
• CHOICES appeal appointment is tomorrow.  I am trying to get the records printed out prior to that appointment.  

August 22 -

• The past four weeks have been mostly wait and see.  
• CHOICES - He was approved for the program, however, not for nursing care level.  I discovered the reason.  On August 6th, we had an appointment with his primary doctor.  I described his needs and the doctor had the nerve to say "just because he makes bad choices, doesn't mean he has dementia." Which made me laugh out loud, although I didn't mean to be rude, this was very comical to me.  When I mentioned that he was diagnosed with dementia in 2010 and the very definition of dementia is a progressive degenerative disease....he updated the most recent diagnosis to include dementia.  Not in enough time for the people at CHOICES to see it.
• They declare him a level 8 and he needs a level 9 to qualify for nursing care.

August 15  -

• Obtaining the medical records - In the meantime, we are still waiting on copies of his medical records.  On August 15th, I called to check the status of these records we requested nearly a month and half ago.  At first they said they don't have a record of the request, then they said they sent them out on 7/24/14 - yet we never received them.  Then she said she left a message for the clerk.  When the clerk called back, she said that WE PICKED THEM UP.  We did not.  
• I called to file a complaint with a patient advocate, left a message.  It took her a week to call me back, and when she did, I missed the call.  

July 24 - 

• The CHOICES worker showed up and took all of his information.  She was very nice.  We have to wait a few weeks to find out if he is approved.
• His COPD seems to be getting worse - he has trouble walking 50 feet.
• His wandering seems to be getting better.  He has managed to walk to the store and back remembering which way to go.  This is a good thing.

July 23 - 

• Spoke with Priscilla Bobo today - perhaps the first light of hope.  She works with the choices program and is going to help him apply for TennCare/Medicaid which will help pay for nursing care.  He has an intake specialist named Frankie who will be here tomorrow at 2pm to do an evaluation.  They are asking for three months of bank statements and proof of identification.

• Spoke with Tim Murphy from Ft. Drum - he does not have any service records and stated that we need to file for his DD-2214 through a website called archives.gov. 

• The records department did not call me back.  I called them again today to see what is holding up the progress.  After saying they misplaced them twice, a kind woman named Rosa said she finally found the request.  They are processing it now - and we will be able to pick them up as soon as possible (we hope).  Will definitely need to follow-up on this one.

July 21 - Spoke with Tim Murphy from Ft. Drum - I asked him to search his records to see if Dad is there.  He wants me to call tomorrow because their system is down (go figure).

Calls:

• Called the VA to check on the entire medical records we requested - in person - we stood there, filled out the form, and she took it and said "we will get back to you as soon as possible" - they said they can't find the request….more run-around.  Reminder to follow-up.

• Called Choices program - 1-866-836-6678 - I've been on hold for six and half minutes and the recorded message says "If you'd like to leave a message, someone will return your call within two days," I am going to stay on hold. I was on hold for 20 minutes before someone picked up.  I asked about the Choices program and was transferred.  It went to voicemail for Priscilla Bobo, which asked me to leave a message and they will get back to me "as soon as possible." - we shall see!
• Called 1-800-318-2596 - at HealthCare .gov to talk to a representative about enrolling him in the special circumstances enrollment.  Without Medicaid, the Choices program and other help will not be available.  The hold time is 20 minutes, and I have been on hold for about 15.  Perhaps I will actually make some progress with this call.

July 6th - Met with Maranda Rhodes - the lawyer at Morgan and Morgan.  She needs records of his service at Ft. Drum - We are still working on getting that information to her.

Saturday - July 5 - After going into his apartment, he started coughing and not feeling well.  He can no longer live there - we brought him home to our house.

Friday - July 4 - The offices are closed this day - I will be checking him out of the hospital today and returning him to the Towers.  I will check on him daily to make sure he is taking his medication, bathing, and that he has enough food.

Thursday - July 3 - VA stated that he first has to qualify for service related issues - then after that he can apply for aid and attendance - if he does not have a service connection, the only avenue is to file again for pension.  I went to the office to get his pension ball rolling again and was once again told the power of attorney I hold does not hold any legal weight - which I don't understand why not.  So they gave me the forms and I had to take them upstairs and have my dad sign them.  I recorded the conversations with the workers and took photos of him signing the paper.  The nurses at the nurses station were witness that there was no coercion on my part.  I spoke with his doctor, who was very nice, but hinted that they are working on making him a ward of the state, but I have the right to discharge him.  If he becomes a ward of the state, the state will take any and all his social security money to provide aid for housing.  In addition they would take his pension (if any).  This is unacceptable and I am unaware if this is something that is reversible.  For instance, if his back pension is approved, are we able to get him out of that home and into a nice assisted living facility where he will be happier?

Wednesday - July 2 - I dropped off some polident, fixodent, instant coffee, and donuts to him in his room.  He is still confused why they are holding him, but seems a lot healthier since he has been in the hospital and away from Memphis Towers. 

Tuesday - July 1 - Met with the head of the social worker department and my doctors medical doctor for an hour.  The social workers said that he is not sick enough for a medical facility, like a nursing home, and assisted living is what he needs.  They said that "unfortunately, it falls on the family" and now they are diagnosing him with dementia, it is there and he needs help being reminded to take his medicine, bathe, and simple household chores like cooking and cleaning.  I went down to the office to apply for his pension again, and they were closed.  I was told by the worker that my power of attorney holds no weight - and despite him being hospitalized, that I need to have him sign the papers.  The doctors did not say that they were discharging him.  Later that evening, he left the VA and went to his house to retrieve some items.  He returned to the ER.  I received a phone call from the ER and adamantly told them that his doctor was assessing his mental state and has not released him from care.  The ER doctor yelled at me...I insisted that despite him walking out of the hospital, his doctors did not discharge him.  He is a dementia patient and wandered off.

Monday - June 30 - He got a citation for smoking in his room.

Saturday - June 28 - Dad is still in the hospital.

Friday - June 27 -  Spoke with the leasing company about other reasonable accommodations for him.  The said they do not need to go through with the eviction if Dad states that he will leave voluntarily.  However, I believe they already filed it. 

Thursday - June 26 - Dad in the hospital or COPD exacerbation...went to Memphis Towers to get a copy of his eviction notice. 

June 2014

April 2014 - He was arrested again for criminal trespass at the VA - we didn't bother going to the court dates...no point.

March 2014 - My daughter's room got bed bugs from cross contamination.  

December 24th, 2013 - The place where he lived said his apartment was infested with bed bugs.  I set up a fundraiser to help raise money to replace his bedding, mattress, box spring, pay for a hotel room for two days, etc., while I went in there and cleaned it.  It took two days.  I knew his time there was short, but we did not want to cross-contaminate.  

May 2013 - He was arrested at the VA for criminal trespass.  I had to bail him out of jail for $100.00 and a court date was set.  

We attended all the court dates.  The judge would not let me speak on his behalf - she got annoyed when he didn't hear her.  I said "he is hard of hearing," and they told me to shut up.  I said "he has dementia" and they didn't care.  The judge asked the prosecutor if they would like to move forward with the charges  - the prosecutor said "yes."  I was so infuriated that they would look at this 75 year-old man with dementia and want to "move forward."

It took four months and four court dates for the charges to finally be dismissed.  The public defender made it clear to me that the court "does not care about mental illness" and they treat it the same as a healthy brain.  RIDICULOUS.

I called the police office located within the VA and asked for the arresting officer.  I asked him why he arrested my father, and explained that he has dementia.  The officer said "we told him not to come here after hours" and I said "well, he won't remember that."  The conversation didn't end well.  I was furious and basically asked the officer "do you have a soul?"

During the years 2010-2014 - We applied for pension, benefits, and aid and attendance, and he was continually denied because they claim his records burned in a fire.  I gave up...

2010 - He was diagnosed with delusions of grandeur and early onset dementia.

October 2010 - He started living at the Memphis Towers - an independent federal housing community within' walking distance to the VA hospital.

March 2010 - October 2010 - He lived with us and it was very difficult.  There were issues with the landlord who was supposed to fix up a back house to make it livable, and it wasn't.  We gave them $500.00 and they promised to fix it. They didn't.  One day they called the cops on him and said he was trespassing.  Even after we paid them the rent.  It was a mess.

March 2010 - My brother Hunter mustered up some money to buy him a ticket to Memphis.  From September 2009 - March 2010 - he lived on the streets of Florida and was in and out of the VA hospital.

September 2009 - I moved back to Memphis and started college.  I was working as a waitress in a sushi restaurant.

August 2009 - I took a week to drive up to Memphis and drop my daughther off with her father.  I planned on moving back in September.  During this trip, I found out my father took his social security money, bought a ticket to South Florida (West Palm Beach).  When he arrived there, he hoped to spend time with his son Mark.

Mark turned him away and he became homeless.  At that point it was out of my hands.

July 2009 - I found an assisted living home for him.  They took him on without payment until his social security came in.

September 2008 - Sherill Reynolds passed away.

May 2009 - My brother Hunter sent dad to come live with me down in Florida.  I was living with my mother, so he stayed with my brother Brian for a minute.  My brother could not handle the stress, so he put him in a hotel room, and said "you deal with it"