90°F
weather icon Windy
Boulder City, NV
Opinion

Veteran caregivers hope for financial boost

By Chuck N. Baker
February 20, 2025 - 5:03 pm
 

Much has been spoken and written about in recent months about military and veteran caregivers, and the responsibilities they are charged with.

According to an article in the RAND Review, they provide services worth billions of dollars each year. Those services can cost the caregivers financial and emotional costs, and yet in many cases they do not receive recognition, yet alone financial compensation for their efforts.

In the article, written by RAND staffer Doug Irving, it was estimated that as many as 105 million Americans are currently providing care for someone. Of some interest, many of those individuals do not consider themselves caregivers. They are merely doing what family and friends do to help others. If the caregivers were paid nursing assistants the salaries would be in the billions of dollars each year. If they were nurses, doing detailed medical work, the cost would come up to close to trillions of dollars.

A large number of the types of caregiving for veterans includes helping those who have traumatic brain injuries. Other areas of care include individuals with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, suffering from memory loss and administering oxygen. Caregivers also often find themselves having to fill out reams of paperwork, taking care of finances and other administrative duties.

I won’t detail the exact percentages of men vs. women who provide care to service members and veterans, but women are slightly in the majority, more so when it comes to caring for those over the age of 60.

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act has become law and will increase the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) share of covering home nursing care from 65 percent to 100 percent of costs, among other provisions. The changes have long been sought by caregivers and advocates who feel veterans should be able to live out their final days at home if they choose. While the current administration’s stance about the VA budget is still largely unknown, it’s a fact that the VA has been adding more and more medical benefits for veterans during the past couple of years. Air Force veteran Doug Collins was recently named VA secretary and in a video on YouTube he said that current benefits are not going to be cut, and new ones may be added. Sounds good to me!

CALENDAR ALERT: The Legislature is now in session in Carson City and one day in March is currently scheduled to be Veterans and Military Day. (Date yet to be finalized as of this writing.) Veterans’ bills will be discussed in the Assembly and Senate, and various veterans’ organizations will set up displays outside. It all depends on the weather. In some years past, snow and wind precluded such outdoor activities. Temperatures permitting and the absence of snow, I hope to be there. Although it’s a veterans’ event and a strong turnout is expected, most anyone is welcome. See you there?

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
bcr default image
Understanding Boulder City’s electrical rates
City Talk By Gary Poindexter, Public Works and Utilities Director

“The city held rates as low as it could for as long as it could.”

bcr default image
State of emergency
By Rod Woodbury

My favorite memories as a Boy Scout and church youth group leader always seem to center on community service opportunities.

bcr default image
It’s all about first impressions
By Mayor Joe Hardy

When I was younger, my parents instilled in me the importance of making a good first impression. Look people in the eye. Make sure you give a firm handshake. Focus on what they are saying and don’t be distracted.

bcr default image
September offers something for everyone at Boulder City Library
More than Books By the Boulder City Library

As the heat finally comes down outside, inside the library we have cooked up some amazing events for this upcoming September that we’re excited to tell you all about. No matter what age our patrons are, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone, and our programming schedule for September is no exception.

bcr default image
Looking back on Sept. 11
By Ron Eland

In just over two weeks, the nation will honor the 25th anniversary of one of the worst days in the history of this country.

bcr default image
What is long-term care?
Community Heartbeat By the Boulder City Hospital

Long-term care refers to a range of services and support for people who need help with everyday activities over an extended period due to aging, chronic illness, disability, injury, or cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

bcr default image
Veterans, seniors: Scarcity of low-cost housing
By Chuck N. Baker

Housing of all types for all sorts of individuals seems to be a buzz-word these days. But seniors and veterans especially seem to be lacking when it comes to locating reasonably affordable residences in reasonably decent neighborhoods around the state. What’s a body to do?

bcr default image
Now, that’s a really good idea !
By Rod Woodbury

We generally expect our leaders to be educated, smart, and well-informed. More often than not, we support, elect, and follow those who appear to have an answer for everything. But good leaders don’t know everything. And the very best ones know that they don’t know everything.

bcr default image
Sound decisions keep Boulder City costs down
By Paul Sikora Purchasing, Grants and Risk Manager

Boulder City residents occasionally ask how the city is able to have one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, and still provide needed functions such as police, fire, and public parks. In addition to land leases that provide 35% of our general fund budget, we also look at ways to keep costs down. As the city’s Purchasing, Grants and Risk manager for the last eight years, I have seen the city make decisions that keep us lean.