A couple years ago I started volunteering at the VA where I get my healthcare. It amazes me the spectrum of personalities you meet. My volunteer task is to assist veterans finding their way through the facility. I can only recall two negative experiences doing this. On the other hand, I have received many sincere Thank Yous. My healthcare at the VA has been excellent, I'm fortunate that service connected disability doesn't prevent me from helping others. In fact is a form of therapy in some respects. Doc tells me to sit for 5 minutes in each hour, and on busy days I really need it. I get in at least a mile in steps and on a couple days close to 3 miles. Usually sleep real well on my volunteer days.
Assisting veterans at the VA
- Thread starter Rider77
- Start date
StillLearning
Member
- Location
- Minnesota
Back home my brother had a couple friends that were fellow Vets that drove a shuttle van down to the VA in the cities. They would stop at little towns along the way picking up other Vets. They had plenty of stories and it sounded like they really enjoyed the trips and meeting people.
My husband had part of his health care at the VA. That place was so HUGE. We had to ask on several occasions how to find the location of a room. So if that was you we asked for directions, I want to thank you.
My husband had part of his health care at the VA. That place was so HUGE. We had to ask on several occasions how to find the location of a room. So if that was you we asked for directions, I want to thank you.
I get my healthcare at the VA and I volunteer at that same medical center. Like your brother's friends there are persons who drive shuttles from outlying communities and there are volunteer who drive shuttles on the VA grounds. That may sound odd but there are many vets and or there spouse that come to the VA and moving from a parking lot to the building is a major challenge.Back home my brother had a couple friends that were fellow Vets that drove a shuttle van down to the VA in the cities. They would stop at little towns along the way picking up other Vets. They had plenty of stories and it sounded like they really enjoyed the trips and meeting people.
My husband had part of his health care at the VA. That place was so HUGE. We had to ask on several occasions how to find the location of a room. So if that was you we asked for directions, I want to thank you.
When I see someone in the area where I volunteer whose mobility is impaired I go and ask if they would like wheel chair assistance. It's about 50/50 some welcome that assistance and some wish to soldier on to their destination. Many times I have waited with a vet in a wheel chair while there spouse of family member brings their vehicle to the exit, and then take the vet in the wheel chair out to their car.
I came home from Vietnam with disabilities, but for the most part they don't hinder my mobility. Many of my fellow vets didn't come home but I know they would lend a hand if they could. I'm reminded every day that many of those veterans coming in the facility are seriously disabled from the effects of agent orange. The government tells us that 58,479 members of our armed forces died in Vietnam, but that number doesn't include those who have or will die from agent orange.
If you see a Veteran on the street or in one of the VA centers look closely because their cause of death may well have invaded their body more than 50 years ago.
StillLearning
Member
- Location
- Minnesota
A co-worker told me her husband had been exposed to agent orange. I don’t remember all the details but I do remember her being really upset because she said it was affecting their daughter.
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
Thank you!
It’s important work.
Seeing a friendly face as they enter what can be a very stressful and intimidating environment can help to put these men at ease and set the tone for their entire visit.
It’s important work.
Seeing a friendly face as they enter what can be a very stressful and intimidating environment can help to put these men at ease and set the tone for their entire visit.
It does effect learning abilities and some physical problems as well. I knew a man who had it and his oldest child had more severe
problems while the last child of 7 had none. It seemed to dissipate from passing it on as the years went by. You could see the decline
of effects in each child. Very strange, but you'd have to be blind not to notice it.
For many years the effects of agent orange was denied or ignored at worst. With the mounting evidence of the damning effects of the chemical simply could no longer be hidden. There are other long term issues as well, like the contaminations at camp Le Jejune and burn pits to name a couple. Some injuries are obvious like the loss of a limb but chemical injuries are concealed and thus became plausibly deniable.