Kaitlin Irwin – Delaware County Magazine

Pennsylvania’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs offers several benefits and programs for aging veterans, and they’re an excellent resource for assistance and information. They strive to raise awareness for the benefits that senior veterans and their families are eligible for, as well as advocating for their quality care. Some of their benefits include tax exemption, temporary financial aid, and disabled veteran pensions.

The VA’s Aid & Attendance pension provides a monthly monetary amount for eligible veterans, while the Housebound pension helps those who are permanently disabled. For elderly veterans with many health-related needs, there are healthcare programs such as long-term and residential care. Senior veterans are entitled to several different life insurance plans that may also include spouses and children.

The Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home is an extended care facility that provides personal nursing and dementia caregiving. The Military Family Relief Assistance Program help service members and their families in times of distress and need.

The Veterans Multi- Service Center in Philadelphia was founded by Vietnam veterans in 1980. They help veterans of all ages find affordable housing, health coverage, and other benefits while fostering a community of, respect, support, and gratitude. Their Day Service Center is designed to prevent at-risk veterans from becoming homeless and to help those who are homeless, safe and off the streets.

Delaware County Veteran Services assists those who would like to apply for VA benefits. They also provide emergency financial aid through the Delaware County Veterans Service Commission to help vets afford food and rent. They can also help with referrals to local or federal agencies, as well as transportation to and from the VA Outpatient Clinic in Ohio.

Vets can get a free Veterans Photo Identification card from the Government Center in Media, PA. The card grants them discounts and benefits from businesses and services in the area. The VA Office works with the National Cemetery Administration to provide burial benefits for veterans. This includes perpetual care, a government grave marker and burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate. Some veterans are eligible for burial allowances. There are three state veterans cemeteries located in Philadelphia.

When it comes to driving, it’s about ability, not necessarily age. If you or a loved one display unsafe driving behaviors, it’s time to talk about other ways to get around. Some examples of unsafe driving include delayed response time; easily distracted; poor vision; decreased motor skills (such as backing up or turning); driving too fast or too slow. If any of these behaviors become commonplace, it’s a telltale sign that driving ability is compromised.

Certain health conditions can limit one’s ability to drive. Some physical ailments like arthritis can make it difficult to grip the steering wheel properly. Hearing and vision impairments are dangerous on the road since drivers need to be able to hear sirens and horns as well as see traffic lights and street signs. Dementia can cause seniors to forget the basics of driving, such as putting on a seat belt and using turn signals.

To consider putting an end to driving for yourself or a loved one can be heartbreaking. It’s a tough subject to bring up, but it’s crucial to address, especially if there have been incidents of traffic tickets or close calls. While it’s a sensitive topic, you can try bringing it up encouraging a self-evaluation of driving skills. If a loved one is reluctant about driving at night or when it rains, ask them why. Remind them and yourself that staying safe is the top priority.

There are always alternative ways to get around. It’s true that taking away driving privileges can feel like a serious loss of independence, so having an action plan is key. Friends and family members may be willing to do a car pool or offer regular rides to appointments. Public transportation is another option, and SEPTA lets seniors ride for free if they present a Pennsylvania driver’s license or non-driver identification card. Finally, Community Transit has been around for years and specializes in shared-ride transportation for seniors. It’s a great option for those who can’t comfortably use public transportation, plus people over 65 get an 85% discount on ride fare.

While driving is a big part of most people’s lives, the absence of it doesn’t make life any less fulfilling. Be sure to focus on the positives and continue with a regular routine to make the change as seamless as possible.

In a nutshell, VR uses headsets and controllers to simulate a realistic and immersive 3D world. Imagine putting on a VR headset and being transported to a serene beach where you can hear the crashing of the waves and look up at the birds in the sky. This technology has taken off in the last few years, and it’s being used in the fields of gaming, education, healthcare, and more.  Last year, the AgeLab contributed to a study that compared how older adults socialized while engaging with VR versus while watching similar scenes on television.

The findings were presented at the International Conference on Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Researchers noted that the seniors who engaged in shared experiences through VR showed fewer signs of depression and social isolation as well as improved overall wellbeing. MIT graduates Reed Hayes and Dennis Lally founded a startup, Rendever, which explores the transformative impacts of VR. They’ve visited over 100 senior living communities and have seen first-hand how VR gets elderly patients and residents more engaged, attentive, and sociable.

The Rendever initiative has seen some amazing results through VR technology. For example, dementia patients that were otherwise unresponsive or disengaged seemed to come alive after putting on the headset. Other times, groups of seniors have formed connections with each other by participating in social activities through multiple synced headsets. By transporting them to a new virtual world, VR awakens old memories and sparks conversations.

The power of shared experiences is crucial to staying healthy and happy as we age. There are many cases in which technology can be a wonderful way to interact with others. Families are using 360-degree cameras to capture special moments like weddings that their relatives can experience in VR. Soothing scenes of virtual beaches and forests serve as distractions for patients going through chemotherapy. Seniors can engage with their children and grandchildren through VR, as the images help them recall certain memories and stories from their past.

Some VR systems are more expensive than others, but popular brands include the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR. There are more economical options like Lenovo’s VR system, too.