By: James Watson

I came across this coin the other day and it sparked this blog post. It is a coin dedicated to the veterans of Canada and depicts a younger veteran in the background and an older veteran in the foreground. I did some further research and discovered that there were only 15 000 of these coins minted. It is quite the stroke of luck that it came into my possession. Here is a photo I took of the coin:

The contrast between young and old depicted on this coin is common within the day-to-day interactions Premier Homecare Services shares with the families that currently or may one day receive our in-home services. When I am out in the community attending health fairs, speaking to members of a community centre or introducing our services to a healthcare professional, I am always trying to inform people about the care options and opportunities available to them.

Services for Elderly Veterans

One thing that I especially like to inform people about is the Veterans Independence Program (VIP), administered by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). It is a program that was set up "more than 20 years ago to help eligible veterans remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible. Under this program, services are based on need and can include such things as housekeeping, grounds maintenance, home delivery of nutritious meals, certain in-home personal care services, even home adaptations that may be needed to make it easier or more safe for them to do daily activities like bathe, prepare a meal or move around their home." (Veterans Affairs Canada 2005)

Home Care for Veterans

At Premier Homecare Services, we routinely receive inquires about in-home personal care support for veterans, their loved ones or their survivors. So often they are prompted to phone us only after they have discovered by chance that they are eligible for VIP benefits. Given your VAC Identification Card or your ‘K’ number, our team of Care Coordinators is able to check your degree of eligibility – the number of hours you are eligible to receive and the types of services. Knowing that piece of information and given your approval, our staff can continue by filling out the appropriate paperwork on your behalf. In very little time or hassle you can begin receiving the home care services you deserve.

The Royal Canadian Mint issued this coin in 2005 after the federal government declared 2005 to be the year of the Veteran. After the recent dedication of the Highway of Heroes (and another news release here) and the mounting casualties of Canadian soldiers in the Afghanistan conflict and elsewhere, it is poignant to declare that each year – not only 2005 – is indeed the Year of the Veteran.

Note:

For further information on any of the topics I have written about, click on the corresponding bolded terms. I have provided them with links to web pages that may educate you further. This is, after all, an education blog. In addition, if you have any specific questions, feel free to email me: jwatson@homecarephs.com.

Works Cited:

Veterans Affairs Canada, "Caring support for those who care for veterans," The Family Caregiver Newsmagazine (Volume 2, Issue 1), November 2005.