The Golden Age Games are the world’s largest sports rehabilitation event of its kind for Veterans over age 55. The annual event, which this year takes place May 31 – June 5, gives Veterans the opportunity to shine year-round, proving that athleticism has no age limit and that a focus on sports and fitness is…
Care for aging Veterans with a geriatrics specialty
Geriatrics and extended care is a growing specialty at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—and that isn’t likely to change any time soon. According to a 2023 U.S. Census Bureau report, nearly one-half of all Veterans in the United States are 65 years or older. That means in the coming years, the number of Veterans…
Quitting tobacco? Here are five facts to help you
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. If you’ve tried to stop using tobacco before and then started again, don’t be discouraged! You can use this observance to start creating a plan for how to stop, which will greatly increase your chances of quitting for good. And as a Veteran, you can start using the…
Save time filing your CHAMPVA claim online
If you’re the spouse, widow(er) or child of an eligible Veteran who receives Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA) benefits, you can file your claim online. It’s quick and easy. What you need to know before filing your claim If your provider doesn’t file for you, just ask for an itemized billing statement…
Veterans in VA contracting: A recap of the VETS25 Conference
VA attended the VETS25 Conference in Orlando earlier this month to support Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs). Organized by the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC), VETS25 brought together over 2,000 attendees, including procurement decision-makers and small business leaders that VA calls “the heartbeat of our contracting community.” This community enables VA to form the kinds…
Live Whole Health #274: Jam-packed with fiber
Ch-ch-ch-chia! Today we’re digging into chia. And yes, we’re talking about the same seeds that many of us grew on animal and character themed pots in the 1980s. Our past selves may be surprised by all of its culinary applications today, but we were missing out on chia’s jam packed nutrition. Chia seeds are a…
Navy Veteran loses weight and gains control of his diabetes
Navy Veteran Giovanni “Johnny” Onorato, 62, was scheduled for knee replacement surgery at the Baltimore VA Medical Center when he received a rude awakening. His surgeon, Dr. Sumon Nandi, told him that the procedure was canceled because his weight and blood sugar were too high. “We know that patients with uncontrolled diabetes, those with a…
Elevate your job search with these VA resources
Looking to start a meaningful career at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) but not sure where to begin? You’re in luck—VA offers useful tools and guidance to support job seekers every step of the way, whether you’re exploring physician, nursing, mental health care or other mission-critical roles. Keep reading to learn more about the…
Saving lives by preventing overdoses
When VA nurse Tomeka Allison lost a family member to an overdose, she knew she had to act. Today, she’s leading a pioneering effort at Dallas VA Medical Center that’s already touched the lives of more than 175 Veterans and their families. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Veterans are twice as likely to die from…
Find connection, purpose and remembrance at a “wear blue: run to remember” community run
The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering. For many Veterans, surviving family members and military supporters, finding a space for connection, remembrance and healing can be life-changing. That’s the heart behind “wear blue:…
Veteran sheds light on the importance of mental health research
For Army Veteran Bryan Billups, mental health has always been a priority. From serving as a paratrooper in the first Gulf War to working in the federal government, Billups’ life experiences have brought to light the importance of taking care of both physical and mental health. For Veterans especially, Billups recognizes the value of joining…
Living is hard, but healing is possible
At first glance, John Ortiz’s poem, “Life is So Easy, But Living So Hard,” seems like a thoughtful rhyme about the struggles of daily life, but in reality, it’s much more. For Ortiz—a Navy Veteran living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee—the words are a mirror of his journey through hardship, recovery and self-discovery. Ortiz first entered the…