Category: VA

Meta Monteleon, a treasured resident at Dublin VA, passed away peacefully in her sleep May 3. She was 108. Monteleon served in the Army Nurse Corps during WWII. After discharging in 1944, she continued with her nursing career for an additional 50 years. At the time of her passing, she was the oldest living WWII…

Loneliness has been described recently as a social epidemic affecting half of U.S. adults. While the reasons for this epidemic are varied and complex, the consequence of loneliness is clear: Research shows loneliness puts people at higher risk for heart disease, dementia, depression and even premature death. Health care is paying closer attention to how…

VA recently launched a virtual program to pilot mental health services for caregivers enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). This program will provide much needed resources, tools and support for caregivers while they care for our nations’ heroes. The clinical resource hub will focus on the unique mental health needs…

Bruno Peter Gaido was born in 1916 in Staunton, Illinois, just two years after his parents John and Clementina Gaido immigrated from Italy. Upon graduation from Lincoln High School in June 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he attempted to enlist in the Navy. While his father initially refuted, the young Gaido received permission six years later…

Many people don’t think twice about scheduling an appointment with a doctor. Their biggest barriers may be insurance concerns or finding the time for a visit. But what if you avoid seeking care because of historic attitudes toward your sexual orientation or gender identity? This is the situation many Veterans who identify as lesbian, gay,…

Kidney disease is often labeled a “silent killer” due to its lack of physical symptoms in the early stages. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) develops when the kidneys get damaged and lose the ability to filter waste and fluids out of the blood. CKD is the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S. While anyone can get…

Born in December 1918 in Kittrell, North Carolina, Charity A. Earley was the oldest of four children. Raised in Columbia, South Carolina, by her father who was a minister and her mother, a former teacher, she excelled in school and became valedictorian at Booker T. Washington High School. After completing high school, she attended Wilberforce…

Women Veteran superstars are coming to a city near you to teach you all about the women- and Veteran-centric health care services available to you. The VA Women’s Health Reengagement Training (heaRT) Team offers one-time, women-only, in-person sessions, where you get the opportunity to connect with fellow women Veterans. By attending one of the trainings,…

In this episode of Borne the Battle, host Pablo Meza speaks with Rebecca Keough, who shares her journey from serving in the Army to becoming the Veterans Experience Office (VEO) Contact Center director. Here, she shares how MyVA411 helps Veterans navigating VA services. What is MyVA411? 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411) is an easy-to-remember phone number linking Veterans…

VA medical centers across the country run a program that provides transportation to Veterans who are unable to get to their appointments. It’s called the Volunteer Transportation Network, and it’s supported by the national Veteran service organization Disabled American Veterans (DAV). The Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) offices and volunteer coordinators schedule transportation…

The demonstration begins with a pile of rocks, a pile of pebbles and a jar. The teacher pours the pebbles into the jar, which fills it up about halfway. She then tries to put the rocks in the jar, but they don’t all fit. The teacher takes everything out and starts again, but this time…

The Robley Rex VA Geriatrics and Extended Care team received a call from a Veteran reporting that he needed assistance. Expressing concerns about his safety, a Home Based Primary Care charge nurse took the call even though the Veteran was not enrolled in the program. They immediately assessed the Veteran was experiencing hunger, had not…