Category: VA

For Veterans to take advantage of the resources available to them, they need to know the resources exist. That’s why Theresa Gardner, a My HealtheVet coordinator at the Southern Nevada VA, wanted to raise awareness about a lesser-known feature for Veterans: Healthy Teaching Kitchen. To promote the program, Gardner and Josselyne Escalante, a former My…

Editor’s note: 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. Are you a Veteran with aspirations of entrepreneurship and business ownership? Do you need guidance to help you put your idea into action? Warrior Rising is positioned…

It’s no secret that maintaining a healthy lifestyle has many benefits. Being physically active can help reduce risk of disease, improve brain health and lower blood pressure. However, it can be difficult to prioritize your health when life gets busy. Marine Veteran Theo Deuel can attest to that. Deuel had always enjoyed an active lifestyle.…

Editor’s note: 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. What does the American Legion have in common with Regiment Gaming?  Both organizations focus on enhancing the well-being of Veterans and service members. Both…

For Native Hawaiian and other Indigenous peoples, having a home is deeply connected to land and family, even without a physical house. This cultural understanding shapes the language we use when working with these Veterans who often prefer terms such as “houseless” or “unsheltered.”  “Using a term like ‘unhoused’ helps to emphasize that the problem…

I’m a strong believer in habits. When we want to make a change in our lives—become more active, eat more fruits and vegetables, take up woodworking, etc.—setting up a routine for ourselves is often the best way to make it happen. I recently heard about someone who read about an actor who goes to the…

VA’s Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is committed to supporting caregivers with empathy and compassion. Recognizing the dedication and effort caregivers provide Veterans, CSP has launched a new initiative, the Virtual Psychotherapy Program for Caregivers (VPPC). For those who spend most of their time caring for a Veteran, the demands can be overwhelming. VPPC is designed…

Natasha White lost 100 pounds with the MOVE! program. Over years, White watched her mother’s health deteriorate due to uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and poor lifestyle habits. A hard look in the mirror made White, a North Texas VA licensed vocational nurse, realize her fate would be the same if she didn’t make life saving…

The Community Living Center (CLC) at Pittsburgh VA is now a five-star facility, VA’s highest rating possible for its nursing homes.   VA evaluates its CLCs quarterly or yearly on three main areas: staffing, quality measures and independent survey results. Internal and external survey results contribute to an overall CLC rating of one to five…

Competing in the 2024 National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Marine Corps Veteran Pierre Sturgis showcased his strength and resilience competing in basketball, powerlifting, powerlifting circuit and track and field. For Sturgis, the journey to the games has been filled with determination to overcome and adapt to his new life after injury. In 2020, he was hit…

Army Veteran Tim Fanning is waging a journey after experiencing a right-sided stroke just 30 days ago. After initial treatment at a community healthcare facility, Fanning was transferred to Dallas VA for specialized rehabilitation. Army Veteran Tim Fanning The journey through illness to health can be rigorous and requires a dedicated balance of strength, resilience…

More than 500 speech-language pathologists and 44 clinical fellows in the VA healthcare system provide services through outpatient clinics, inpatient settings and telehealth. VA speech-language pathologists provide care to Veterans of all ages with speech, language, cognitive, voice and swallowing disorders. These disorders may occur in conjunction with a medical problem, such as a stroke,…