Only way to help is to expose the problem.

I'm glad you are angry. That means you care.

If he can't get this resolved, his dad WILL end up in a nursing home (when he doesn't need to be there with appropriate support).

Need to run do a kid thing...will recheck thread when I return. Maybe folks will have some ideas? I have his contact information (but only know him from stopping to talk on the side of the road).

is to get publicity on the situation.

I have a brother in the military. He is a gop nutcase. Stories about how the gop stymies any attempt to help our veterans make no impression on him. If he saw this story, he would blame both father and son for their predicament.

On edit: This was meant as a general reply, not a specific reply to #1

Hurry up and die is the republican health care platform.

Even when it comes to people overseas. Bombs away!

really don't want to.

My father was a WW2 vet also.
This guy's dad must be in his 90s.

THIS is what we have become.

I don't know what state you and the vet are living in, and my statement above may not be true in your state. It is in mine, which I know because I took care of my mother at home to keep her out of a nursing home. Two years ago she lost the little bit of mobility that made that possible, and it was necessary to find her a residential bed in a nursing home. In both my mother's judgment and mine, we were unnecessarily frightened of nursing homes. She has received excellent physical care, and a whole lot more entertainment than I could give her at home. If your state's nursing homes are well regulated, do some research into what's available. Your vet hasn't got the time or serenity to do this himself, quite probably. If the funds in the VA program are depleted, Medicaid should still be available. If your vet's funds are that depleted, his dad is thoroughly eligible at this red hot moment.

michigan is a horror story now. Especially detroit with synder the snake at the helm.

Snyder, Scott, Kasich, Walker and the rest.

Maybe this man relies on his father's SS to pay bills for them both? Nursing homes are not cheap. Home health care is less costly. This is disgraceful. People who NEVER served in in DC, cutting costs for the working class, getting $$$$ to screw us over.

PA). Here's the thing: she had excellent coverage from my late father's insurance, applicable to her, as well. This was in addition to the sale of her home and Social Security (the least of it). She'd "bought in" to a retirement community when she was still active, and sold out when it was necessary to have nursing care. The coverage from my dad's employer was the very last of that sort of benefit. My generation has nothing like it, and our kids will have even less. I have heard that many nursing facilities are anxious to go after family property long before it might be necessary, so please be sure to take steps to control things for the family beforehand.

A solitary caregiver might not be the best choice for navigating a complex system. I meet people all the time who are not aware of what is available to them and how to get it. I would give this guy some help in seeking help, which is a skill in and of itself. Then if there really is no help available, bake sale. Which means you write the check yourself or go fetch it from richer friends.

Thins like this are happening to all of us in the "richest" country in the world. This is NOT the way anyone should be treated.

... the American Legion, pronto. They are excellent advocates for anything military related. Also, write a letter to PO. If he's legit, I'm sure he's going to get some help somewhere. It seems impossible to me that the military has cut funds from this veteran and his WWII vet father. But, as with the VA debacle, it wouldn't surprise me in this day and time. Absolutely disgusting!

My dad is a long time Legionnaire as well as VHF member, and in every post there are several very active individuals who do their best to assist with things like this.

They know how to navigate the VA system and get things done. DAV seems the best at it.

In addition each post maintains a fund to assist veterans in need. For a long time my dad was in charge of the one at his VFW post. Each post runs its different, his main job was to go out and validate requests, making sure that the person was legitimately a vet and that the needs were legitimate. They rarely gave cash direct, but instead paid bills directly or purchased needed items. His post gave tens of thousands every year, all the bar profits went to that fund.

Get this man in touch with every veterans organization in his area ASAP. VFW, American Legion, Disabled american veterans, AMVETS, etc.

Dad signed me up for both as soon as I was eligible for each one, and while I am not active at all it has been nice to be able to walk into a post in a strange town and get anything from directions to advice on where to stay to getting my car fixed (i went in asking about where to find a mechanic, two guys fixed my car right in the parking lot)

... that is funny about asking for a mechanic and they fixed your car for you. The American Legion went to bat for my WWII widow Mother once and I will never forget it. Their help alone, I know, gave her 10 more years of life. Her wish was to pass in her own home, and she got her wish. She would not THINK of going into a nursing home, so I was her caretaker the last two years of her life. Every time Memorial Day comes around, the VFW has a bucket brigade in the middle of the street all day. I always contribute to them generously and save those little red poppies and now I have a bouquet of them sitting on the window sill in my kitchen.

I don't know how long this guy has stood by the street. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he has been rescued already by a member of one of the veteran organizations.

The American Legion will help big time. I have had help from them for many things over the years. They are great!

"Republicans want live babies so they can turn them into dead soldiers."
"Pre-born you're OK, pre-K you're fucked"

I live in Idaho and for over 10 years I have volunteered at one of my state's nursing homes for veterans. There is one wing for assisted living, and three for skilled nursing care. It is run by Idaho's Division of Veteran's Services. Your state probably has a similar setup. I highly recommend you check into it. The difference between a for-profit nursing home and one like the one I volunteer at is like night and day. The facility gets a tremendous amount of support from the community and every veteran's service organization and military unit for miles around takes a great deal of interest in making life a little easier for the men and women that live there. I would gladly have my own father live there.

as long as they are healthy and over there, or die over there. When they come home injured and needing the benefits they were promised "Oh, the coffer is empty. We have to pay for the other war we are starting."

who only want to make a profit of umpteen millions from slaughter and pillage in far away countries?

If we give money to this Veteran and his father, they might have to wait to buy that Gulfstream jet!

Will someone PLEASE think of the executives?

She is huge on Vets

vet, and he receives excellent care from the VA.

I believe the issue is nursing care for the elderly WWII dad which would enable him to stay in his home.

Please continue adding suggestions and support.

Much appreciation to everyone!

1.) I agree with the person who said he should accept the news coverage if it's being offered. Especially with the whole VA scandal (exaggerated or not) on people's minds, I think media attention could work wonders

2.) Try Senator Levin too? He is Chairman of the Armed Services Committee...

we need even more money to kill in Iraq... And oh yeah, gotta keep spending that 2 billion/week in Afghanistan in order to make more "heroes" we can throw by the roadside.

The wars for profit are killing us.

Deadbeats make up lengthy and utterly believable stories. They tell these stories in a totally convincingly way. Aging and sick family members who are denied benefits are a staple of these stories, and being a veteran is a standard element of them. Perhaps everything that this guy says is true, but...

I once saw a guy at a corner who had a sign which said he was a Marine who had been stranded and was starving as he tried to make his way back to his duty station. I stopped and talked with him. He'd been AWOL due to staying to take care of his terribly ill mother and trying to get her into public health care but "bureaucratic indifference" had prevented him being able to help her and she had died. He was stationed in Virginia and was trying to get money to get back there and to eat on the journey. He had been sick himself and was still struggling with ill health.

I offered to take him to the Navy Hospital, assuring him that since he was an active duty Marine they would take care of him. He suddenly was not that sick and his health was improving every day. He just needed money for transportation and food. I told him I would take him to the Marine Corps transportation office at the USMC Recruit Training Depot and they would take care of getting him to his duty station and would get him fed. He said never mind, that he had a call in to his buddy that was coming to get him shortly.

I told him "Semper Fi" and left. That guy was no more a Marine than I am.

Since he's contacting his state representatives, he's probably already gone through the VA channels, but just in case: Years ago when I was having trouble getting aid for my mother (US Navy vet), I was put in touch with a veteran's services officer. He was amazingly helpful. He compiled all the correct forms -- I was stumped about which ones I needed -- helped me fill them out, and even talked with the VA on our behalf.

You can find a local VSO here: http://nacvso.org/find-a-service-officer/

Just one warning: Not all VSOs are alike. I lucked out in California, but I've heard some less-than-flattering stories from vets I've met while waiting for my mom at the VA clinic.

the GOP, because the GOP funds the companies where military brass gets high paying "consulting jobs" post retirement as a kickback for all the contracts they award while they are in the service. In other words, the Pentagon's political policy is all about making sure that its own top brass can make some money after retirement---by funneling billions of dollars into the manufacture of weapons we will never use. Even if it means short changing the veteran.

to shame my politicians with but I feel like I should give them some money to do it, which I don't have. I'm on Social Security. I'm with you. We should get their permission and honor their wishes. Bernie Sanders, who is on the Veterans' Affairs Committee should see that.