The small, secure forms of comfort are the ones that can really improve a senior’s quality of life. Sheffield Manor and Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center want to help give the community a push in the right direction by giving them the information they need to cultivate such comforts on behalf their senior community. Some citizens don't realize that the Department of Veterans Affairs' Aid & Attendance Pension can help make qualified seniors’ lives easier. On Tuesday, Sheffield Manor of Dyer hosted an event to give residents and the surrounding community the inside scoop on benefits designed to help pay for care.
Sheffield Manor provides an affordable and comfortable place for seniors to live independently, or to receive needed care at the adjoining Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The team is determined to offer residents the most affordable, quality living experience available; they partnered with Veterans Financial Services to help current and potential residents understand the pension they can receive if they apply for the program. Leading up to the expo, the Sheffield Manor team handed out flyers to invite the community to come learn about the veterans benefit.
Heather Shelton, Business Development Director, has 10 years of marketing experience. She started working with Sheffield Manor three months ago.
"I absolutely love it here, it's amazing. There is good teamwork, great support, and it's a beautiful building,” Shelton said. “I love to provide education for the community to spread awareness."
The Admission Director for Dyer Nursing and Rehab and Sheffield Manor, Gary Batty, is responsible for helping inform the public of the advantages they can seek out to support their daily lives.
"When you help even one family, it makes your day. To work with a family and to see them go home in peace, knowing that their elder is going to be taken care of, it gives you a sense of accomplishment," Batty said. "It's not about money, it's about what you go home with every day knowing that you've helped people."
For over 13 years, Mike Leiter, Agent for Veterans Financial Services and a presenter at the expo, has been giving workshops to educate qualified veterans on the program.
"We're going to give them an overview of the entire package, and help them determine if they qualify now, and if not, when they might qualify," Leiter said. "We help them with the application process should they want to try to get this benefit."
The money given to a surviving spouse is up to $1176.00 a month, while a veteran with a spouse can receive up to $2169 a month. Veterans Financial Services have been educating over 136,000 families since 2003.
"This money can have a huge effect on where people are able to access care. There's a lot of folks living in a dangerous situation, whereas if they had additional dollars coming in every month it would give them the opportunity to access better and more efficient care," Leiter said.
"What I love about this is that it's a great benefit for the veterans, but what makes me feel most grateful for this benefit is that even when the veteran has passed away, this benefit is made available to their surviving spouse," said Amy Nikuto, the Regional Business Development of Extended Care.
Sheffield Manor and Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation offer affordable assisted living and licensed care, and comfort is always a priority. To learn more, please visit dyerrehab.com or assistedlivingdyer.com.