July 15th 2024.
In 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs recognized the need for additional care for aging veterans and launched a new program - the medical foster program. This program has since grown to support over 700 veterans with the help of 500 dedicated caregivers. One of these caregivers is Shantel Cross and her family in Baltimore, who currently provide care for three veterans in their home: Charles McCoubrey, Peter Samaras, and Ekkehard Thies. All three of these men served in the military during the 1960s and 1970s.
According to a one-pager provided by the VA, Medical Foster Homes are private residences that offer around-the-clock care and supervision for veterans. The caregivers in these homes are trained to assist with daily activities such as bathing and getting dressed. Additionally, veterans who live in Medical Foster Homes receive Home Based Primary Care from the VA. This model has proven to be a more personal and effective way of caring for aging veterans, as opposed to traditional nursing homes.
Peter Samaras, one of the veterans living in Cross' home, shared with CBS News that he prefers this arrangement over a nursing home. "It's nice here," he said. "And being in a nursing home, they just throw you away, they ignore you. But here we're like part of the family." Cross, who previously worked in a nursing home, treats the men in her care like members of her own family. They go on outings to places like the mall and enjoy simple pleasures like coffee and ice cream.
Dayna Cooper, the director of home and community care at the Department of Veterans Affairs, oversees the medical foster home program and believes that Cross and her family exemplify the program's goals. "Our caregivers treat the veterans as their own family," said Cooper. "The caregivers have to live in the home with the veteran, and so we really see that family bond and relationship. I believe that every veteran has a right to remain and age in place and be with people who surround them with love."
The statistics show that this program is making a significant impact. According to U.S. Census data, almost half of all veterans in America are 65 years old or older. Nursing homes can be costly, often exceeding $100,000 a year. In contrast, the medical foster program costs less than half that amount and caregivers receive an average of $2,800 a month for each veteran in their home. Additionally, any veteran in the VA system is eligible for this program.
For Cross, being a caregiver in the medical foster program is not just a job - it is a passion. "It gives me peace of mind to know that I'm able to help others and give back," she shared. "I love helping others and I love giving back. I don't ever want to stop." This sentiment is shared by many caregivers in the program, who see it as a way to honor and support those who have served their country.
In a world where resources for aging veterans are limited, the medical foster program offers a more personalized and affordable option. With dedicated caregivers like Cross and her family, veterans are able to age in place with the love and support they deserve. It is a small but meaningful way to give back to those who have sacrificed so much for our country.
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