Is there any type of benefit for a veteran such as a life alert system?
My dad has been in a rehab facility for the last 5 months and is being discharged. He has fallen 5 times while in the facility and we are concerned about him being at home with my elderly mother without a device such as this.
They supplied one called Freedom Alert for my dad. It came with a pendant and a stationary component that we mounted in the bathroom. It could be set to dial a few phone numbers in order until someone answered or to dial 911. You need a land line, but there was no monthly fee.
The VA supplied my dad with a medical alarm and wheelchair. You must be qualified for VA healthcare and his doctor must request the equipment. You may also want to look into VA Home Health Care.
The VA will provide a medic alert bracelet or pendant which is imprinted with pertinent medical information concerning your should you find yourself unable to communicate. t is not, however, equipped to summon help; it is not an electronic device.
I don't know specifically if the VA will cover a life alert pendant but you could call your father's primary care team and ask them. If they don't know, they could probably refer you to someone who does.
It might also fall under a category less obvious than DME supplies, although I'm not even sure if it falls into that classification. Since he's a fall risk, a pendant might fall under a category of home health safety or something like that. Has the VA provided a walker, wheelchair, or other DME? Has your father been qualified for any VA home care support?
I did a quick google check but my anti-virus isn't reporting sites as safe or unsafe and I won't check out any hits w/o that confidence. But you could try searching on "VA, life alert pendants". I did find some hits that suggest the VA will pay for one, but I still think a call to your father's VA primary care team might be quicker.
Good luck - this is a good question, one which I intend to explore as well since we're paying out of pocket for my father's life alert pendant.
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It might also fall under a category less obvious than DME supplies, although I'm not even sure if it falls into that classification. Since he's a fall risk, a pendant might fall under a category of home health safety or something like that. Has the VA provided a walker, wheelchair, or other DME? Has your father been qualified for any VA home care support?
I did a quick google check but my anti-virus isn't reporting sites as safe or unsafe and I won't check out any hits w/o that confidence. But you could try searching on "VA, life alert pendants". I did find some hits that suggest the VA will pay for one, but I still think a call to your father's VA primary care team might be quicker.
Good luck - this is a good question, one which I intend to explore as well since we're paying out of pocket for my father's life alert pendant.