My Dad, Charlie Kohler was born in 1921. After the attack on
Pearl Harbor, Dad and his brother Eddie joined the Marines.
Both Dad and Eddie were wounded during the battle of Iwo Jima.
Dad survived but Eddie died of his wounds.
After the war (WWII), my Dad returned home, joined the family business,
married and started our family.
When my mom died I decided to buy my childhood home and move back in to care
for my Dad so he was going to be provided the dignity and
respect to age in place.
As a Caregiver, my daily tasks include things like feeding him,
making his breakfast, making his lunches, dinners, making sure he's clean,
making sure he gets his exercises in. (Charlie) It'd take a book to tell you what he does. He does
everything - takes care of me 100% and sees everything that I got here,
he gets for me.
Having the responsibility of caring for my Dad has been extremely overwhelming at times
and I reached out to the VA
And I mean without the VA I don't know where I would be.
Hi Mitzi, (Hi Keith) great to see you, come on in.
The VA understands how challenging it is to be a Caregiver.
They're providing care 24/7 and it can take a toll mentally and physically. We at the VA
have created the Caregiver Support Program to
provide support to those Caregivers. How are you feeling today, Keith?
How are your stress levels? Well thanks for asking... Keith initially applied to our
program but needed some help with eligibility requirements.
Our team was able to help advocate, for him and guide him through the VA system
which led to an enrollment in our Caregiver Support Program,
Among other things, the VA
first walked me back off the ledge, ah just emotionally.
The Caregiver Support Program in particular has been an absolute Godsend.
Charlie, how is it going with Keith taking care of you at home?
I couldn't have a better person in my life, and I'm so glad...
The VA Caregiver Support Program has multiple services to offer Caregivers.
We encourage trainings and education to help strengthen skills for a Caregiver to take care
of their Veteran, as well as self-care techniques to strengthen their own well-being
mentally and physically. We also offer in-home respite which allows
someone to come in the home while the Caregiver is able to go and take care of their own needs
and recharge. Here we go, Papa, dinner time!
The VA has enabled me to take care of myself so that I
can take care of my Dad. If I weren't able to be looking out for my physical and mental
health, Charlie, my Dad, would not be getting the care that he's
getting from me because I would be wiped out. Boy, I'm telling you I am the luckiest guy and
that's why I lived to a hundred and one (101 years old). I would never have lived this long,
you know, without my family. Never. There is no greater feeling than to be able to
be at home in the comfort of your own home and have a family member care for you.
And that's what the VA has enabled.