Military veterans are integral and critical element within American society. Not only have veterans provided critical defense services needed to help protect the country, they have also provided services to deal with internal crises within American. These crisis relief efforts can vary in degree and magnitude, but are essential for the proper functioning of society. Efforts related to COVID- relief, natural disaster mitigation efforts, and even certain infrastructure projects have all been completed with the help of military veterans. Unfortunately, many of these efforts often cause undue harm to military veterans later on in their lives. War, in particular, has had grave consequences for veterans during their later years. Complication related to PTSD and other mental health issues have caused a large amount difficulty for veterans during the older years. These complications are exacerbated by increasing levels of financial stress and pressures. For one, many veterans often find it difficult to matriculate back into society after serving many years within the military. In addition, financial pressures can also heavily impact veterans looking to improve their overall quality of life in their later years. Medical issues and treatment are particularly important to veterans needing consistent, high quality service (Fonseca, 1996).

As a result, advanced age care is a needed and welcomed addition to the treatment of military veterans. Here, advanced age care can help mitigate many of the topics noted above. It can also provide essential treatment services to the families of veterans who have sacrificed as well. Finally advanced age care, can help lower the overall society cost of veteran treatment. Here, with proper care, society will not have to spend large tax payer funds on social programs associated with veteran treatment programs. Likewise, in addition to having proper treatment for veterans, their families are also relieved of the financial and often time-consuming burden of properly caring for a loved one. This too is very helpful as it allows veterans to obtain the best care available as oppose to having family members chose between lower cost options.

Advanced age care is a well-deserved benefit for veterans. Here, many veterans have risked heir lives and in certain instances, sacrificed heavily for the benefit of the country. These sacrifices have enabled many other individuals within the country to enjoy many of the freedoms and privileges associated with a highly protected country. These freedoms and privileges have come at a cost however. Many veterans have lost their lives defending the country. In addition, many family members have had to deal with a parent leaving for very long periods of time. In the Navy for example, it is not uncommon for a family member to be gone 6 months out the year for work. These 6 months place a heavy burden on the remaining parent who must then care for a family without the aid of their partner. Likewise, military families are often required to constantly move to various military bases, again but stress on families. This is particularly troublesome for younger children who have developed relationships, friendships, and contacts within a given community. These are but a few of the sacrifices that military veterans along with their families have made over the years. These sacrifices have enabled many civilians within America to benefit for the service of veterans (Feussner, 1998)

As a result of these sacrifices, veterans should have access to the best advanced age care in the industry. Here, society should be willing to help support veterans how have scarified dearly for the country as noted above. Advanced care for veterans is required service that is heavily needed within the veteran population. For one, many veterans need high end are during their later stages of life due to the trauma they experienced throughout their careers. Likewise, the cost of such care is becoming increasing unaffordable for many veterans. Currently, healthcare expenditures as a percentage of GDP are roughly 18%. This figure is expected to increase to 20% or $5 trillion by the year 2030. Inflation is also heavily impacting expenditures as cost continue to rise, placing still more of a burden on veterans. Currently, inflation is roughly 7%, which the highest it has been in nearly 4 decades. The higher financial costs of healthcare combined with the higher inflation creates a difficult burden for veterans and their families. Likewise, income levels, particularly for veterans often remains stagnant in their later lives. Here, many veterans may be unable to work due to physical limitations (Trivedi, 2011). Likewise, some veterans may simply not be able to work due to mental constraints placed on them through PTSD or another form of hardship. With lower income levels, veterans are required to be much more prudent with the dollars they have available to them. This often requires them to make difficult financial choices as it relates to critical purchases such as housing, food, medical care and so forth. The combination of lower or stagnating incomes along with higher healthcare costs often creates an inability for veterans to access the care they desperately need. By giving veterans access to advanced age care, they have a much better opportunity to live with pride and dignity. In addition, it helps alleviate the stress placed on their family members who may need to care for a veteran.

References

1. Fonseca, M. L., Mary E. (Beth) Smith, Klein, R. E., & Sheldon, G. (1996). The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care System and the People It Serves.Medical Care,34(3), MS9MS20. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3766802

2. Feussner, J. R., & Maklan, C. W. (1998). Department of Veterans Affairs.Medical Care,36(3), 254256. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3767320

3. Trivedi, A. N., Matula, S., Miake-Lye, I., Glassman, P. A., Shekelle, P., & Asch, S. (2011). Systematic Review: Comparison of the Quality of Medical Care in Veterans Affairs and Non-Veterans Affairs Settings.Medical Care,49(1), 7688.