Program aids and attends to veterans

Seven people from The Timbers of Shorewood now receive Aid and Attendance, thanks to Robert Hart's information sessions.

For Ann O'Connor, the financial benefits mean she can afford personal assistance for her husband John, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

"He needs help showering and dressing and I could never have afforded it without the aid," Ann said. "If I wasn't living at the Timbers, I would never have found out about it. I think our poor veterans need the help. They've given their time for their country so someone should help them when they can't manage anymore."

Many veterans and their spouses never seek Aid and Attendance, an additional compensation to veterans and -- in certain circumstances -- spouses who need the regular aid and assistance of another person for the activities of daily life and/or is permanently housebound.

This is because the veterans and their families often mistakenly believe they are not qualified.

To counteract this myth, Hart, with the American Association for Wartime Veterans in Joliet, gives presentations and helps individuals through the sometimes confusing and lengthy application process.

Success stories

Recipients have nothing but praise for Hart's assistance and hard work in their behalf.

"He was helpful throughout the whole process, and we're very happy with the outcome," said Sue Conroy of Kankakee. "He said it could take six to eight months, but the checks came pretty quickly."

Conroy and her sister Diane Lutz of Joliet attended one of Hart's presentations to learn if their mother Velma Conroy, a Timbers resident, might qualify for the aid.

"Dad was the veteran," Conroy said. "Mom was a teacher in Illinois. She lives on her pension and a very small amount of Social Security from our dad. Mom had a stroke in 2006 and hasn't been able to live on her own since then. This has given her financial security."

For former missionaries Doug and Kay Abell, who filed in January and soon began receiving monthly checks of $1,945, Aid and Assistance has enabled them to continue living at The Timbers.

"Doug became permanently disable two years ago after he had a stroke and has had three more mini strokes since we moved here," Kay said. "Our daughter attended the seminar and she worked with Bob Hart to get the process rolling. His organization really likes working with the children of the veterans because it's less stressful for everyone. I'm a full-time caregiver for Doug and I just would not have been able to get all that information together."

By Denise Baran-Unland
Joliet Herald News - November 30, 2009