Page 44 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine
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PRIOR TO VETERAN’S DEATH with VETERAN’S HAVE DD214 AVAILABLE WHEN CONTACTING:
INPUT CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING VBA National Call Center: 1-800-827-1000
Is any financial assistance available for burial or
Locate Veteran’s DD214 discharge form. cremation?
Choose photos and memorabilia for display Is assistance or payment for the grave marker
Begin photo enlargements, if needed. available?
Establish life time-line. Write obituary. Are spousal benefits available?
Choose burial or cremation. Are financial and/or educational benefits
Check with funeral home for form to recover available for family members?
lost military medals. Is emotional support for family available?
Choose burial location. Spouse be buried there?
If considering a national or state cemetery, INFORMATION REGARDING BENEFITS FOR VETERANS
begin the process with an inquiry at Amarillo VA: 806 355-9703.
www.cem.va.gov / www.cem.gov.grants/state.asp www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/
Who will officiate the service?
Select songs for service.
Will you have live or recorded music? Locate
MOST VETERANS ARE
music CD and/or musicians. ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS.
Choose pall bearers. Obtain contact information. IF NOT CONNECTED WITH
Choose person to receive flag (Funeral home will THE VA, BEGIN THE
obtain flag from the Post Office.) PROCESS AND CONTACT
Confirm funeral director will contact YOUR LOCAL VA. Katherine McLamore
veteran’s military branch and/or American Kindred Hospice
Legion to participate in funeral service. Manager of Volunteer Services
& We Honor Veterans Liaison
Now the grieving begins. Here are a
Few Normal Emotions You May Feel:
NOW THE GRIEVING BEGINS GRIEF IS AS INDIVIDUAL AS THE PERSON (Not an exhaustive List)
Here are a Few Normal Emotions You May Feel: However, if you are concerned that your emotions are o Sadness
(Not an exhaustive list) out of control for you, find a counselor, spiritual leader o Tearful
or bereavement professional. You may also need a o Stressed
Sadness Tearfulness group to help you process with others who are also in o Lack of Concentration
Stress Lack of Concentration grief. o Guilt
Guilt Fatigue o Relieved (yes, it is normal)
Isolation Anxiety IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING: o Tired
Overwhelmed Numbness Sleeplessness or sleeping too much o Isolated
Fear Relief (yes, it is normal) Big changes in eating patterns (eating too o Anxious
much or too little) o Overwhelmed
Self–medicating with alcohol, drugs or risky o Numb
NEED A GROUP? behavior o Afraid
THINKING ABOUT Having thoughts of suicide
VOLUNTEERING? Grief is as individual as the person. However, if
FOR MORE you are concerned that your emotions are out of
INFORMATION DO NOT WAIT control for you, find a counselor, spiritual leader
806.748.1041 CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN OR LOCATE A or bereavement professional. You may also need
Colleen Eppler PROFESSIONAL WHO WILL SEE YOU QUICKLY a group to help you process with others who are
Kindred Hospice AND HELP YOU WITH NEXT STEPS. also in grief.
Bereavement Coordinator
