Guest column: Championing health for area’s veterans

Guest column by Martha Jones Sichko

I recently attended two poignant veteran ceremonies. On Memorial Day at Albert Lea’s Graceland Cemetery, a moving service took place where all ages attended to pay respect, and our local veterans rendered gunfire salutes to honor the fallen. On June 6, I attended the 80th-anniversary D-Day commemoration at the Normandy American Cemetery to honor my father, surviving veterans and those who sacrificed their lives to defeat Nazism.

Martha Jones Sichko

Supporting veterans is a cause I hold dear. But we need more than certain days. We need to ensure that every day veterans receive critical health and mental health services. For many veterans, maintaining physical well-being means addressing hearing loss, toxic exposure, age-related conditions, and service-related injuries or trauma that can manifest at any life stage.

Despite not having a full-service hospital, Freeborn County does have a Veterans Administration (VA) outpatient clinic. This clinic offers telemedicine with providers in Minneapolis, primary care, mental health services, radiology, laboratory services, social work, dietitian and pharmacy services.

However, many veterans are facing challenges with benefits and navigating a complex VA. According to StatNews, nine million of the 18 million veterans were eligible for VA care, but only six million accessed it, highlighting struggles with mental health issues like PTSD and depression. According to the VA, fewer than 50% of veterans in need receive mental health treatment.

A first step for veterans is to create an account on va.gov. Upon login, a menu provides a complete list of services and contacts, including businesses that offer discounts to veterans.
Supporting veterans must also encompass social, cultural, economic, housing and emotional services. Community organizations, veteran organizations and government play a vital role in reducing isolation and enhancing the quality of life for senior veterans, especially in rural communities.

In Freeborn County, veterans can access a veterans services officer who can assist them with VA access, vocational rehabilitation, home loans, education, insurance, burial benefits and pensions. For more information, call 507-377-5184 or email Jeff.Dahlen@co.freeborn.mn.us.

By fostering a commitment to veterans who defended our freedoms, we can offer a grateful community and create clear pathways to support and well-being. The Minnesota VA cites 2,058 veterans in Freeborn County, and I want to thank them all.

Martha Jones Sichko is a senior advocate, helping to ensure affordable, accessible health care in Freeborn County.

The post Guest column: Championing health for area’s veterans appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune .