ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A 103-year-old World War II veteran who’s been paying his medical bills out-of-pocket is finally getting his veterans benefits from the U.S. government after 78 years.
Louis Gigliotti’s caretaker says the former U.S. Army medical technician has a card from the Veteran Administration but he never realized he could use his status to access “free perks” such as health care.
Gigliotti, who goes by the nickname Jiggs, could use the help to pay for dental, hearing and vision problems as he embarks on his second century. He was honored last week by family, friends and patrons at the Alaska Veterans Museum in Anchorage, where he lives with his nephew’s family. more
No Family or Friends to Tell him what his benefits were for?
NOT COOL!
here is a good heads up for any elder vets living month to month requiring long term care. military families beware
my father was a veteran. he served in the army as private first class during ww2. he has passed and left my mother with a veterans death benefit for aid and assistance. my mother has endured 12 years of mild dementia and 24hr supervised care by her remaining family. mom passed on 062824. i called and notified the va of her passing some days later with no indication of what was ahead. this week I find her account deducted the monthly amount of her veterans benefit and social security. around 3300 dollars. when i called the va again about the deduction they notified me, because mom did not live another 2 days, the entire month of benefits is deducted. i made a complaint with the supervisor. i explained the need for 24hr supervised care and the payments for the aid and assistance my mother required. explaining further the deduction has created a hardship for the remaining military family. i then asked her if we were still part of the military family? no response. i then requested a proration at minimum and refused. i have multiple family served in the military, and all my interactions at military events was the promotion of family. because of the service members honorable service we are now part of the military family. i am disgusted by the actions of the va and social security. i do not feel we are part of the military service family. on the contrary the actions of the va and social security have jeopardized any future service within my family. family do not steal from family. my mother lived 28 days into the month and should receive benefits 28 days into the month. i did not request a gift of the 2 days. talk about getting a beating when your down.
Pie,
I am shocked at this story.
The people you dealt with are, hopefully, the exception.
I would suggest you contact your congressman and explain. Perhaps he or she could fix this terrible error.
When I was in basic training, the drill instructor told us the only reason to go to a VA Hospital was to die.
graceia,
done. what you read is a modified version sent to lamalfa. interesting fact… crickets from lamalfa. figured, get the word out, save some grief. yes, i spoke with three persons at va including a supervisor. one even tried to convince me i was wrong to even question.
if you really want appalling. mom survived ww2, raising three boys, dementia, covid with no clot shot, all with family care. only to be taken out by a recall med. she was taking east indian made generic potassium chloride made by glenmark under fda recall. gives a bolus dose and causes heart attack. calling for weeks, not one attorney will take the case. got a letter 2 weeks after mom died from walgreens, “hey this med might kill you”. think a lot of elders are dying from this, families are unaware.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/glenmark-pharmaceuticals-inc-usa-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-potassium-chloride-extended
check your meds glenmark is bad news. lot numbers are listed on the link.