Veteran News

June 2024, Vol. 18, Issue 06

Virtual resources for older Veterans to remain active

VA News – Maintaining an active lifestyle is key to staying healthy and independent as we age and the VA wants to encourage physical activity and highlight resources to guide older Veterans on a path to better health, wellness and community connections.

Safe and consistent physical activity is a key component of healthy aging and it’s never too late to start. The best type of activity is the one you’re going to stick with, for example:

• Gerofit is a VA clinical program promoting health, wellness and safe exercise for older Veterans, suitable for all ages and functional abilities that can be done anytime, from anywhere.
• The MOVE! Coach app helps Veterans set and achieve goals for healthy eating, physical activity and weight management.
• The My HealtheVet Community shares relevant events, opportunities, VA benefits and ways to manage your health care.
• The Live Whole Health app can support Veterans interested in taking a more holistic approach to their well-being.
• Annie is a VA text messaging service that empowers Veterans to take an active role in their health care by sending various automated self-care reminders.

To keep Veterans healthy, socially engaged, and remain active and independent as long as possible, the VA builds relationships with Veterans that participate in these programs.

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JUN

In all areas, VA staff are continuing home inspections.

All VA Medical Centers are focusing on smoking patients and fire safety issues and are visiting patients to ensure that each patient’s fire safety valve is in-place, installed properly, and are compliant with fire safety guidelines.

It’s hurricane season. Are you ready?

Do not try to prepare for a hurricane or any emergency when it happens or as an afterthought. Whether the prediction is for a mild or active, the time to be prepared and be ready is now.

Planning to protect the people and things you love as we enter hurricane season is essential, and there are ways you can prepare and mitigate damage to your home and remain safe during the storm:

• Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone.
• Locate the nearest shelter if you need to leave your home.
• Review/update insurance policies.
• Plan to protect your home.
• Build or replenish your emergency kit with hurricane supplies.
• Create, be familiar and test your family plan.
• Stay informed with the latest local and national information.

Are you prepared for wildfire season?

Every year, devastating wildfires burn across the United States and while these fires will continue to happen, by working together residents can make their own property and their neighborhood much safer from wildfire.

Changes made to a structure and its surroundings can make a big impact and the first 0 to 5 feet around the structure, known as the immediate zone, has the greatest impact on your risk.

If you would like to download a print-version of this or previous month’s newsletter, including additional content, monthly calendar, word search, recipes, etc…

Important Emergency Preparation Steps

• Review all available safety components.
• Create and have an evacuation plan for your residence.
• Take as much oxygen and ventilation equipment with you, should you need to evacuate.
• Contact Mid-Cities Medical for emergency assistance and setup. You will need to provide us with your evacuation address and contact details.
  • Texas – 1 (888) 450-6676
  • CA & AZ – 1 (833) 986-4267

If you have any oxygen or ventilation preparation questions during these ongoing events, or need emergency assistance, please contact our offices:

VISN 17 – Texas, 1 (888) 450-6676
VISN 22 – Arizona, 1 (833) 986-4267
VISN 22 – Southern California, 1 (833) 986-4267
CalOx Inc. – 1 (866) 519-2414

“Freedom isn’t free. We will remember all those that have given their lives for our country. Thank you for your service.”

Vision and Hearing Health:
Vital to Military Readiness

Health.mil – Vision and hearing health are easy to take for granted, and preserving these service members are crucial to mission readiness and success, both on and off the battlefield.

The military is an environment where the need to understand spoken commands, identify and localize sounds, and respond to audible signals is not only ubiquitous but often time sensitive. While visual cues influence spatial orientation and provide important information relative to accomplishing a mission. Our eyes tell our brain if we are straight and level in three-dimensional space and we can also gauge speed and motion based on visual input.

Protecting service members vision and hearing should be just as important as dental readiness and other medical requirements. Even though our military population is generally young and healthy, there are service members out there who may not know they have a systemic vision and hearing problems until they come in for an exam.

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Mid-Cities Medical has partnered with local, regional and national providers to assist individuals in identifying and overcoming barriers in order to have the services and supports that meet your individual strengths, abilities, priorities, and needs.

3017 Red Hawk Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75052

(888) 450-6676 Toll Free (TX)

Patient Care: 24/7/365
Emergency: Call 911

(833) 986-4267 Toll Free (AZ & CA)