America's veterans have laid their life on the line in ways only they will ever know. They have survived living nightmares and are left with permanent scars. Some of these scars are easy to see, others are too deep, all are painful. They have come home to emptiness and desolation. Many come home to no home at all. They are left living on the streets and struggling to find work, or simply deal with life after war. American veterans deserve better than this. America's veterans deserve better care and aid through more housing programs, higher health care standards and greater counseling opportunities.
Too many veterans in the United States are living on the streets and in need of a permanent shelter. A home and a place to call their own is a …show more content…
The wait for appointments and treatments at a VA hospital can be months long. The staff and facilities simply cannot meet the demands of the number of veterans requiring care. VA hospitals are often short staffed and under funded. Both of these issues encompass dozens of problems within each area. Healthcare should be one of the top priorities for the VA, however, statistics show this is not the case. Recent studies have shown that as many as 75% of veterans cannot find the help that they need, and so rightly deserve, at a VA hospital and turn to civilian hospitals. (Counts. 4) In her article in MEDSURG Nursing, Lynn Counts explains why this is a problem. "This means that they are most likely receiving care from civilian and non-military trained health care providers" (Counts. 4). It is vital that veterans receive care from specially trained individuals. Veterans do not have typical issues dealt with by most of the American public. It is imperative that the professionals helping them be trained in dealing with their specific needs. Training individuals to meet these needs is just the start, many states have inadequate funds for their VA hospitals leaving the hospitals staffed with too few professionally trained workers. Also existing is the problem of buildings being too small with insufficient room for patients and waiting lists that are unacceptable. It is apparent …show more content…
The horrors of war coupled with the physical stress they have endured and even being homeless have left devastating scars on the psyches of many U.S. veterans. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and substance abuse are among the top problems facing veterans. In his works, renowned clinical psychologist Eugene Dunne, explains in greater depth how hazardous this is. He states: "Research has shown that substance use among homeless veterans decreases opportunities for obtaining housing or employment, increases levels of interpersonal conflict, increases risks for HIV infection and other serious health problems, and increases exposure to criminal behavior, whether through arrest or victimization" (Dunne et al. 676). This is a significant issue to be dealt with. While the VA does service approximately 8.7 million veterans each year, the need for professional counseling for veterans is substantially outweighing the availability of such care. Even with other services such as The Veterans Health Council, The American Legion and The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American veterans are still finding it difficult to find mental health care. Improving these standards will improve many aspects of the veteran life. Counseling opportunities will also provide better chances for employment and further facilitate stability and self-worth. United States veterans not only need this care; they
Too many veterans in the United States are living on the streets and in need of a permanent shelter. A home and a place to call their own is a …show more content…
The wait for appointments and treatments at a VA hospital can be months long. The staff and facilities simply cannot meet the demands of the number of veterans requiring care. VA hospitals are often short staffed and under funded. Both of these issues encompass dozens of problems within each area. Healthcare should be one of the top priorities for the VA, however, statistics show this is not the case. Recent studies have shown that as many as 75% of veterans cannot find the help that they need, and so rightly deserve, at a VA hospital and turn to civilian hospitals. (Counts. 4) In her article in MEDSURG Nursing, Lynn Counts explains why this is a problem. "This means that they are most likely receiving care from civilian and non-military trained health care providers" (Counts. 4). It is vital that veterans receive care from specially trained individuals. Veterans do not have typical issues dealt with by most of the American public. It is imperative that the professionals helping them be trained in dealing with their specific needs. Training individuals to meet these needs is just the start, many states have inadequate funds for their VA hospitals leaving the hospitals staffed with too few professionally trained workers. Also existing is the problem of buildings being too small with insufficient room for patients and waiting lists that are unacceptable. It is apparent …show more content…
The horrors of war coupled with the physical stress they have endured and even being homeless have left devastating scars on the psyches of many U.S. veterans. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and substance abuse are among the top problems facing veterans. In his works, renowned clinical psychologist Eugene Dunne, explains in greater depth how hazardous this is. He states: "Research has shown that substance use among homeless veterans decreases opportunities for obtaining housing or employment, increases levels of interpersonal conflict, increases risks for HIV infection and other serious health problems, and increases exposure to criminal behavior, whether through arrest or victimization" (Dunne et al. 676). This is a significant issue to be dealt with. While the VA does service approximately 8.7 million veterans each year, the need for professional counseling for veterans is substantially outweighing the availability of such care. Even with other services such as The Veterans Health Council, The American Legion and The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American veterans are still finding it difficult to find mental health care. Improving these standards will improve many aspects of the veteran life. Counseling opportunities will also provide better chances for employment and further facilitate stability and self-worth. United States veterans not only need this care; they