Know that the VA is here for You.
There has been many negative and positive comments made about the VA and that is expected in today's society. The bottom line is you have several resources to assist you with whatever crisis you may be dealing with. Suicide is never an option or a solution to your issue. You served this Great Nation and earned all the benefits and care that are available to you via the VA. Reach out and seek the help you need. Follow the link for details of resources available to you. Thank you for your Honorable Service.
https://news.va.gov/132878/no-matter-what-va-is-here-for-you/
Unfortunately some are worse than others. I have personally see what lack of care and humanity some of the VA’s have, mostly in staffing. Recently both a friend of ours and my own brother, have seen so many turn overs in their care and no one seems to care. Lack of doctors, and when then yet get another new doctor, they have to go through all the tests and questions. I know there is a lack of them, but I believe it is due to under paying them. Again, our Veterans seem to be the ones who pay. The other issue is the medicine. Both our friend and my brother had to wait for prescriptions. This is getting so out of hand when the pharmaceutical companies are making money, but our Veterans have to wait. Then if they see a new doctor, they many change their meds, and again, the Veterans will have to go through the process all over again, to what that “new” doctor thinks may help. My faith in the VA is not good. I’m glad there are those who have no issues and hope they continue to get the care they deserve and need.
I'm not a veteran, but I have been the caregiver to several over the years. Yes, the turnover is frustrating.. I have had to sit and watch my charge have to go over and over again his symptoms, meds, and results... and the charts were not well handled (I ran a 43 Dr. Medical center, so I know what to look for).
BUT, all that we interacted with at the VA centers did Care a Lot.. and with the limited resources, did their best.
The VA medical services need to be an item in the national news much more often, and be WAY better funded by Congress. Hopefully that will come to pass.
Politics is the biggest issue and obstacle for VA Funding. As for the VA operations is concern, standardization nation wide is what is needed. We can not have VA facilities operating on their own and no accountability. What a VA facility does in NY is not the same in FL as it is not the same in TX, AZ, and CA. Yet the service and care should be the same everywhere. As a certified veterans rep, I have seen the good and the bad and I am always advocating for VA funding and improvements on a weekly basis. More people, veterans and nonveterans' need to step up and reach out to their respective elected representative and voice their concerns for better management, funding, and care for our veterans. I will keep advocating until my last breath.
That is the issue, politics puts that last. It hurts that so many Veterans have to deal with this nonsense. Bad enough SS isn’t enough for most, but to have to deal with this and other issues, our Veterans should not have to.