Woman gives vets helping hand
“Being in a family is freedom.” This woman opened her home to veterans — providing an alternative to nursing homes and creating a unique family.
For most veterans, the arrangement is for the rest of their lives
Samuel Maneely World War II Vet and Korean War Vet Jacob Tingle, who is 89 years old. Sharon Smack-Dixon has opened her home to veterans who can no longer live alone. She’s part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Foster Home program — an alternative to nursing homes. Sharon takes care of the veterans full time. Sharon’s home can care for 3 veterans.
Jacob
Being in a family is freedom and their life just blossoms. And with their age, they do very well. They have their own independence. They have their likes and differences. But yet we all come together as a family. I love that woman, she's like a sister. I'm very happy here. I walk down the street. Walk all around the building. I do my exercise. They asked me to talk to him, I talk to him. This is our sweet little youngin.
Sam
It's like family. We do all kinds of stuff. Watch TV, play checkers. We get along. Veterans should live in homes like this. Because they get treated better than they would anywhere else. Veterans should live in homes like this. Because they get treated better than they would anywhere else. My life I right now would say my life is better than it has ever been. I'm very happy and very pleased with what's going on here.
Sharon
I have my grands, my great grandsons, my granddaughter, my son, my daughter-in-law, and everyone lives here. It's a great, great, great place, because what happens is I have my young grandkids that interact with Jake and Sam and for them, is like a grandfather situation.
VA staff also visit the foster homes for oversight and support
Veterans pay foster home caregivers themselves — about $1,500 to $3,000 per month. According to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs there are over 1,000 vets in the program and about 700 caregivers in 42 states. And for most veterans, the arrangement is for the rest of their lives.
Brut.
135 comments
Charita L.
01/01/2020 05:45It's unfair that she just says and they're locked in. At a nursing home. There are locks on the doors where I work. But there are also a lot of people there with alzheimer disease. They wander off. And can get lost. But all our residents who are of sound minds and are like these 2 gentlemen know the code and go in and out at will.
Antoinettet D.
01/01/2020 05:10God bless 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Maxamed F.
01/01/2020 02:23Ilove English language is nice
Salima J.
01/01/2020 00:49this is so cute
Willie B.
01/01/2020 00:34Great.i have been in nursing homes and the people are just so sad but The staff is doing the best they can.thank you Lord for this type of home.
Missy P.
01/01/2020 00:26Thanks for sharing God bless you all in this program 💕💕💕
Roger B.
12/31/2019 23:07Awesome lady thank you
Renee W.
12/31/2019 21:52Beautiful
Gail C.
12/31/2019 21:09❤️
LaTandrea R.
12/31/2019 19:15ALMIGHTY HOLY LIVING GOD BLESS and STRENGTHEN all with pure heart of caregiving🙏❤😍
Marge C.
12/31/2019 18:44Bless them!
Robin H.
12/31/2019 18:05AWESOME lady & GOD BLESS her💕💖💕💖🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙌🙌🙌
Naeem B.
12/31/2019 17:11It maybe wonderful for people who send their their parents and grandparents to old houses. In our society we respect every elder much more than that.
Carl W.
12/31/2019 16:28SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!!!
Gordon E.
12/31/2019 05:37Nice to here the sound of love for a change!!
Harold B.
12/31/2019 04:59That is so cool
Talona B.
12/31/2019 03:06Beautiful
Sandy M.
12/31/2019 02:24That is very kind of you to open your home to give them a better life.
Suzanne M.
12/31/2019 02:05Amazing.
Precious J.
12/30/2019 23:38This is a BLESSING all the way around!! BLESSING to all 💕💕💕