Older veterans need face-to-face service with Veterans Affairs, Saskatoon vet says
Ken Lowther says older vets don't feel comfortable on the phone or online
A Saskatoon veterans says it would be terrific news to have the veterans affairs office re-opened in Saskatoon.
Ken Lowther, who served for 29 years in peacekeeping missions, was responding to the announcement from Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr that the department will re-open offices across the country.
However, the department may not re-open the same offices they closed, so it's not clear if Saskatoon will see it's face-to-face services restored for veterans.
Lowther, now a service officer with the Canadian Legion, told CBC News Wednesday it's been tough for veterans who are left to deal with their cases over the phone.
He gave an example of a couple, where the husband moved into a nursing home, but the wife stayed at their residence. When her husband moved into the home she lost the financial and physical support for things such as snow shovelling and other work needed to maintain the house. And now she's struggling.
Some of them are not in good mental health, and so they forget things, they don't remember a regimental number or something like that.- Ken Lowther
Lowther said she might be able to get help from Veterans Affairs if there were case workers she could speak to in person.
"Because she could talk to somebody, I know she has tried," he said.
"She won't tell him all her problems over a phone."
As for accessing services online, Lowther is doubtful that many veterans would feel comfortable dealing with their cases that way.
"There's not too many that went through the Second World War that are good at computers," he said.
Distance from the Regina office is another issue.
"A lot of our guys are in northern Saskatchewan too, where now they have to leave up there, it's a day to get almost to Saskatoon, and now they got another day to get to Regina. You know it's hard on them. And most of them just won't do it."
He said more veterans need to be dealing with Veterans affairs because they need help as they age. Some of them, Lowther said, have never claimed for help before. They might be struggling with the paperwork, he added.
"Some of them are not in good mental health, and so they forget things, they don't remember a regimental number or something like that."
Lowther doesn't know how many people are forgoing the help they need since the office closed. He believes some are not pushing their cases because they can't speak to someone directly.