Dec

31

HARD DECISIONS

Filed Under Aging, Healing, Tears of a Warrior, Veteran Benefits 

by Janet J. Seahorn, Ph.D

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”                  -Buckminster Fuller

What is it about change that makes us crazy? Is it the sense of what will be lost against the uncertainty of what might be gained? Is it the reality that in most change situations friendships and services will be altered? Or is it that almost all change requires individuals to deal with the vagueness of questions and conditions that either can’t or are refused answers? At any rate, change demands making decisions that may or may not be made according to what is best for those closest to the resolution. In essence, given our current economy, many decisions are based more on the bottom line of funds, and people are left to make the most of the situation.

 

            For the last several months the veterans and people of Hot Springs, SD have been caught up with a proposal that that will change the way and the location of how VA services are delivered to that area. Currently, Hot Springs has been the home of a large and historically old VA hospital and care center. The plan is to relocate most VA services to Rapid Cityand outsource some services to Fall River Hospital in Hot Springs. The current VA “workforce of 385 employees will be reduced to only 55 by year 2016” (Hot Springs Star, December 20, 2011). It doesn’t take a genius to recognize this type of reduction will greatly effect the resources provided by the hospital as well as impact the economic stability of the area. Since many of the vets in this area are older, few can physically travel to other locations for their health care necessities.

 

            Analyzing the circumstances strictly from a financial perspective, one can understand that newer facilities with upgraded equipment may benefit many of  veterans. The cost of renovating a very old facility may or may not be the best or most cost effective alternative. Truthfully, I haven’t studied the proposal enough, nor do I have access to the data and in-depth thinking of the various involved parties. The only perspective I can address is that of the emotional concerns of many veterans and employees of the Hot Springs Area. Presently there is an enormous amount of confusion which leads to anger and fear. The process of making any future decisions does not seem to be very transparent to most of the Hot Springs people. Without such transparency people tend to distrust those making the decision and, therefore, assume the worst.

 

            It is my continued faith and hope that our government will do everything possible to make sure our veterans and their families are given the health care and resources needed to support their present and future well-being. In our book, Tears of a Warrior, we used a quote from Calvin Coolidge, “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten”. In remembering and serving these defenders it is vital that their input and needs are at the forefront of any proposal or decision made in their behalf.

 

“If we send them, then we must mend them.”     www.tearsofawarrior.com

 

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