Our Programs
Battle Buddy Program
The Battle Buddy Program is the foundation of all Hero’s Bridge efforts. It recognizes the strong bond between younger and older veterans. Each war is different but the effects on the individual transcends time and generations. No one understands veterans and their profound stressors more than other veterans. The Battle Buddy Program pairs elderly veterans with a dedicated younger veteran trained using the rapidly growing Community Health Worker philosophy, to provide direct in-home services. A thorough Quality of Life assessment is performed, and personalized frequency of visits established. Referrals will be made to the other programs of Hero’s Bridge®, VA benefits and community partners to meet needs and “bridge” the elderly veteran to a healthier, more supported existence. This measurably improves quality of life and simultaneously provides the younger veteran a marketable skill in healthcare.
Honor Guard
Unfortunately, nearly 10 million aging veterans were never given respect and gratitude for their service. Many of our nation’s heroes, especially those who served in Vietnam, returned home and experienced animosity and disrespect from those who opposed the war.. As veterans age, Hero’s Bridge recognizes that they often need a way to reflect on their time in service and reprocess those experiences in a healthy constructive way. Our Honor Guard provides many services such as replacing lost medals, finding lost comrades, recording life stories, portrait sessions and hosting veteran socials. We involve volunteers from the community, especially youth, wherever possible. The Honor Guard places a special emphasis on serving the sometimes overlooked veterans in nursing facilities and care homes.
Paw Patrol
Many of our heroes have lost or had to give up pets that were dear to them. Others are having difficulty caring for pets they have loved for years. Recognizing the positive impact of pets in our veterans lives, our Paw Patrol team arranges home and nursing facility pet visits. They also help the veteran care for aging pets and help find loving new homes when our veteran makes that difficult decision.
HomeFront
Many of the homes our heroes live in served their families well decades ago, but are difficult to maintain as veterans age. Some homes are very old and in extreme disrepair, while others require modifications such as grab bars and wheelchair ramps to assist aging in place and maintaining independence. Yard work may also be too difficult a task for the heroes we serve, especially during the change of seasons. Faced with fixed incomes, our veterans often do not have funds to make repairs. Our Home Front team assists with maintenance issues, cleaning, safety assessments and yard work so our heroes maintain a safe and comfortable home.
Get Involved
Click below to learn more about how you can help support Hero’s Bridge® as they fulfill their mission to serve our aging heroes.