Veterans First: Providing Independence for Aging Veterans and Their Families with John Mozdzien

Join Kosta and his guest: John Mozdzien, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Veterans First. Aging veterans and their families often face unique challenges, and it can be difficult trying to maintain a level of independence. That’s why Veterans First works to provide veterans and their families the support they need for independent living at home. 

In this episode: How Veterans First is revolutionizing the long-term care planning process for veterans, their families and surviving spouses, the evolving needs of our veterans as they age and how together we can honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/J2FJT1yulMI

Find out more about John and Veterans First:
https://www.veteransfirst.us/

Find out more about Kosta Yepifantsev:
http://kostayepifantsev.com/

Transcript

John Mozdzien: 0:04

I'm going to give you three words, you're not alone. There are so many individuals in the home beside you across the street, and a different zip code that are dealing with the same thing behind closed doors. So if you speak up and you're that person to say, you know, I went to the VA or I called and spoke with Costa or I called Veterans First and they guided me to go this way. Guess what you just did. You are the first person to step up to be a voice for that other person that may have been more reluctant to do just that.

Caroline Moore: 0:45

Welcome to Now or Never Long-Term Care Strategy with Kosta Yepifantsev a podcast for all those seeking answers and solutions in the long term care space. This podcast is designed to create resources, start conversations and bring awareness to the industry that will inevitably impact all Americans. Here's your host Kosta Yepifantsev

Kosta Yepifantsev: 1:08

Hey, y'all, it's Kosta and today I'm here with my guest, John Mozdzien, Co-Founder and executive director of Veterans First, aging veterans and their families often face unique challenges. And it can be difficult trying to maintain a level of independence. That's why Veterans First works to provide veterans and their families the support they need for independent living at home. Welcome to the show, John, and thank you for your service. Will you tell us a bit about how veterans first got started? And why you wanted to undertake this endeavor?

John Mozdzien: 1:43

Yeah, most definitely. Thanks for having me here. Kosta. Great to see you again as well. Absolutely, veterans. First, it was started back in 2019. My business partner who owns a homecare agency already, I actually learned this business from a large national company. Unfortunately, at that time, cost of my position was eliminated. I happen to be a Navy veteran myself. I was stationed aircraft carrier, launching the planes off the flight deck, I bad knees now from that. But nonetheless, having this organization allows me to keep my Naval Service still current and my own onset. And I would like to add to that, I feel as I have a duty and an obligation to serve those individuals that serve before myself. So it's a strong passion within our culture here of Veterans First,

Kosta Yepifantsev: 2:35

do you think that Veterans First is a crucial and essential part of the long term care industry as a whole? And also, I want to know, how veterans first sort of incorporates into long term. Yeah, most

John Mozdzien: 2:53

definitely. I like how you position that? And I'll answer that in two parts. Number one, is the benefit that we help veterans and their surviving spouse obtain, which is called Aiden attendance is, in my opinion, underutilized. It's not talked about a lot. So we have a staff here at veteran's first that helps the family furnish every single document that we need to prove that applicants case it's unfortunate, my mother, whom is 81 years old, she's a surviving well, and just knowing the documents that's needed to help these deserving individuals, they're daunting. So that allows, again, going back to our core here, to give back to these individuals every single day.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 3:46

How are you guys identifying the struggles because you have to think about like, the veteran population as they age, it's very similar to aging, the aging population as a whole. You know, you've got dementia, you've got Alzheimer's, there's physical disabilities. And also, if you think about it, there are sometimes like limbs that are missing from combat. And also there is, you know, kind of the mental aspects of being in wars and serving, which we're going to talk about a little bit later. But, I mean, how does a company like Veterans First, go into a family's home or speak with families identify the struggles that they're going through, aside from the documentation, and help veterans through the process of receiving at home care?

John Mozdzien: 4:44

That's, that's a great question. Thank you. So first and foremost, I believe it comes from connecting with the right individuals and what I mean by that specific social workers. discharge planners. There's individuals out there that are here to support families. But you have to take that first step to ask for help. That's, that's number one, don't be afraid to do it. Don't be bashful for it. I see a lot of veterans every day that say, John, I was just a cook, I don't deserve this benefit. But I don't find that you serve the dotted line, just like the guy or the gal beside you, you deserve that same exact benefit. So that's number one, to your question. Number two, is we have a model where I, myself or another member of my staff goes to meet every single family face to face. Regarding this benefit. There is so much you can do on a phone, there's so much you can do an email. But when you have the ability to reach across the table and shake someone's hand, connected, Kubota pupil that speaks milestones. So I get chills when I talk about this. So when I when I hear the stories that my fellow veteran has went through, a lot of times cost of the family who's sitting with us at the dining room table or on the sofa will say, John, I have never heard my father speak about the things that he just did in front of you until right now. Of course, here's for a while after that. So it's, you know, collectively. The motto is we like to serve everyone inside their own home regarding the paperwork, the paperwork that's needed. And at the end of the day, it's just it's their story. And it's allowing them to bring their story back to fruition.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 6:46

When you go into someone's home, or you work with a provider, like a company that provides in home care, how long does the process take from the time that you have that initial face to face meeting, to the time that you submit the paperwork to veterans of Mayor, to when the actual care can start being provided? Thank

John Mozdzien: 7:07

you for asking. That's a common question. And to be brutally honest with you, Costa, it really depends on how quickly the family is able to furnish us the documents we need initially, after that process takes place, then we have an amazing Director of Client Relations, whom is a surviving spouse herself. She has to put together this application and make sure all the T's are crossed, the i's are dotted, to allow myself to go out to meet with the family. So on average, I would like to say between two to three weeks, until we send what's called a start of care out to one of our providers to allow them to begin care with what's called ADLs, which is just a simple acronym for activities of daily living.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 7:55

And that's not a very long time. I mean, two to three weeks to get started is pretty incredible. I want to hear your opinion on this. And I think a lot of listeners, people watching this podcast are going to be interested. You know, when I think of veterans, when I think of soldiers, people that fight in wars, people that sacrifice literally sacrifice their lives. For our country. Why are we just hearing about veterans first? Now, why hasn't this been a staple? Since you know 1925?

John Mozdzien: 8:38

That's a great question. I like where you went there, Costa? So first and foremost, before I answer that question, all the listeners out there, if your father's a veteran, if your mother's a veteran, if your mother's a surviving spouse, I would just like to take a moment to thank you all for your service and commitment every single day with the challenges that you might be so going through right now with your family. We get it. We hear it every day here at Veterans First, to answer your question now more specifically, is the VA is made up of three separate administrations, three of them, and a lot of times, individuals don't know about that. Number one is the Health Care Administration. And that's where you can go see your own PCP for your bad knee. Number two is the funeral and death benefits. And then number three, what we focus strictly on is the pension in aid and attendance. And in my most humble, respectable opinion, that is not talked about enough is the pension and the Aiden attendance. Now the VA does a wonderful job with the healthcare. Fantastic, but we all collectively could do a lot better and advocating for this very little known underutilized benefit called aid and attack And

Kosta Yepifantsev: 10:00

it's and also to that point, I mean, you keep talking about spousal support. I think a lot of people who are spouses or family members of a veteran, they don't realize that they also have access to this benefits.

John Mozdzien: 10:13

I'm glad you brought that up, and not interrupt me, Let me chime right in on this is surviving spouses, in my humble opinion are the ones that are forgotten about the most. Because the veteran, either he or she passes away, and now the surviving spouse, whom is in her 80s, if not 90s, is left to fend for herself. And she has no idea about this benefit, because now Mr. or Mrs veteran said I didn't need this benefit. Give it to the person that served beside me. Now, Mrs. Smith, going to find out about this benefit, number one, number two, how is she going to navigate by yourself with all these documents? So I like to make a point to all the viewers out there is this benefit is entitled parmi, this benefit is used, not as an end stage for life, you can have this benefit anywhere after 66 years of age. So you know why why wait until you're 80 or 90, if your mom needs assist.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 11:20

How do you get the word out, though? I mean, how I know you've been, you know, criss crossing the country, talking to providers from you know, Maine to Nevada, down in Arizona. But I mean, like, how does Veterans First get the word out? How does the VA get the word out? Are you optimistic that more people are going to start using this benefit? Like it's supposed to be you know,

John Mozdzien: 11:47

in the very beginning, I felt how you just presented that now as time has progressed from us doing this. I'm very, very glad to hear that our phones rang constantly. And it's not. It's not just for this benefit. It's, you know, John, Katie, Eric Haley, so many individuals is in office, can you navigate us and help us go here? Or can you tell us where to go here? So it's kind of like, I have small children, Costa and my daughter loves to play dominoes. What happens when you drop that first domino.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 12:25

They all fall, the rest of them start to go

John Mozdzien: 12:28

see. And now GE, so it's all about communication. You know, Facebook, LinkedIn, what you're doing right here, which is fabulous. fairing all of these. And at the end of the day, have a solid heart?

Kosta Yepifantsev: 12:43

Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, and I think a lot of people, they're so busy in their lives. Like, I see this all the time. You know, I grew up as a, I was born in 89. I was in seventh grade during 911. And as terrible as that moment was for our country. I didn't I think back to that time, and I see how people came together, and more importantly, the emphasis that they put on supporting our troops. I remember before 911 I would never like see people, you know, say the words you know, thank you for your service or you standing ovations for for soldiers who were, you know, in airplanes, or there as it should be? I think every one that serves should be put on a pedestal. And so that's we're having this conversation and you know, we're kind of sort of asking the same question in sort of a different way. Why did it take so long for Veterans Affairs to start supporting our veterans and giving opportunities to companies like yourselves shouldn't have this have been going on all along?

John Mozdzien: 14:04

And I like to say in the respectfully to the VA, it has been going on? It has the, okay, the VA has so many phenomenal programs, to benefit veterans. So just trying to get a group of veterans plugged in to one of those programs is a challenge inside of itself. Let alone going back to have the domino conversation. You have to get you have to get the voice in the right department. Before you can push an advocate for that so hard, if that makes sense.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 14:42

Yeah, but why though? Like, why does it have to be so complex? Because this isn't like, I mean, these are people who are going to war who are sacrificing their lives like I don't know if there's a larger sacrifice because, I mean, how, why does it have to be so complex? So

John Mozdzien: 15:04

I wish I had an answer for that right away? Because if I did, I probably wouldn't be sitting here. I probably where else I'm gonna be very open with you. And

Kosta Yepifantsev: 15:12

you're right, no, you're absolutely right.

John Mozdzien: 15:14

But we're here now, again, I can't, I can't go backwards, I can only go forward. So, you know, pointing loudly to everyone screaming this, you know, if you're a veteran, if you're a surviving spouse, if your father is a veteran, your mother's a veteran, your mothers are surviving spouse, your sister's a surviving spouse, be a voice, go to your local VA. Talk to social workers about the AID and ATTENDANCE benefit. They will tell you exactly what this benefit is whether it consists of Veterans First, again, worthy individuals to help them get plugged into this benefit and X indicted manner. Because it's very unfortunate, we didn't bring this up yet cost at the end in order to claim to come to fully developed the VA, because they're backlogged. Again, respect to that application can sit there for over 12 months. Oh, wow. I have cases right now currently in my office, that we're still paying for surviving spouses homecare for over 12 months before they're entitled.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 16:30

And that means that you're not getting reimbursed by the VA for what you're paying out

John Mozdzien: 16:35

is absolutely correct, sir. That is absolutely correct. Incredible. So it's going back to why it's just get plugged in, ask the questions. Don't be afraid to hear no, no to me stands for next opportunity. Ask the next person.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 16:51

Absolutely. So let's get technical about what the care actually looks like. What does functioning everyday support look like for our veterans to maintain their independence and more importantly, to age in?

John Mozdzien: 17:05

Yes, that's wonderful. Thanks for asking that. So there's two levels of care out there, there's what's called skilled care. And then there's non skilled care. So just to highlight that Veterans First predominantly specializes in non skilled care. So allow me to give you some examples of that. With hygiene, bathing, showering, medication, reminders in case mom becomes forgetful. And now the family has to go to work and be concerned about mom taking her meds, meal preparation to ensure that mom and dad eats groceries, grocery shopping, laundry, making the beds. So some of those, it's the little things to me that make everything to allow a veteran or surviving spouse remain comfortable and keep their independence at the same time.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 18:02

So John, I know that you served for quite some time. I'm sure you've probably seen some some things. As you know, you know, not all wounds are physical. How does psychiatric care factor into the equation of what Veterans First is doing?

John Mozdzien: 18:22

Yeah, that's, yeah, that's, that's a lady brought that up. And thank you for acknowledging what you just mentioned, as well, too. So, you know, when I'll preface it this way, Kosta when a veteran when we have a married veteran case, and his significant other passes away, and now that veteran is left to fend for himself, in complete isolation. When we're able to go inside this home and provide 100% companionship, and having that veteran speak out, what has happened, what he's endured, and even bringing his spouse back into the picture with a conversation. I don't know what's more fulfilling than that? I mean, sometimes when I go into Absolutely, and I'll talk for two and a half hours to Mr. Bob, and Edie, but but it's not about me, it's all about him, having the ability to still communicate that. So that's what we find a lot. Here is the isolation just to make sure someone is around.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 19:34

You know, if I could go just off topic, and not talk specifically about Veterans First, but psychiatric care in general. What do you think about like veteran support groups? Like, because one of the themes that I hear you bringing up is a lot of conversations that you have with veterans or people that work with veterans first, who are also veterans when they go into people's homes and talk to them And the stories that you guys share our stories that no one else gets to hear. So I'm assuming that there are things that have occurred that they don't feel comfortable sharing with somebody unless they've feel like they've experienced it ourselves or been in a situation that they understand. So should it be important for those support groups be something that every veteran should consider?

John Mozdzien: 20:26

It should be and and every VA should have a department. That's called the veteran advocacy department. And I might be mispronouncing that, that title there, so please forgive me. But that's a good resource for a family to go in, to find out what groups are available for my father, my uncle. Again, it goes back when we initially said hello to one another. It's about asking the right questions. Because there's a lot of groups out there, and I liked how you stated that. They don't feel comfortable unless they unless that recipient endured the same or close to the same thing. But yeah, the VA does have a lot of groups daily about that.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 21:11

And do you guys work with organizations like wounded warrior? Dav like, do you guys is, is the network are you one cog in a much larger network, I guess, is what I'm trying to

John Mozdzien: 21:24

salutely. It's not all about veterans. First. It's a collaborative effort. It is completely collaborative effort. We're doing a very nice donation drive here, where we're going into an area where sometimes individuals don't have the access to go out to buy groceries. So Veterans First is giving gift cards to families to buy groceries, just talk about how we can help their community as a whole. And everyone likes groceries, too, with inflation. So

Kosta Yepifantsev: 22:00

of course, now more than ever, what 13% increase in grocery costs? That's gross, of course. I am curious about how you guys differ is Veterans First, the only company that provides these types of services? Are you the largest company that provides these types of services? Also, if you're not, how are you different than than other just long term care companies that provide Non Medical Home Health?

John Mozdzien: 22:31

Thank you for saying that. For transparency. We are not the only company. Like I mentioned before, how I learned this business is I was blessed upon an opportunity many years ago with a large national company. At that time monster, my position was eliminated. And they made it all telephonic to their corporate headquarters. Wow, I was crushed. Once a veteran always a veteran. But again, when you connect with the right people, amazing things happen. So we're not the largest. And the fact of the matter is, I don't think I want to be the largest. But I will say something that is we're very different is when we have a provider call us that has a veteran or a surviving spouse that cannot afford their private pay rate. And they do not qualify under the criterias for this benefit, which are military, medical, and financial. We have large companies donate funds, quarterly. And we take 100% of those funds. And we donate hours to that individual. So I look at it in a win win win. It's a win for the homecare agency, it's a win for the caregiver. And it's a win for the family. We can't do this all the time. Of course, I wish we could. But I like to say we do it a good amount of time. If I

Kosta Yepifantsev: 23:57

could just fill in the blanks from my perspective. And sort of plug how important what you guys are doing is I'm a home I own a homecare agency, we do provide VA services, but I'm not a veteran. I'm very passionate about veterans, as you can probably tell, you know, I I personally don't think that there is a bigger that there is a bigger sacrifice than serving our country and putting your life on the line for freedom and for the citizens of America. But I don't know the VA like you do. I don't know what a veteran goes through like you do. What you guys are we doing at Veterans First providing the services being a conduit between companies that have the resources to provide care and this big, calm plaques, you know, massive organization called Veterans Affairs. Being that conduit is more important than you may even know I'm sure you probably are, you know, you reaffirm that belief daily, but most companies in home care, they shy away from the VA, because it's hard to work with them. You know, you don't know how to who to talk to. And like you said, a lot of veterans are on a fixed income, they may not be able to have the resources to pay for care. And so that's not a population that you know, companies typically target. And so the fact that you guys are saying no, and you're changing the narrative, in my opinion, is extremely important. So if you take anything away from this conversation, just know that people that own homecare agencies or the people of Tennessee, we're behind you 100%. So

John Mozdzien: 26:03

greatly, greatly appreciate that. And thank you for being so candid, and full transparency, I can tell you, you have a heart on your sleeve, and you do things for the right reasons. So I appreciate everything you just said as well.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 26:15

Let's hammer down and share one piece of advice for our veterans and their families during the aging process.

John Mozdzien: 26:23

I'm going to give you three words, you were not alone. There are so many individuals in the home beside you across the street, and a different zip code that are dealing with the same thing behind closed doors. So if you speak up, and you're that person to say, you know, I went to the VA, or I called and spoke with Costa or I called Veterans First, and they guided me to go this way. Well guess what you just did, you were the first person to step up to be a voice for that other person that may have been more reluctant to do just that. So again, I'll highlight that Costa, you're not alone.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 27:08

Let's get technical. As we wrap up the show, I want to switch and end the show on talking about the long term care industry. And you know, obviously the three tenants so we always like to end the show with a call to action. What's your best advice for someone entering the long term care industry as a patient? As a caregiver, or as an industry professional?

John Mozdzien: 27:33

Would you like me to give you an opinion on all three of those?

Kosta Yepifantsev: 27:36

Please? That would be great.

John Mozdzien: 27:38

Okay, so let's start with let me start with a caregiver. Okay. Let me go there with a caregiver. First of all caregivers have hearts of gold. I could not do that every single day. So any caregivers out here. Thank you. And I'm sure you would say the same thing Costa with your own company. Absolutely. They're the lifeline. So if you're a caregiver, you're on the front line. And you may not even believe that. So talk to the other caregivers about this benefit. That's called aid and attendance. Start the voice right there. So that's the caregiver side. The second Did you say family? I'm so sorry. I lost train of thought.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 28:22

Patient or industry professional.

John Mozdzien: 28:24

Patient, okay. Patient, speak up. Don't be afraid. Speak up. You deserve it. You've been through more than a lot of individuals, you deserve the best. Ask questions again. No. What does that stand for next opportunity and industry professional, any social workers that are listening to this platform as well? Thank you for what you do. And just knowing that you have the ability to help a veteran or a surviving spouse with a safe discharge, utilizing this benefit. Please talk about it. Because as Kosta kept saying before, earlier in the show, why hasn't this been hammered down now? It can be it can be why not start now. I think that's how I would answer all three of those, Kosta.

Kosta Yepifantsev: 29:17

Thank you very much, John. This has been a pleasure.

John Mozdzien: 29:19

My pleasure.

Caroline Moore: 29:21

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Now or Never Long-Term Care Strategy with Kosta Yepifantsev. If you enjoyed listening and you wanna hear more make sure you subscribe on Apple podcast Spotify or wherever you find your Podcasts, leave us a review or better yet share this episode with a friend. Now or Never Long-Term Care Strategy is a Kosta Yepifantsev production. Today’s episode was written and produced by Morgan Franklin. Want to find out more about Kosta? Visit us at kostayepifantsev.com