How did your military service shape your approach to health care?
The military taught me what teamwork in health care should really look like. As a biomedical science officer and captain in the Air Force, I saw that there was always a full team behind the patient: a psychiatrist, a nurse, a social worker, a psychologist and a discharge planner, all working toward the same goal. Nobody operated alone.
Before my service, I was involved in one of the first programs in the 1970s for Vietnam veterans struggling with what we now call PTSD, working in the VA hospital system. The military took it further. We built formal programs for family advocacy and for alcohol and drug addiction, and we supported wives and children, because a veteran’s struggles never belong to just one person. It was highly structured, and that structure was exactly what the work needed.
That lesson has stayed with me. The best care happens when the whole person is understood and everyone around them is pulling in the same direction. It’s the thinking behind The Perfect Companion, the concierge in-home senior care company I founded.
What did you learn from working with aging veterans?
I learned that the transition out of the military is one of the hardest things a person goes through, and for many, it never fully ends. In the service, you’re told what to do and how to do it. Then you’re a civilian, and every decision is yours. A lot of the veterans I worked with had no idea how to build a civilian life, and many of them missed the military. Independence, which sounds like a gift, was a hard adjustment.
I also saw how differently each generation was treated. World War II veterans came home as heroes. Vietnam veterans came home to a divided nation, and many were not shown respect for a long time. That’s a heavy thing to carry, and it can show up decades later.
That’s why we never treat an older adult as a diagnosis or an age. Every person has a history that shapes how they want to live now, and good care starts by understanding it.
What do you wish more people knew about veterans today?
I wish people understood that serving is a sacrifice, and veterans carry it long after they leave the military. When you serve, you give up control of your own life. You don’t choose where you live or when you move. Starting a family is hard, and kids get pulled out of school. You’re doing something selfless for a country you love, and your own interests come second.
Some people thrive in that structure. For others, especially independent thinkers, it’s a much harder fit, and adapting takes real work. Veterans bring all of that home with them.
What if people could tour a VA hospital or a military installation and see what service looks like up close? I think it would change a lot of minds.
What challenges do aging veterans face today?
The biggest challenge I see veterans facing today is the quality of care. They made the great sacrifice, and they deserve the highest quality of care.
I worked in the VA system early in my career, and the social workers, psychologists and nurses I worked beside were dedicated and excellent. The challenge is that the system struggles to attract and keep top physicians because many of them go into private practice.
For aging veterans, that gap matters even more. Their needs change with time, and they need someone who knows them well and notices the small changes early. That’s the kind of attention a busy system can’t always provide, and families can’t always provide on their own.
What advice would you give families caring for aging veterans?
Be proactive. Many families don’t realize what benefits their veteran has earned, including VA Aid and Attendance, which can help cover the cost of care. Don’t take the first answer as the final answer. A recruiter or a VA contact may tell you that you’re only eligible for one thing. Ask multiple sources, and call your congressman’s or senator’s office. They can help you find benefits you may not know exist. Ask what your veteran may qualify for, especially if they served during wartime or live with an injury or a mental health challenge.
What can Paradise Valley do to better support veterans?
Start with one veteran. Each year, the town could pick someone from the community who served and honor them in front of their neighbors. Then I’d ask the bigger question. There are 365 days in a year, so why stop at one? Imagine a veteran from Paradise Valley honored every day, with their story told. It would remind people what service looks like and why it matters.
Community: I live in central Phoenix and my writing focuses on Fountain Hills education, and the Paradise Valley and Scottsdale communities.
Education: I graduated from Arizona State University in May 2026 with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. My studies focused on writing and visual story-telling.
Random Fact: Growing up I had over 10 pets including 6 cats, 1 dog, 2 hermits crabs, and too many fish to count!
Hobbies: I like to spend my free time hiking, crafting, cooking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
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