MINUTES for 2022-11-30 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes November 30,2022 Page 2 Veteran Transportation to Appointments Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and announced that he asked Jack Truesdale from the Star Advertiser to attend the meeting to speak on the topic but he did not attend. Chair Doolittle asked if anyone had any other input. Chair Doolittle asked if we could table this item to see if Jack Truesdale could attend the next meeting. No objections. *Jack Truesdale joined the meeting at 10:25 am where Chair Doolittle asked that the meeting go back to the topo of the agenda then introduced him. Jack Truesdale read a VA report regarding transportation on the island makes it harder for veterans to access healthcare. He asked if it was an accurate representation of veterans experiences here. Chair Doolittle explained the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has picked up a lot of the slack in transporting veterans to appointments. Debra Lewis added the Office of Aging provides information about and services for older adults/veterans. But if it's a younger veteran they are not able to get assistance in transportation. The DAV on the east side of the island is not functioning so that is not an available resource. We need to provide more resources/phone numbers. Lack of Providers/Medical Staff at Veterans Homes & Community Based Outpatient Clinic *Secretary, Brittany Iyo noted for the record that there was a typo and items (b) and(c) should actually be one item on the agenda. Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Vice-Chair Brinkley who requested the discussion. Vice-Chair Brinkley began that Doug Gora brought it up at the last meeting that there wasn't enough staff at the Veterans home to care for the veterans. But wanted to add that DOD Veterans Advisory Committee is looking at hiring more staff for the Veterans Homes as well. All medical facilities are having issues with hiring medical professionals. Because the committee has discussed suicide rates and mental heath, she wanted to make a note that the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) has a shortage of psychiatrists. Veterans are not able to see psychiatrists in a timely manner and some of them aren't able to get the medications they need. Some instances telehealth may be available, but not always. Below are some hotlines Veterans can reach out to if they need assistance. Isaac Nahakuelua also added that he will provide the Crisis Hotline information.