During the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2022, data shows that 5,910 veterans resided in Lenawee County, with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expenditures totaling $69,954,000.  Of this total, Lenawee County veterans and their families received $35,590,000 in service-connected disability compensation, DIC death compensation, veteran’s pension, and survivor’s pension benefits; $1,599,000 for educational & vocational rehabilitation benefits; $126,000 for insurance and indemnities; $32,638,000 for medical care expenditures with 2,116 unique patients who received treatment at a VA health care facility. 

The influx of money into the Lenawee County economy was a significant portion of the $5,802,859,000 VA expended to serve the 530,586 veterans living throughout the State of Michigan.

Over half of all VA expenditures are paid directly to veterans and their families.  The balance of the money is used to support the VA medical services and health care programs provided at Michigan’s 5 VA Medical Centers (VAMC), 32 Outpatient Clinics (OPC) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) along with 11 Vet Centers located throughout the State.

To inquire about veteran related benefits, services, and resources, please contact the Lenawee County Department of Veterans Affairs located in the Human Services Building at 1040 S. Winter St., Ste. 3017 in Adrian, MI 49221.  Assisting Lenawee County veterans, their dependents and survivors in obtaining Federal, State, and County benefits.  To an obtain a list of required documents and information needed to file a claim for benefits or temporary emergency assistance, please call (517) 264-5335 or visit the office. Open to the Public:  Monday – Thursday, morning hours: 8:00 a.m. – noon, afternoon hours: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Closed on Fridays for administrative purposes. You can also obtain information directly from the VA by calling their toll-free line, 1-800-827-1000 or by visiting www.va.gov

Your brain can be a tricky thing. This complex organ begins developing soon after conception and continues into early adulthood.   Arguably, the most part of your body, it controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger, and every process that regulates your body. 

For something so powerful, it sure remains mysterious. It can be hard to figure out why our brains do the things they do, but new scientific research is being conducted every day to give us insight into our brains. 

As we age, you may start to worry as you find yourself forgetting things.  You may find yourself in the kitchen going “Wait, why did I come in here again?”.   You may be talking to a loved one on the phone while looking for your phone.  You may be looking for your glasses and finding them on top of your head where they have been the entire time.

The most important thing to remember (ha! See what we did there?) is that forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging.  Just because you are forgetting things, that doesn’t necessary mean that you are showing early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease.

As we get older, changes occur in all parts of our bodies, and that includes our brain.  It can take longer to learn new things, you can not recall information as quickly as you may have when you were younger, and you may lose things (like those pesky glasses or phones).  

That being said, Alzheimer’s Disease is serious, and early detection is key.  There are new treatments available that can reduce cognitive or functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer’s.  Other treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms and greatly improve quality of life.

Michigan is truly a unique and wonderful state, and we are fortunate to live in such a beautiful area; but when was the last time you thought about where your trash goes?