Health Screening For Veterans

DANBURY — The Connecticut VA Health Care System will conduct a free preventive care health screening for area veterans at the Danbury Ives Manor, 198 Main Street, on Monday, January 3. Appointments are required and may be arranged by calling Pat Waldron, director, at 797-4620.

This program is designed to help identify health problems before they become serious enough to need hospital care. Veterans also are registered into the VA Healthcare system in case services are needed in the future. The agency is particularly interested in providing medical care to service-connected (with VA-rated disabilities) and low-income veterans.

The screening consists of completing a health history and checking blood pressure, pulse, total and HDL cholesterol, hearing loss, and blood glucose. Lung function tests are available for veterans who smoke or who are experiencing breathing problems. Participants will be given a home test kit to screen for colon-rectal cancer. No fasting or special diet is required for the screening.

The program is available to any honorably discharged veteran who is not currently enrolled in any VA medical clinic and has not participated in a VA Community Health Screening Program in the past year.

The free exam takes approximately 45 minutes; information about other VA programs  and benefits also will be available. Veterans should bring their discharge papers (DD214) or a copy, if possible, to help determine eligibility.