Snow sport program
targets disabled vets

Answer: More than 350 disabled veterans will ski the Rocky Mountains at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colo., April 3-8. The clinic is an annual rehabilitation program open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations or other disabilities who receive care at any VA health-care facility.

During the six-day program, the veterans will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing and be introduced to a variety of other adaptive activities and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving, snowmobiling and sled hockey. Jointly sponsored by VA and the Disabled American Veterans, the clinic is hosted each year by the Grand Junction, Colo., VA Medical Center and VA's Rocky Mountain Network. For information, contact Jenny Shafer Tankersley, VA public affairs coordinator, Winter Sports Clinic, at (757) 738-3450; or Rob Lewis, DAV communications, at (859) 442-2049. Or log onto the event's Web site at www.wintersportsclinic.org.

Q: Does the VA recognize a veteran's desire to have a living will or other documents that summarize wishes for health care?

A: The VA affirms the patient's right to make decisions regarding his/her medical care, including the decision to discontinue treatment, to the extent permitted by law. Each patient has a right to complete a form known as an "advance directive," a written statement that the patient completes in advance of serious illness about which medical decisions he/she wants made in the event the veteran can no long make his or her wishes known. The two most common forms of advance directives are a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. The document, if the veteran chooses to create one, will be maintained as part of your medical record and will be reviewed periodically with the veteran or surrogate decision maker. For more information on advance directives, call the VA Medical Center's medical appointment and enrollment number 433-7646.