“It made me like myself”: How Home-Based Care Helped One Veteran Rebuild His Life
By Hunter Gordian, Public Affairs Specialist
For years, getting to care became more difficult for U.S. Air Force Veteran Chuck Muench — until care began coming to him with VA’s Home-Based Primary Care program.
“It was more than I expected,” Chuck said. “They showed up when they said they would. They did what they said they would do and made sure I got the care I needed.”
Chuck served as a cook, with assignments at Paine Field, McChord Air Force Base, and overseas in Thailand. He remembers the camaraderie — long shifts, late nights, and strong bonds with fellow service members.
After leaving the military, he stayed active and spent much of his time outdoors. But over time, his health declined.
“I walked my dog three times a day, every day, rain or shine — 365 days a year,” he said. “And then I couldn't walk for over a couple of years.”
Severe hip pain and Parkinson’s disease gradually limited his mobility. Eventually, he stopped leaving his apartment altogether.
“Things were getting pretty rough,” Chuck said. “It had been about three years since I had left my apartment.”
At first, he was skeptical, but over time, his care team fostered trust through compassion, consistency, and collaboration with Chuck — a period he describes as an “arc of trust.”
His care team coordinated every aspect of his care, including rehabilitation therapy and medication management.
“They’re always there,” Chuck said. “And I have to admit that I wasn’t an easy patient all the time.”
As trust grew, so did progress. With support from his care team, Chuck agreed to a hip replacement he had delayed for years.
Before the program, Chuck had been largely confined to his apartment and was socially isolated. Now, he is walking again, even making round trips to nearby stores—a two-and-a-half-hour walk for him.
“That’s what we’re working on — getting back to walking” Chuck said. “Walking was the number one thing I enjoyed before I got sick.”
His Home-Based Primary Care supports Chuck’s personal goals. They work with him to help build a simple, enjoyable routine: walking, exercising, and continuing to rebuild strength.
He credits the program not just with improving his health, but with changing how he approaches it.
“To be successful in any program, you have to have motivation,” he said. “You have to take what they give you and do it. You have to take a leap of faith.”
He also recognizes that trust doesn’t happen overnight.
“I learned to trust,” Chuck said. “But that takes time.”
Now, he sees his care team regularly and feels more connected to his care than ever before.
When asked to describe the impact of the program, Chuck paused before answering.
“It made me like myself.”
To learn more about VA’s Home-Based Primary Care program, visit VA's Geriatrics webpage.