Compensated Work Therapy: a steppingstone to stability for Veterans facing chronic unemployment
By Gregory House, Public affairs specialist
If you visit the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center on any given morning, you might spot Rick Silver crisscrossing campus on his way to check tire pressure on a government vehicle before heading to a building to ensure fire extinguishers are up to code.
It’s a rhythm that keeps the Navy Veteran moving and engaged, but it wasn’t always like this.
An electrical engineer, Silver was forced to step back from the career he loved after a heart attack changed everything.
“My mother, who was a thoracic ICU nurse, and my doctor both told me I shouldn’t work anymore because I had a lot of damage to my heart and if I had another heart attack, I would certainly die,” Silver said.
At first, his former employer allowed him to continue working a part‑time basis, but when the company asked him to return to a full-time schedule, Silver had to make a hard choice.
“The job I had was actually very stressful,” Silver said. “I was still afraid of working the way I used to, so I quit working.”
Over the next 12 years, Silver became sedentary and even light activity left him winded. As his heart condition worsened to the point where he needed a heart transplant, Silver felt like he was living the same day over and over again.
“Being in the condo and not really having anything that I needed to do except for doctors’ appointments was depressing,” he said. “It was making it harder for me to get up every day.”
That’s when his care team at VA Salt Lake City suggested he consider the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program, an initiative that helps Veterans build endurance, skills and confidence they need to rejoin the workforce.
“I still have a lot of appointments, and the CWT program has given me an opportunity to build my stamina and get into shape while taking care of my heart.” said Silver. “I started making myself get up earlier to match a typical work schedule.”
CWT isn’t a permanent job. Instead, it’s a steppingstone that provides meaningful work in a supportive environment while allowing Veterans to heal, learn, and rebuild.
“We take Veteran patients who are facing chronic unemployment, and the idea is to place them in a successful work setting where they can learn the habits needed to be a successful worker,” said Dr. Robert Banz, a vocational services coordinator for the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. “We find cooperating supervisors who are willing to help our CWT patients with those habits and skills.”
While there are some limits on the type of work available to CWT employees, Banz says they can find something for just about anyone who enters the program.
“There are very few limitations to who can be in our program,” said Banz. “They are patients receiving patient care services, and we try to be as broad as we can.”
Silver now spends his days assisting the VA Salt Lake City engineering department with daily tasks. The steady movement, light lifting, and varied responsibilities have helped him gain back physical strength without overtaxing his heart.
“It makes me feel good that I can give back to the VA,” Silver said. “They saved my life.”
Rick’s story is proof that sometimes, stepping back is the first step forward.
If you or someone you know is a Veteran who wants to rebuild skills, regain confidence, and prepare for meaningful employment, talk to your VA care team for a consult for the CWT program or attend an open intake meeting with Dr. Robert Banz, held every Friday at 9:30am in building 16 at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center.