Veterans are standing by a Halifax-area veteran who has been denied long-term care at the Camp Hill Hospital because he missed the Korean War by two months.
John Smith is battling Alzheimer’s disease. Despite more than 27 years of service, Veterans Affairs says Smith only qualified for subsidized nursing home care.
“You could land up anywhere. You could be down in Yarmouth. You could be up in Cape Breton,” said Eileen Smith, John Smith’s wife.
In a statement to CTV News, Veterans’ Affairs insists beds at Camp Hill are reserved for qualifying Second World War and Korean War veterans, but the armistice had already been signed when Smith arrived in October, 1953 as a peacekeeper.
“The Camp Hill was built to house veterans for care, and I think it should be used for that,” said
“He was over in Korea - he just happened to get there late,” said Eileen Smith. “Which is no excuse for not having the benefits.”
The Veterans’ Affairs Minister was unavailable for comment.
