The Whole Health path to home ownership

Air Force Veteran Tina Hart was dealing with ongoing problems from a disruptive neighbor, making her home life stressful. Despite her best efforts to find resolution, Hart received no help from building management. For almost a year, she endured this living situation.

Referral to whole health

“I had a difficult next-door neighbor and, when I went to the apartment management with this problem, they didn’t help. My neighbor was constantly loud and so many people came in and out of that apartment. Large groups of people would hang out on the balcony drinking and smoking well after midnight. The noise every night made it hard for me to sleep, which affected my mood and disrupted my family’s daily routines.”

During a later appointment, her therapist Mischa Blanchard recommended the Whole Health program to help Hart navigate her stressful living environment. “Mischa thought Whole Health could help me manage stress to improve my living situation and overall wellbeing,” Hart said.

The mere suggestion of a solution empowered Hart to take control of her situation.

Whole health approach 

Hart completed a personal health inventory (PHI) and was introduced to Whole Health’s comprehensive framework, which includes eight areas of self-care.

The PHI is used to help Veterans assess all areas of their health and well-being. It’s designed to empower them to take charge of their health care and set goals aligning with their values and aspirations.

Veterans answer questions such as:

• Are you getting enough sleep at night to refresh your body and mind?
• Are you eating foods and beverages that nourish and fuel you?
• Are you surrounding yourself with people you love and care about?
• Do you have as much energy and flexibility as you would like?
• Are you finding opportunities to learn and grow?

The eight areas of self-care include:

• Moving Your Body: Exercise and movement for energy, flexibility and strength.
• Surroundings: How things around you affect your body and emotions.
• Personal Development: Learning and growing throughout your lifetime.
• Food and Drink: Nourishing your body.
• Recharge: Sleep, rest, relaxation.
• Family, Friends, and Co-Workers: Your relationships with others.
• Spirit and Soul: Having sense of connection, purpose and meaning.
• Power of the Mind: Tapping into your ability to heal and cope.

Dr. Candy Cromell, doctor of nursing practice and a registered nurse, serves as Hart’s Whole Health coach. “Nobody has perfect surroundings all the time. Through a personal health inventory, we assessed various aspects of Tina’s surroundings, such as safety, clutter and noise. Tina determined improving her surroundings was the most important to her,” Cromell said.

A transformative event

Hart attended a Whole Health orientation that marked a turning point for her.

“In a meeting, a gentleman shared how Whole Health helped him buy his house. That was encouraging. I had a way out of the current chaos,” Hart believed.

Whole Health recognizes the critical role that housing and surroundings play in a Veteran’s health and well-being. By working with Whole Health coaches, Veterans can learn to assess their surroundings, understand their personal reactions to different environments and take steps to create spaces that contribute positively to their health.

Implementation and support

With Cromell’s guidance, Hart devised a plan to change her surroundings.

“Surroundings include where the Veteran lives, works, learns, plays and worships—indoors and out. Safe, stable and comfortable surroundings positively affect a person’s health,” Cromell said.

Cromell assisted Hart in prioritizing and connecting with the necessary resources to prepare her for homeownership. This included helping Hart understand how to use her VA home loan benefit, which provided a financial avenue to buy a home.

Cromell also helped Hart prioritize needs, enabling her to find a realtor who worked with her to find a home that met her family’s needs and complete paperwork for the loan and closing on her new home.

Achieving homeownership

“I set a goal to have my own home and, with support from Whole Health and Candy, I secured a VA loan and purchased a home in Arizona for my family, something I couldn’t have imagined doing before,” Hart said.

By focusing on her surroundings as part of the self-care spectrum, Whole Health helped Hart recognize the link between her environment and her well-being, guiding her toward a solution that involved securing a new, peaceful environment.

Outcome and reflection

Hart acknowledged Whole Health’s profound impact, crediting the program with changing her life. She recommends exploring holistic health options for Veterans to take charge of their wellbeing and achieve their desired goals.

Our Whole Health program includes:

• Acupuncture and massage therapy to help you manage pain without drugs.
• Meditation and mindfulness training.
• Yoga and tai chi classes.

Veterans can ask their VA providers to learn more about available Whole Health services. Learn more about VA Whole Health.