You May Not Have Known About These VA Home Care Options for Vets!
Jane and Ron are both veterans in their 70’s who live at home, and unfortunately, both are experiencing serious health issues. In addition to their health problems, Jane and Ron are struggling financially and contemplating bankruptcy. To complicate things even further, both of their children live more than six hours away.
Jane and Ron are spending more than $2,500 per month on household expenses, past medical debt, and in-home caregivers, which exceeds their monthly income. To make ends meet, and to get the help they need, something has to change. Unfortunately, Jane and Ron don’t know what options are available for them. And, there are likely more than they think!
Many Veterans Don’t Know About Benefits Available to Them
Currently, there are more than 20 million veterans living in the United States. Many of our nation’s veterans are seniors who are living with illnesses or disabilities that make it difficult to live independently. For these individuals, veteran home care assistance and support can be invaluable, but what options are available?
The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) covers a range of medical and non-medical home services, including veteran home care across four different service levels. Here’s an overview of what these services are, how they work, and who is eligible for each service:
- Skilled Home Health Care Services (SHHC): For veterans who live at a distance from their nearest VA hospital, the SHHC program connects veterans with skilled, locally-based caregivers in the veteran’s community. These caregivers are contracted to provide care by the VA hospital. Depending on the veteran’s care needs, services may be medical or non-medical in nature. Service hours are quite limited, and are typically only sufficient for veterans who just need a small amount of assistance.
- Homemaker and Home Health Aide Services (H/HHA): For veterans who live within the service area of the local VA hospital, the H/HHA program is VA’s Direct Care program. Through this program, a homeowner or home health aide visits the veteran in the comfort of his or her home to provide regular in-home assistance. This can help delay the need for assisted living or nursing home care or can offer respite for family caregivers. Service hours are quite limited, and are typically only sufficient for veterans who just need a small amount of assistance.
- Family Caregiver Program: Under the family caregiver program, persons who provide care for a veteran family member after a medical discharge are eligible for a small stipend and a range of support services. This service is specifically for family caregivers caring for post-9/11 veterans.
- Home Telehealth: Home Telehealth is an alternative to in-person veteran home care. Under this program, special equipment is installed in the veteran’s home to track and report on his or her health status. This information is then sent to a care coordinator, who can respond in case of a health event.
Other Sources of Veteran Home Care
As you can see, VA-supported veteran home care provides several options, but unfortunately it cannot meet the care needs of all veterans. If you or a loved one are ineligible for your desired care program, or if you require more frequent care than these programs provide, there are other options.
Veteran’s Aid and Attendance for Those Who Qualify
For those who need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing or showering, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring, Veteran’s Aid and Attendance will help pay for such assistance, for those who are eligible.
The Aid and Attendance benefit helps veterans to offset the high cost of in-home care and assisted living, and access care that they otherwise might not have been able to obtain. If eligible, Aid & Attendance will also pay a tax-free monthly benefit for care expenses that can be used to pay for a home health care provider or assisted living facility. Learn more about Veteran’s Aid and Attendance here.
Are you a Veteran in Need of Assistance?
Here at the Farr Law Firm, we work with veterans and their spouses to evaluate whether they qualify for the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and/or Medicaid, and we deal with all the paperwork. As an Accredited Attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Certified Elder Law Attorney, Evan Farr understands both the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and the Medicaid program and the interaction between both benefit programs. Please make an appointment with us to discuss and apply for Veteran’s Aid and Attendance and/or Medicaid Asset Protection:
Fairfax Elder Law: 703-691-1888
Fredericksburg Elder Law: 540-479-1435
Rockville Elder Law: 301-519-8041
DC Elder Law: 202-587-2797