Elderly & Long Term Care
The VA has a number of programs to help the growing number of elderly Veterans and those in need of long term care.
These programs can help the Veteran in their own home, home of their caretaker, residential, or nursing home facility.
Additionally, states may provide additional resources that are not subsidized by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Remember to review your State’s veterans organization to learn more on what is available to you.
Programs Available to Elderly Veterans
Programs that help the Veteran.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
All options are subject to availability!
All options require the Veteran meet the clinical criteria for the service.
All options (outside of state programs) require Veterans either be enrolled in VA health care or be eligible for VA care without needing to enroll.
Home/Community Based Options
Care in you home or in your area.
| Program |
Details |
|---|---|
| Adult Day Health Care | Place to go to during the day for social activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. |
| Home Based Primary Care | Health care services provided to Veterans in their home. Usually for Veterans who have complex health care needs for whom routine clinic-based care is not effective. |
| Homemaker/Home Health Aide | Trained people who can come to a Veteran's home and help the Veteran take care of themselves and their daily activities. Homemakers and Home Health Aides are NOT nurses, but they are supervised by a registered nurse who will help assess the Veteran's daily living needs. |
| Hospice Care | Comfort care provided to the Veteran and their family. When the Veteran has a terminal condition, with less than 6 months to live, and are NO longer seeking treatment other than palliative care. |
| Palliative Care | Comfort care with a focus on relieving suffering and controlling symptoms so that you can carry out day-to-day activities and continue to do what is most important to you. Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life – in your mind, body and spirit. Palliative Care can be combined with treatment that is aimed at curing or controlling illness. It can be started at the time diagnosis and may be provided throughout the course of the illness. |
| Respite Care | Pays for care for a short time when family caregivers need a break, need to run errands, or need to go out of town for a few days. Respite Care can be helpful to Veterans of all ages, and their caregiver. |
| Skilled Home Health Care | For Veterans needing short-term care as they are moving from a hospital or nursing home back to their home. It can also be used to provide continuing care to people with ongoing needs. The program is for Veterans who need skilled services such as: skilled nursing, case management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, or IV antibiotics. |
| Remote Monitoring Care | Allows the Veteran's physician or nurse to monitor the Veteran's medical condition remotely using home monitoring equipment. |
| Veteran-Directed Care | This program is for Veterans who need personal care services and help with activities of daily living. Examples include help with bathing, dressing, or fixing meals. This program is also for Veterans who are isolated, or their caregiver is experiencing a significant burden. Veterans in this program are given a budget for services that is managed by the Veteran or the Veteran’s representative. With the help of a counselor, Veterans hire their own workers to meet their daily needs to help them live at home or in their community. |
Residential Based Options
| Program |
Details |
|---|---|
| Adult Family/Foster Homes | They are private homes where a few residents (6 or less) rent rooms. The homes have shared common spaces and Veterans might share a bedroom and bathroom with another person. There is a trained caregiver on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This person can help the Veteran with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed). VA may also be able to provide a health professional (e.g., a nurse) to come to the Adult Family Home and give the Veteran extra care. |
| Assisted Living | Places where Veterans can live in a rented room or apartment. There are some shared living spaces, like a dining room. In some facilities the Veteran could have their own kitchen or kitchenette. There is a trained caregiver on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This person can help the Veteran with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed). |
| Community Residential Care | For Veterans who do not need hospital or nursing home care but cannot live alone because of physical or psychiatric medical conditions. |
| Medical Foster Home | Can serve as an alternative to a nursing home. It may be appropriate for Veterans who require nursing home care but prefer a non-institutional setting with fewer residents. Medical Foster Homes are private residences where the caregiver and relief caregivers provide care and supervision 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This caregiver can help the Veteran carry out activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed. VA ensures that the caregiver is well trained to provide VA planned care. While living in a Medical Foster Home, Veterans receive Home Based Primary Care. |
For a list of VA Medical Foster Homes click HERE.
Nursing Home Options
| Program |
Details |
|---|---|
| Community Living Center (VA Nursing Home, also called CLC) | Has activities for Veterans of all ages. There are family friendly places for visiting. Veterans are invited to decorate their rooms. Pets are allowed to visit or live in the Community Living Center. Veterans may stay for a short time or, in rare instances, for the rest of their life. It is a place where Veterans can receive nursing home level of care, which includes help with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed) and skilled nursing and medical care. The mission of a Community Living Center is to restore each Veteran to his or her highest level of well-being. It is also to prevent declines in health and to provide comfort at the end of life. |
| Community Nursing Home | Place where Veterans can live full time and receive skilled nursing care any time of day or night. |
| State Veterans Home | Provide nursing home, domiciliary or adult day care. They are owned, operated and managed by state governments. For more information go to your State's website. |
Additional Programs
Here are some additional programs that can help improve a Veteran's quality of life as well as help plan for the end of road.
Costs
If you’re a loved one reading this, you're likely very concerned about financial obligations of elderly and long term care.
Generally, the VA will NOT pay for actual costs associated with residential/nursing home living arrangements, outside of required nursing care. To learn of ways to help mitigate and reduce these costs click HERE.
Copays Owed to the VA:
For programs in which the Veteran is not living in a residential setting or if the Veteran requires some medical care, the Veteran may owe the VA a copay.
See Publication IB 10-430 to see the maximum daily rate.
Just as with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), you can't know what your actual copay will be till you pass the bill apply.
Groups of Veterans EXEMPT from VA copays:
If the Veteran has a combined disability rating of at least 10%;
Catastrophically disabled as defined HERE;
Veterans who have low income/net worth;
Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or Participated in Project 112/SHAD, or Served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or Served in the Persian Gulf War between August 2, 1990, and November 11, 1998, or Served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987;
Former prisoners of war (POW); and
Awardees of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
NO copays are ever owed for Hospice care.
NO copays are owed for Remote Monitoring services. However, there may be a copay charge when in-home video visits are provided in addition to standard Remote Monitoring services.
Increased VA Disability/Pension Compensation
The VA may provide additional monthly compensation for veterans who require Aid and Attendance (A&A) or are Housebound.
Service-Connected Related
A&A also known as Special Monthly Compensation L and R1/R2 is paid to Veterans whose service-connected disabilities necessitate A&A. To lean more about this benefit and its full requirements click HERE.
Veterans who are housebound due to their service-connected disabilities OR have a single 100% rated disability and other disabilities that Combine to at least 60% are entitled to increased monthly compensation. To lean more about this benefit and its full requirements click HERE.
Not Related to Service
If the Veteran does not qualify for VA disability compensation, or their disability compensation is very low, among other factors, the Veteran may qualify for VA Pension.
If the Veteran requires A&A and/or are housebound, they may qualify to have their VA pension payments increased. For more information click on the following links:
Applying
VA Health care
Click HERE to apply for VA Health care.
Extended Care Services (Options)
Complete an Application for Extended Care Services VA Form 10-10EC.
Then provide a COPY of the form and supporting documentation to the Social Work staff at your local VA medical facility.
State Agencies' Websites for Veterans Homes
Below are direct links to veteran homes resources provided by state veteran agencies.
Programs Available for Family Caregivers
Programs that help those that take care of the Veteran.
Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS)
Provides resources, education and support to caregivers of Veterans.
The Veteran does NOT need to have any service-connected disabilities.
Caregivers who enroll in PGCSS have access to education and training, including courses at local VA medical centers (VAMCs). In addition, caregivers can participate in support services and take advantage of VA home and community based care.
| Benefit |
Description |
|---|---|
| Annie Caregiver Text Support | Text messaging service that promotes self-care for Veterans enrolled in VA health care, as well as for caregivers. Annie sends stress management tips via text messaging to caregivers, three times per week. Messages may be educational, motivational or an activity to manage stress.. |
| Caregiver Support Line (1-855-260-3274) | Licensed professionals staff the support line to connect caregivers with VA services. The support line also offers monthly telephone education groups. |
| Caregiver Support Coordinator | A licensed professional who administers the VA caregiver programs and provides support to caregivers by matching them with services. There is a coordinator at each VA medical center. |
| Peer Support Mentoring | Caregivers can participate in peer support as both mentors and mentees. This is usually a six-month program, but one-time support is also available. |
| Education, Training, and Technical Support | The VA provides online and in-person education and training offerings to caregivers. The VA will also make referrals to non-VA community services. |
| Respite Care | Allows a home health aide to go to a Veteran’s home to provide personal care services or take a Veteran to a program while the caregiver takes a break. The respite care must be medically and age appropriate. |
| Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers Health (REACH) VA | Connect with a coach who will provide you with a workbook and help you with a variety of issues caregivers face. They will coach you in stress management, problem solving, self-care and healthy behaviors, as well as, Veteran safety, behaviors, problems or concerns linked to a diagnosis. Your assigned coach will call you for a total of four sessions, over a two to three-month period. |
| Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Caregivers | Provides education, including facts about suicide prevention, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment. In addition, it provides self-care resources and describes when to reach out for help. |
| VA Video Connect (VVC) | Counseling services are provided to a caregiver if the VA medical professional caring for the Veteran determines that the services would further the objectives of the Veteran’s medical treatment. |
Applying
There is nothing to apply to, as these programs are FREELY available.
However, the caregiver(s) should enroll by speaking to their local Caregiver Support Coordinator (CSC).
If you have difficulties contacting them:
Call 1-855-260-3274
Toll Free Monday - Friday 8am to 10pm EST & Saturdays 8am-5pm.
More Information
For more information on PGCSS click HERE.
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
This program does have several requirements that the Veteran must meet:
Have a single or Combined service-connected disability rating of 70% or more; AND
Be in need of personal care services (requiring in-person personal care services) for a minimum of 6 continuous months based on any 1 of the following:
Inability to perform an activity of daily living (ADL);
A need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury; or
A need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which the ability of the Veteran to function in daily life, would be seriously impaired.
NOTE:
Additionally, consider also applying for Aid and Attendance; Which will increase the rate of pay given to the Veteran.
Benefits
For the purposes of this program caregivers fall into 1 of 2 categories:
Secondary Caregiver - max of 2 whose purpose it is to backup the primary when needed.
| Benefit |
Description |
Primary Caregiver | Secondary Caregiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary Travel | Travel reimbursement during the period in which a Veteran is traveling to and from medical examination, treatment or care, and for the duration of such examination. | * | * |
| Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) | Health insurance program to obtain medical care from private health care providers. | * | |
| Mental Health Services | These services include individual and group therapy, individual counseling, and peer support groups. These services are limited to outpatient care only. | * | * |
| Respite Care | At least 30 days of respite care per year (allows the caregiver to take a break from being a caretaker by having someone else step in). | * | |
| Stipend | A monthly monetary benefit. | * |
Frequently Asked Questions
-
No, this program is run via the Veterans Health Administration, NOT the Veterans Benefits Administration.