Health Assistance

Wanting to stay in your own home and remain independent is something that we all want later in life. There are programs that are available for Veterans and their families that qualify. To include:

VA Aid & Attenance

Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care

If you only need a little help throughout the day and want to stay in your home, then VA Aid and Attendance benefits may be for you. This program helps you if you need help to perform daily tasks like bathing, feeding, and dressing then you may qualify.

A Homemaker or Home Health Aide is a trained person 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.

This program is for Veterans who need personal care services and help with activities of daily living. This program is also for Veterans who are isolated, or their caregiver is experiencing burden.

Homemaker and Home Health Aide services can be used in combination with other Home and Community Based Services. Services may vary by location.

Eligibility

All enrolled Veterans are eligible for Homemaker Home Health Aide Care IF they are eligible for community care and meet the clinical criteria for the service and it is available. Services may vary by location.

What services can I get?

Services are based on your assessed needs.

Examples of daily activities you may be able to receive help with include:

  • Eating
  • Getting dressed
  • Personal grooming
  • Bathing
  • Using the bathroom
  • Moving from one place to another
  • Grocery Shopping

VA Housebound

Home Based Primary Care

What is Home Based Primary Care?

Home Based Primary Care is health care services provided to Veterans in their home. Home Based Primary Care is for Veterans who have complex health care needs for whom routine clinic-based care is not effective.

The program is for Veterans who need team based in-home support for ongoing diseases and illnesses that affect their health and daily activities. This program is also for Veterans who are isolated, or their caregiver is experiencing burden. Home Based Primary Care can be used in combination with other Home and Community Based Services.

Am I eligible for Home Based Primary Care?

Since Home Based Primary Care is part of the VHA Standard Medical Benefits Package, all enrolled Veterans are eligible IF they meet the clinical need for the service and it is available.

What services can I get?

HBPC provides a team of experienced health care professionals. Together they review the Veteran’s health care needs and offer treatments and support for the Veteran and his/her caregivers. Services available in HBPC include:

  • Primary care visits at home by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant
  • Care management through a nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or nurse
  • Social Work
  • Rehabilitation
  • Psychology
  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacy

Nursing Home Care

Community Nursing Homes
What is a Community Nursing Home?
Community Nursing Home is a place where Veterans can live full time and receive skilled nursing care any time of day or night.

VA contracts with community nursing homes to care for Veterans. The Community Nursing Home program is offered in many communities so Veterans can receive care near their homes and families.

Am I eligible for a Community Nursing Home?

Eligibility for a Community Nursing Home is based on clinical need and setting availability. The VA will only pay for Community Nursing Home care if you meet eligibility criteria involving your service connected status, level of disability, and income.

If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to use your own resources to pay for nursing home care, which may include Medicare benefits and/or applying for Medicaid assistance if you cannot afford to pay.

Find out more by visiting the Paying for Long Term Care section at www.va.gov/Geriatrics.

What services can I get?

Community Nursing Home care always provides:

  • 24-hour skilled nursing care (such as wound care or help with IV medication)
  • Occupational and physical therapy
  • Access to social work services
    Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Homes)
    What is a Community Living Center?
    A Community Living Center (CLC) is a VA Nursing Home. There are over 100 Community Living Centers across the country. See this listing of the current VA Community Living Center LocationsUnlike many nursing homes in the past, a Community Living Center resembles “home” as much as possible.There are activities for Veterans of all ages. There are family friendly places for visiting. Veterans are invited to decorate their rooms. And, pets are allowed to visit or live in the Community Living Center.Am I eligible for a Community Living Center?

    Your eligibility is based on clinical need and setting availability. The VA will provide Community Living Center (VA Nursing Home) care IF you meet certain eligibility criteria involving your service connected status, level of disability, and income.

    What services?
    Community Living Centers provide these services:

  • 24-hour skilled nursing care (e.g., help with a wound or IV care)
  • Restorative care
  • Access to social work services
  • Geriatric evaluation and management

State Veterans Homes
What is a State Veterans Home?

State Veterans Homes are facilities that provide nursing home, domiciliary or adult day care. They are owned, operated and managed by state governments. They date back to the post-Civil War era when many states created them to provide shelter to homeless and disabled Veterans.

Am I eligible for a State Veterans Home?

Your eligibility for State Veterans Homes is based on clinical need and setting availability.
Each State establishes eligibility and admission criteria for its homes.

State Veterans Homes are in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Some states have more than one State Veterans Homes. For a list of locations, visit https://www.nasvh.org/state-homes/statedir.cfm.

Respite Care
What is Respite Care?

Home Respite Care is a service that pays for a person to come to a Veteran’s home or for a Veteran to go to an adult day health care program while their family caregiver takes a break or runs errands.

Nursing Home Respite Care is a service that pays for a Veteran to go to a nursing home while the family goes out of town for a few days without worrying about leaving the Veteran alone at home. Nursing home respite may take place in a VA Community Living Center or a community nursing home and is available for a maximum of 30 days each calendar year. This type of respite should be scheduled in advance. Services may vary by location.

Am I eligible for Respite Care?

All enrolled Veterans are eligible for Respite Care IF they meet the clinical criteria for the service and it is available. Services vary by location. If the Respite Care is provided by a community agency, adult day health care center, or nursing home, the Veteran also needs to meet community care eligibility. 

In-Home Health Care

Skilled Home Health Care
What is Skilled Home Health Care?

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.

Skilled Home Health Care can be used in combination with other Home and Community Based Services.

The care is delivered by a community-based home health agency that has a contract with VA.

Am I eligible for Skilled Home Health Care?

All enrolled Veterans are eligible for Skilled Home Health Care IF they are eligible for community care and meet the clinical criteria for the service. Services may vary by location. 

What services can I get?

If you are eligible for Skilled Home Health, based on your needs you may receive:

  • Nursing care (such as wound care or catheter care)
  • Therapy visits for physical, occupational or speech therapy
  • Patient education (about managing your medicines or illness)
  • IV antibiotics or home infusion
  • A home safety evaluation
  • Social work support

    Veteran-Directed Care
    What is 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 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.

    Am I eligible for Veteran Directed Care?

    All enrolled Veterans are eligible for Veteran Directed Care IF they are eligible for community care, meet the clinical criteria for the service, and it is available. Services may vary by location.

    What services can I get?

    Examples of daily activities you may be able to receive help with include:

    • Eating
    • Getting dressed
    • Personal grooming
    • Bathing
    • Using the bathroom
    • Moving from one place to another
    • Grocery Shopping

If you need help or have questions, please visit the Resource Center on the CampV campus to talk to an advocate and get more information or cantact CampV at 903.566.1010.