I Need Help Planning VA Care Before a Crisis

Who to Ask

• VA social worker: home care, equipment, caregiver needs, transportation, and care options
• VA Caregiver Support Team: caregiver support and programs that may include caregiver payment
• Geriatrics and Extended Care: home-based and long-term-care options
• Discharge planner: what has actually been arranged after a hospital or rehab stay

Ask What VA Can Provide at Home

VA home and community-based long-term care services generally require enrollment in VA health care, a clinical need for the service, and local availability. If the Veteran isn’t enrolled, ask about enrolling first.

Ask what VA can provide in the home for bathing, dressing, supervision, respite, or caregiver relief. Options may include home health aide help, adult day health care, skilled home health, equipment or home modifications, or hospice.

Ask your VA social worker which options fit the Veteran’s needs and are available locally.

If Home Based Primary Care is offered, know it brings a VA health care team into the home. It doesn’t provide daily hands-on personal care such as bathing, toileting, or supervision. Other VA programs may help with that.

Ask:

• What exactly will be provided?
• How often?
• When will it start?
• What care will still be uncovered?

When the main problem is covering daily care, see I Need Help Caring for Someone →

For palliative care or hospice through VA, see I Need Help With Serious Illness, Comfort, or Hospice Through VA →

If the Family Is Looking for Paid Caregiving

Two VA programs are often confused. Eligibility for one doesn’t mean eligibility for the other.

Veteran-Directed Care may give an eligible Veteran a budget for approved home and community services and let the Veteran or their representative hire workers to provide the care. That may include a family member, friend, neighbor, or another chosen caregiver. Availability and eligibility vary.

Ask:

• Is Veteran-Directed Care available here?
• Does the Veteran appear to qualify?
• Can the person the Veteran wants to hire be paid?
• When could services begin?

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers may provide a monthly stipend and other support to an eligible Primary Family Caregiver.

Ask the VA Caregiver Support Team:

• Does this Veteran appear to meet the criteria?
• Who can be designated as the caregiver?
• What does the application require?
• What help is available while a decision is pending?

Ask About Pension With Aid and Attendance

If the Veteran needs help with daily activities or supervision, ask a VA-accredited representative whether VA Pension with Aid and Attendance may apply.

Aid and Attendance is added money, not caregiving hours.

VA Pension requires qualifying service during a wartime period VA defines by date. Combat isn’t the test. Ask a VA-accredited representative whether the Veteran’s service dates meet the requirement before you assume either way.

Ask whether the Veteran qualifies for VA Pension and what care needs, income, assets, and medical or care costs they pay themselves must be documented.

Before moving, gifting, retitling, or transferring money or property to qualify, get qualified advice.

A transfer that seems helpful can affect eligibility.

Ask whether anyone offering claims help is VA-accredited before signing anything. Accredited Veterans Service Organization representatives can help with VA claims at no charge.

If VA Says No

Ask:

• What exactly was denied?
• Can we get the decision in writing?
• Is there a review or appeal, and what’s the deadline?
• What can help now while that happens?

For a Caregiver Program decision, ask the VA Caregiver Support Team about the review options for that program.

Don’t let an appeal delay care that’s needed now.

Work VA and non-VA options at the same time.

If Staying Home Is No Longer Working

If the person may need assisted living, memory care, nursing-home care, or another residential setting, use I Need Help Finding a Care Facility →

That card covers the level of care, whether a facility can actually manage the person’s needs, bed availability, and how the placement will be paid for.

If you’re considering a VA Medical Foster Home, know that VA doesn’t pay for the home itself. The Veteran generally pays the Medical Foster Home caregiver directly, although other VA benefits or insurance may help with the cost. Ask the VA social worker what applies.