Veterans

VA Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Home) Programs

While some Veterans qualify for indefinite Community Living Center (formerly known as nursing home care) services, other Veterans may qualify for a limited period of time. Among those that automatically qualify for indefinite community living care are Veterans whose service-connected condition is clinically determined to require nursing home care and Veterans with a service-connected rating of 70% or more and unemployable. Other Veterans may be provided short-term community living care, if space and resources available.

Domiciliary Care

Domiciliary care provides rehabilitative and long-term, health maintenance care for Veterans who require some medical care, but who do not require all the services provided in nursing homes. Domiciliary care emphasizes rehabilitation and return to the community. VA may provide domiciliary care to Veterans whose annual income does not exceed the maximum annual rate of VA pension or to Veterans who have no adequate means of support.

Medical Foster Home

Medical Foster Homes are private homes in which a trained caregiver provides services to a few individuals. Some, but not all, residents are Veterans. VA inspects and approves all Medical Foster Homes. A Medical Foster Home can serve as an alternative to a nursing home. It may appropriate for Veterans who require nursing home care but prefer a non-institutional setting with fewer residents. Contact your VA social worker or case manager for further information on Medical Foster Home.

State Veterans Home

State Veterans Homes are facilities that provide nursing home, domiciliary or adult day care. Each State establishes eligibility and admission criteria for its homes. For more information about your State Veterans Home, contact the State Veterans Home directly or Social Work Service at your local VA facility.

Geriatric evaluation is the comprehensive assessment of a Veteran’s ability to care for him/herself, his/her physical health and social environment, which leads to a plan of care. The plan could include treatment, rehabilitation, health promotion and social services. These evaluations are performed by inpatient Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Units, GEM clinics, geriatric primary care clinics and other outpatient settings.

Geriatrics and Extended Care

Geriatrics and Extended Care provides services for Veterans who are elderly and have complex needs, and Veterans of any age who need daily support and assistance. Veterans can receive care at home, at VA medical centers or in the community.

Adult Day Health Care

Adult Day Health Care is a program Veterans can go during the day for social activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. Adult Day Health Care is for Veterans who need skilled services, case management, and assistance with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed) or instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., fixing meals and taking medicines); are isolated or their caregiver is experiencing burden. Adult Day Health Care can provide respite care for a family caregiver and can also help Veterans and their caregiver gain skills to manage the Veteran’s care at home.

Respite Care

Respite Care is a service that pays for a person to come to a Veteran’s home or for a Veteran to go to a program while their family caregiver takes a break. While a Veteran gets Respite Care, the family caregiver can run errands or go out of town for a few days without worrying about leaving the Veteran alone at home. Depending on the Respite Care services in your area, you can choose which options are best for you and your family caregiver. Respite Care services may be available up to 30 days each calendar year.

Home Health Care

Home Health Care includes VA’s Skilled Home Health Care Services (SHHC), Homemaker and Home Health Aide Services (H/HHA) and Family Caregiver Programs.

SHHC is short-term health care services that can be provided to Veterans if they are homebound or live far away from VA. The care is delivered by a community-based home health agency that has a contract with VA. SHHC is for Veterans who need skilled services, case management, and assistance with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed) or instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., fixing meals and taking medicines); are isolated or their caregiver is experiencing burden.

The services of a Homemaker or Home Health Aide can help Veterans remain living in their own home and can serve Veterans of any age. A Homemaker or Home Health Aide can be used as a part of an alternative to nursing home care, and as a way to get Respite Care at home for Veterans and their family caregiver.

VA’s Family Caregivers Program provides support and assistance to caregivers of post 9/11 Veterans and Service Members being medically discharged. Eligible primary Family Caregivers can receive a stipend, training, mental health services, travel and lodging reimbursement, and access to health insurance if they are not already under a health care plan. For more information, contact your local VA medical facility and speak to a Caregiver Support Coordinator, visit www.caregiver.va.gov or dial toll free 1-877-222-VETS (8387).