VA home care benefits at a glance
The VA has several separate home care programs. Most older veterans have heard of none of them. Here they are.
The programs
| Program | What it provides | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Community Care | Home health from a non-VA agency, paid by VA | Veterans who cannot easily get to a VA facility |
| Homemaker / Home Health Aide | An aide for personal care at home | Veterans needing help with daily activities |
| Home-Based Primary Care | A VA medical team that visits at home | Veterans with complex conditions |
| Veteran-Directed Care | A budget the veteran controls, and can use to hire family | Veterans who want to direct their own care |
| Aid & Attendance | Extra monthly cash on top of pension | Veterans or surviving spouses needing daily help |
| Respite Care | Short-term relief for the family caregiver | Any veteran whose caregiver needs a break |
| Adult Day Health Care | A supervised day program | Veterans who benefit from structure and company |
How to start
- 1Go to a County Veterans Service OfficerFree, accredited, and they file the paperwork for you. Every county has one. This is the single best first step.
- 2Never pay anyone to file a claimCharging a veteran for benefits claim help is a known scam, sometimes called pension poaching. Accredited help is always free.
- 3Enroll in VA health care if not alreadyMost home care programs require enrollment. Bring the DD-214.
- 4Ask the VA social worker directlyAsk by name for Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Veteran-Directed Care, or Community Care. Naming the program gets further than asking for "help at home."
Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1. Free, confidential, 24/7.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.