For many veterans and their families, the goal is simple: remain safely and independently at home for as long as possible. What families may not realize is that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs may help eligible veterans receive or pay for the assistance they need at home.
Two programs worth understanding are the VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide program and the Aid and Attendance benefit. Although both can help support care at home, they work very differently.
VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Program
The VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide program is part of the VA’s home- and community-based services. It can provide eligible veterans with assistance from trained caregivers in their homes.
- What it can provide: Assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility, meal preparation and other activities of daily living, based on the veteran’s VA-approved plan of care.
- Family benefit: The program can provide meaningful support for family caregivers and may help the veteran remain at home longer.
- How care is paid for: Eligible veterans may receive authorized home-care hours through the VA rather than paying the entire cost privately.
- Who may qualify: Generally, the veteran must be enrolled in VA health care, have a clinical need for the service and meet VA eligibility requirements. The VA care team determines whether the service is appropriate and how much care is authorized.
- How to start: Veterans receiving care through the Atlanta VA Health Care System can ask their VA primary care provider or social worker about an evaluation for Homemaker and Home Health Aide services.
VA Aid and Attendance
Aid and Attendance works differently. It is an additional monthly payment for certain veterans and survivors who qualify for a VA pension and meet additional requirements related to their need for assistance.
- Who may qualify: A veteran or eligible surviving spouse may potentially qualify when assistance is needed with activities such as bathing, dressing, eating or other personal-care needs.
- Other qualifying situations: Certain individuals who are bedridden, reside in a nursing home because of disability, or meet specific VA vision criteria may also qualify.
- Financial and service requirements: Because Aid and Attendance is connected to VA pension benefits, applicants must meet the applicable pension requirements, which can include military service, financial and other eligibility criteria.
- How the benefit works: Aid and Attendance generally provides additional money as part of the beneficiary’s monthly VA pension payment. Those resources may be used toward eligible expenses, including assistance with care at home.
Which Program Is Right for Your Family?
The answer depends on the veteran’s circumstances. Some families begin by asking the veteran’s VA health care team whether home-care services can be authorized through the VA. Others may want to explore whether the veteran or surviving spouse could qualify for pension benefits with Aid and Attendance.
Understanding the difference between these programs can help families ask the right questions before assuming they must pay for all home care themselves.
Right at Home Can Help You Understand Your Options
Right at Home works with veterans and their families who are exploring ways to remain safely at home. We can explain the types of home-care services available, discuss how VA-authorized care works, and help families prepare questions to ask their VA health care team.
If you are a veteran, spouse, surviving spouse or family caregiver and are unsure where to begin, contact Right at Home Woodstock to learn more about home-care options and resources that may be available to your family.
Right at Home – Woodstock | Serving veterans and families throughout our North Georgia community
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