Seniors who served in the armed forces may not know they are eligible for home care through veteran benefits. As they grow older, they will need assistance with daily activities. Home care allows aging in place for continued independence which most veterans prefer.
Veteran benefits: home care services
These services involve basic caregiving duties not requiring the specialized training or experience that home health might and are thus less expensive. Caregivers from a home care agency can monitor the veteran’s mood, nutrition, activity level, and mobility capabilities. While home care is an obvious benefit for an aging veteran, it can become confusing when it comes to paying for the services. Some of the services include the following:
- Meal preparation
- Grocery shopping
- Light housekeeping to maintain a safe and sanitary environment in the areas of the home
- Assistance with laundry
- Escorting the patient to necessary appointments
- Ensuring patient safety
Paying for home care services
The veteran benefit to offset these costs is determined through the VA Aid and Attendance benefit which considers age, disability, income, and net worth requirements. While not all veterans will require full-time care, home care services are flexible with multiple services being available and especially if the veteran is residing with family members. In this case, periodic respite care may be the most beneficial to prevent family caregiver burnout.
Family Resource Home Care offers respite care, post-operative care, hospice, and 24/7 hour care as well as a team to assist in navigating the veteran’s process to ensure a smooth process as it can be time-consuming.
