Home Care Benefits for Veterans with Health Needs
Benefits from the Veterans Health Administration
There are many seniors’ services and care funding available once enrolled in a VA Health Plan. Such include standard medical benefits, Service-Connected Disability care, and VA Long Term Care Services. These long term care services include Respite Care, Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, Home Based Primary Care, Adult Day Health, Hospice and Palliative Care, Skilled Home Health Care, and Nursing Home and Residential Care Settings.
Someone who served in the active military, reserve or National Guard may qualify for VA health care benefits from a variety of providers, including Right at Home.
Among the possible benefits are home care and funding for home care which could include important services that allow a veteran to remain at home as long as possible and enjoy the company of a Right at Home caregiver. This helps reduce a sense of isolation.
A Special Place in Our Hearts!
Trip of a Lifetime Right at Home’s own Caregiver, Harout Avakeretsyan, made incredible memories this past summer with his client, WWII Veteran Hewet Gomez, when he traveled to Normandy, France for the 80th Celebration of the D-Day Landing! Mr. Gomez was a Navigator on a B24 aircraft that dropped spies and ammo off in the French countryside enabling the French Resistance to prepare for D-Day.
Harout describes this adventure as “an amazing experience” one he will never forget! Harout has developed a very close and meaningful relationship with Mr. Gomez made possible through the VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide Program (HHA) which allows Mr. Gomez to receive benefits that pay for weekly hours of care with a Right at Home caregiver.
Respite Care
The VA pays for Right at Home to come to the veteran’s home.
There is a limit to the visit duration and number of visits, but this service can provide relief to a caregiver knowing there is a trusted Right at Home team member taking care of their loved one in their absence.
Homemaker & Home Health Aide Care
This benefit pays for Right at Home to come to the veteran’s residence to provide assistance with dressing, bathing, personal care, meal preparation, laundry and feeding, regardless if a family caregiver is in the home. Keep in mind, the VA does not allow Right at Home to transport the veteran in any vehicle.
The veteran’s health care provider at the local Veteran Affairs Medical Center will determine how many home care visits a veteran can receive. Veterans can ask their provider for more care and can request Right at Home to be their provider. This service has to be initiated by the veteran or their VA medical professional.
Right at Home of Lafayette is an approved and contracted provider of these home care services from Optum. We look forward to providing assistance with the process.
War-time Veterans Pension Benefits for Home Care
If you need assistance with applying, contact us to learn about vendors that can help with the application. In some cases, you may be eligible for a zero interest loan to begin home care services immediately.
Your county veterans service officers are also familiar with these programs and can assist veterans in obtaining the benefits they’ve earned. Click here to locate a County Service Officer that can assist you with the application.
Veterans Pension
The Veterans Pension program provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans that can be used to purchase home care services.
Eligible veterans are those who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and net worth within certain limits.
To learn how to determine if you’re eligible for this benefit, click the link below.
Aid and Attendance or Housebound Benefits
VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide additional monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. This benefit is for those Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person or caregiver in at least two of the daily activities of living such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring. If you need help with daily activities, or you’re housebound, click the link below to learn how to determine if you’re eligible for this benefit.
Survivors Pension
A VA Survivors Pension offers monthly payments to qualified surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet certain income and net worth limits.
Click below to learn how to determine if you’re eligible for this benefit.
Louisiana Veterans
Service Offices Are There to Help You
To assist veterans in navigating the complex web of services and benefits available, the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs has Veterans Service offices throughout Louisiana. This helps ensure services and advice are available to veterans close to their homes. The website has an easy-to-use bank of resources on its Connect with Resources Created for You webpage.
Information on locations and phone numbers for Veterans Service Offices can be found on the Find Your Nearest LDVA Location webpage. Veterans Service Officers (VSO) are trained to provide free assistance to veterans and their dependents and survivors. This includes not only applying for federal and state benefits but also providing resources related to the following:
- Compensation and Pension
- Health Care
- Education & Training
- Employment
- Burial & Survivor
- Housing
- Permits
- Transportation
- Military Records
*Disclaimer: The information and links above are only for informational purposes about benefits you may be eligible for and is not legal advice or a benefit determination. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs nor affiliated in any way with the VA. We do not review applications, approve or deny services. VA retains sole authority for benefit determinations. If you wish to contact the VA directly, you can do so by calling 800-827-1000 or visiting them at www.va.gov.