My husband is a veteran but only in the navy for a year before war was over. Is he still eligible for VA home care?
As his dementia progresses, will he be able to get home care help through the VA. He now goes to the Manchester, NH VA for his medications. Will they help us with home care in the future?
The question has a more complicated answer than the pension process that appears to have been offered by the respondents thus far....which is certainly not their fault. The VA is a very complicated federal department.
Sam, your husband is receiving health care through the VA Medical Center in Manchester, NH, in that he has a primary care physician there. That's how he gets his medications through them. As such, your husband may be able to receive home health aid services through the VA paid for and contracted by the VA. Contact either his primary care physician or a social worker in the primary care division of the VA Medical Center and discuss options available. Because the VA health system recently had a budget scare, it's hard to say whether or not the Manchester VA Medical Center will have the resources available to provide in home care. Our understanding is that these funds are limited. However, calling the social worker in the primary care division is key - other social workers in the building may not have the full details as we learned. A good list of options available is the list of links in this blog posting from a couple of years ago:
When our elderly LOs were still in their home, the home health company providing a few hours per week through the county wanted us to pursue VA funding through the VA Medical Center to increase their hours and services provided. Our situation was fairly unique and we were unable to fully pursue this avenue on our end.
As with most things with the VA, sometimes the amount of medical services available depends on the veteran's compensated disability rating determined by another part/agency within the VA. Sam, does your husband have a disability rating? When dealing with VA medical, for instance, enrollment is top priority and there are no out-of-pocket costs for veterans rated disabled at 50% or higher. For veterans rated at 70% or higher, they can use VA nursing homes. The rating process is painful and often requires the help of either a knowledgeable veteran or a National Service Officer as Twopupsmom offered.
The same entity within the VA that determines and administers disability compensation also determines and runs pensions. If your husband is unable to obtain in home care directly through the VA Medical Center, he may be able to obtain pension benefits through your VA Regional Office for you to pay for in home care (see the difference?). Disability compensation is provided for disabilities obtained during or as a result of having been in service. Pension benefits are for disabilities that are not the result of having been in service. For instance, there is an extensive and growing list of disabilities "presumed" to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Perhaps your husband was injured or developed a chronic illness or condition while in the service? Those would be service related disabilities and the VA is obligated to pay for treatment of those disabilities through the VA medical system. Otherwise, to pay for the cost of health care, you would pursue the pension process. Talking with whatever veterans' organization your husband has been a part of in the past or currently is where we'd start on this process.
In closing, dealing with the VA can be a painfully complicated and difficult process, but is often worth it. Fortunately, Sam, your husband has an established relationship with the VA Medical Center in Manchester because he is enrolled and receives some level of services through them already, even if that's just prescription medicines. Rather than start with the VA Regional Office, start with the Medical Center and his primary care doctor or the primary care social worker. See what they can do directly first.
I found the best help where I'm at was with the Alabama Dept of Veteran Affairs. Both myself and husband are disabked vets, but we liv in Georgia. I'm currently a full time caregiver for my Vet dad who live in Alabama. Unfortunately I wasted a lot of time and energy by speaking to people who were "helping" veterans get their benefits. Thank God I finally found out that Alabama has their own FREE TRAINED help for vets. Look for one in your state.
Your husband can get benefits through his local clinic and it is not associated with Aid and Attendance benefits. Tell his doctor when he needs home care and he/she will arrange for services. It basically just needs a prescription and the home care agency will bill the VA. Thank him for his service!
Call or go by your local VA office, they can tell you what he is eligible for and they also have a small book that explains everything that you can just pick up and take home.
Yes he can get home care aid and attendance benefits. You should contact or go to your nearest VA office and talk with a rep. They are very helpful. You will be able to get help so you do not have to carry the load alone.
Umm Ferris1, a primary care doctor cannot do that in the VA and have the VA pay for it. He can request it, but another part of that VA medical group will review and approve that. It will be a VA contracted service.
John Barrett VFW Department Service Officer Norris Cotton Federal Building 275 Chestnut Street Manchester, NH 03101 Phone: 603 222-5780 Fax: 603 222-5783 E-Mail: john.barrett1@va.gov
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https://www.agingcare.com/articles/veteran-aid-attendance-benefit-long-term-care-156656.htm
Also, search Aid and Attendance in the agingcare.com search box for more articles.
Sam, your husband is receiving health care through the VA Medical Center in Manchester, NH, in that he has a primary care physician there. That's how he gets his medications through them. As such, your husband may be able to receive home health aid services through the VA paid for and contracted by the VA. Contact either his primary care physician or a social worker in the primary care division of the VA Medical Center and discuss options available. Because the VA health system recently had a budget scare, it's hard to say whether or not the Manchester VA Medical Center will have the resources available to provide in home care. Our understanding is that these funds are limited. However, calling the social worker in the primary care division is key - other social workers in the building may not have the full details as we learned. A good list of options available is the list of links in this blog posting from a couple of years ago:
http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/10562/va-provides-long-term-care-options-to-veterans/
When our elderly LOs were still in their home, the home health company providing a few hours per week through the county wanted us to pursue VA funding through the VA Medical Center to increase their hours and services provided. Our situation was fairly unique and we were unable to fully pursue this avenue on our end.
As with most things with the VA, sometimes the amount of medical services available depends on the veteran's compensated disability rating determined by another part/agency within the VA. Sam, does your husband have a disability rating? When dealing with VA medical, for instance, enrollment is top priority and there are no out-of-pocket costs for veterans rated disabled at 50% or higher. For veterans rated at 70% or higher, they can use VA nursing homes. The rating process is painful and often requires the help of either a knowledgeable veteran or a National Service Officer as Twopupsmom offered.
The same entity within the VA that determines and administers disability compensation also determines and runs pensions. If your husband is unable to obtain in home care directly through the VA Medical Center, he may be able to obtain pension benefits through your VA Regional Office for you to pay for in home care (see the difference?). Disability compensation is provided for disabilities obtained during or as a result of having been in service. Pension benefits are for disabilities that are not the result of having been in service. For instance, there is an extensive and growing list of disabilities "presumed" to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Perhaps your husband was injured or developed a chronic illness or condition while in the service? Those would be service related disabilities and the VA is obligated to pay for treatment of those disabilities through the VA medical system. Otherwise, to pay for the cost of health care, you would pursue the pension process. Talking with whatever veterans' organization your husband has been a part of in the past or currently is where we'd start on this process.
In closing, dealing with the VA can be a painfully complicated and difficult process, but is often worth it. Fortunately, Sam, your husband has an established relationship with the VA Medical Center in Manchester because he is enrolled and receives some level of services through them already, even if that's just prescription medicines. Rather than start with the VA Regional Office, start with the Medical Center and his primary care doctor or the primary care social worker. See what they can do directly first.
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VFW Department Service Officer Norris Cotton Federal Building 275 Chestnut Street Manchester, NH 03101
Phone: 603 222-5780
Fax: 603 222-5783
E-Mail: john.barrett1@va.gov
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