Home Care Options for Veterans: What’s Available and Who’s Eligible

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides support for home care and home health care, as well as adult day services and respite care for caregiver relief. Like all home care, VA home care benefits are designed to help veterans remain safely at home while easing demands on you and other family caregivers.

Non-medical home care support for veterans at home

Some VA-supported services focus on everyday needs rather than medical care. These types of support can help with activities of daily living (ADLs), household routines, and companionship, making daily life more manageable at home for both the veteran and the caregiver.

Home health care for veterans who need clinical support

Other VA home care services are medical in nature and are intended for veterans who need clinical care at home. This may include skilled nursing, therapy services, or ongoing medical oversight, particularly when traveling to appointments is difficult.

Veterans are eligible for home care programs through the VA if they:

• Are enrolled in VA Health Care
• Meet the physical and behavioral requirements of each program
• Are eligible for community care
• Live in an area where programs or services are available

There could be additional requirements based on the programs noted below.

Can a veteran’s spouse or surviving spouse receive in-home care benefits?

Maybe. Eligibility for a spouse or surviving spouse depends on their unique situation and ability to meet eligibility requirements. For example, a surviving spouse who remarries is no longer eligible for TRICARE, the military’s health insurance program.

A VA case manager or VA social worker may be able to help you and your loved one understand eligibility and how much the VA can cover to meet home care needs. You can contact the VA online or by phone 24/7 at 800-698-2411 for assistance. If you need an interpreter, call 800-698-2411 and select 0 to connect with an agent and request an interpreter.

Once eligibility is established, the VA connects veterans with care in different ways based on their health needs, daily challenges, and caregiver support at home.

Homemaker and home health aide services

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program involves a trained aide coming to the veteran’s residence to support the veteran with daily activities around the house, such as:

• Eating
• Getting dressed
• Personal grooming
• Bathing
• Using the bathroom
• Moving from one place to another

The aide may visit often or occasionally depending on a veteran’s needs.^[01] The veteran may continue receiving services for as long as they require assistance with daily tasks.

This program allows veterans to continue living at home rather than moving to a nursing home. It can also help family caregivers by reducing their stress and physical strain.^[02]

Home-based primary care

Home-Based Primary Care provides a variety of health care services provided by licensed VA medical providers, including the following:^[03]

• Primary care visits at home with a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant
• Skilled nursing care
• Nutrition counseling
• Mental health support
• Case management by a nurse, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or social worker

Home-Based Primary Care may be an ideal home care option for seniors with disabilities who can’t travel easily to their local VA medical center. This service is also beneficial for a veteran who no longer drives and doesn’t have the option of accessible transportation options.

Can you afford home care?

Skilled home health care

The VA’s Skilled Home Health Care program provides similar services as the Home-Based Primary Care program, but does so using licensed, non-VA medical professionals in the veteran’s community.  This can be a good option for veterans who live outside of a VA service area.^[04] Services might include:

• Nursing care (such as wound care or catheter care)
• Therapy visits for physical, occupational or speech therapy
• Patient education
• Infusion therapies, such as antibiotics
• A home safety evaluation
• Social work support

Read more:Home Care vs. Nursing Home: What’s the Difference?

Adult day health care for veterans who need daytime supervision

Through the VA’s Adult Day Health Care program, veterans can go to centers during the day while their caregiver is at work or taking a respite from caregiving.^[05] These centers offer safe and supervised environments that encourage socialization and participation in activities. Veterans can choose adult day health centers operated by the VA or community-based centers that contract with the VA to provide services.

For veterans experiencing memory loss, adult day health centers for seniors with dementia is a specialized care option. Veterans can also qualify, through a health assessment, for health supervision and rehabilitative therapies to help them recover from an illness or injury. Adult day health care can always be combined with other VA home and community based services.^[05]

H3: Hospice care at home

If a veteran has a terminal condition and is approaching the end of life, the VA’s Hospice Care program covers and can help to coordinate in-home hospice care.^[06]

To qualify for this type of care, your loved one must meet the following criteria:^[06]

• Receive a prognosis of less than six months to live from a doctor
• Have no interest in treatment other than palliative care
• Be enrolled in VA Health Care
• Demonstrate a clinical need for hospice care

H3: Home respite care

The VA offers a respite care service to help family caregivers take care of themselves and relieve stress.^[07] Caring for an elderly loved one can be exhausting and can lead to caregiver burnout.

A veteran who requires a caregiver qualifies for up to 30 days of respite care per year. Respite can be provided by a professional caregiver in a veteran’s home, at a VA contracted community living center, an adult day health center, or a nursing home. This allows a family caregiver to take care of their own obligations and needs, like going to a doctor’s appointment or visiting with a friend.

H3: Home telehealth

The VA’s Telehealth program helps bring VA medical care coordination and health monitoring to veterans at home.^[08] Veterans can connect with their care coordinator using a phone or digital device. Veterans using telehealth can also meet virtually with their primary caregiver or a specialist.

Some veterans may also be eligible for remote monitoring care through home telehealth. If qualified, the VA will provide a health monitoring device, appropriate to a veteran’s needs, that collects health data like vital signs. This information is shared with a veteran’s health care team, so they can monitor and help to manage care.^[09]

Through home telehealth, providers offer education, care training, and support groups for family caregivers. For veterans who don’t have a digital device, the home telehealth program will loan them an internet-connected tablet. The VA also offers discounts on cellular and internet services to help make telehealth more affordable.^[10]

H3: Veteran Directed Care and flexible budgets for in-home support

The Veteran Directed Care program gives the veteran a budget to spend on services chosen by the veteran or their representative. The amount of money a veteran can receive through this program depends on the individual’s needs. However, the amount won’t typically exceed what the care would cost if the veteran were receiving care in a skilled nursing facility. The selected services should assist the veteran with personal care activities, such as preparing food or showering.

Some veterans may prefer the flexibility of this program compared to the less flexible Homemaker and Home Health Aide program. A counselor with the VA will typically help the veteran and their family set up a spending plan. The counselor can also generally assist the veteran and their family with hiring workers to provide services.^[10]

Expert advice for affordable home care

There is no single dollar amount that the VA will pay for home care for veterans and their spouses. The amount the VA pays varies greatly based on:

• The program the veteran or their spouse uses
• Their disability status
• Services provided
• Whether copays apply or not

H3: Where copays apply and where they don’t

Some VA home care services may require a copay, while others do not. Whether a copay applies often depends on factors such as service-connected disability status, income, and the type of care being provided. Many veterans qualify for care with little or no out-of-pocket cost.

Because rules can vary, a VA social worker or care team member can explain what applies in your loved one’s situation and help you understand any potential costs before services begin.

H3: What this looks like in real life: example care situations

VA coverage depends on each veteran’s needs and circumstances, but it can help to see how support might look in everyday situations. The examples below show common ways care may be delivered and what families can generally expect.

• Help with daily tasks at home. A veteran who needs help bathing, dressing, or preparing meals may receive scheduled visits from an aide through the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program. Depending on eligibility and service-connected status, these visits may be covered fully or require a copay.
• Medical care delivered at home. A veteran who has complex health needs and struggles to travel may receive nursing visits or therapy at home through the Home Based Primary Care program. Coverage often depends on clinical need and whether the care replaces clinic-based services.
• Support for a family caregiver. A family caregiver who provides most daily care may be able to use short-term respite services arranged through the VA’s Respite Care program.

Navigating the many VA benefits, programs, and services available for veterans can be challenging. Providing the correct documentation and filling out the right forms can be overwhelming. Family caregivers can help by learning more about VA home care programs through the VA’s Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274. They can also contact the VA’s Caregiver Support Coordinator. A Place for Mom’s trusted, VA-accredited partner Patriot Angels can also provide assistance to veterans navigating their home care options.

Note: A Place for Mom may be compensated if you choose to use Patriot Angels’ services.

In some situations, VA services may not fully cover the kind or amount of help your family needs at home. If that happens, you may choose to explore home care options outside of the VA. A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help you understand veteran-friendly home care choices in your area and talk through what might work best for your loved one and your family.