At Assisting Hands Home Care, we are dedicated to helping veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces with our veteran home care and transitional care services in Chicago Heights, IL. We can provide veteran home care for veterans and their spouses who qualify for VA benefits, and we work with the Chicago Heights VA Clinic to provide transitional care for those returning home from treatment at the clinic.
A high concentration of senior citizens in the U.S. are veterans of the armed forces as seniors account for about two-thirds of all U.S. veterans. Veterans and their spouses who are over the age of 65 may be eligible for benefits from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) that can be used to cover the cost of home care. In addition to receiving benefits for home care, veterans can also receive medical care from VA clinics within the VA Chicago Healthcare System, including the Chicago Heights VA Clinic. VA benefits can be put towards the cost of transitional care when they return home after receiving care at a VA clinic.
Assisting Hands Home Care provides veteran home care and transitional care services in Chicago Heights, IL for eligible veterans and their spouses. Our licensed caregivers can provide quality, compassionate non-medical home care for senior veterans and spouses of veterans who need assistance with personal care and tasks around the house. We can also help eligible veterans adjust to returning home after receiving care from the VA clinic.
Applying for VA Pension Benefits
For veteran seniors and their spouses to receive VA pension benefits, they must apply for these benefits with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Veterans may be eligible to receive VA benefits if they meet the following criteria:
- Veterans and spouses applying for VA benefits must be 65 or older.
- Veterans must have at least one day served during war time.
- Surviving spouses must have been married to the veteran at their time of death.
- Veterans must have less than $123,600 in their retirement account.
- The combined monthly income of those applying must be below $2000 for surviving spouses, $2600 for single veterans, and $3000 for married couples.
VA Home Care from Assisting Hands
Veterans and spouses who qualify and receive VA benefits can put their benefits towards the VA Homemaker/ Home Health Aid (HHA) Program or Veteran Respite Care services that we offer. The VA HHA program covers 12 hours of in-home care per week while our veteran respite care services cover our respite caregiver taking over for a family caregiver that is the primary caregiver for an eligible veteran or spouse.
For both VA care programs, the veteran or spouse must complete an evaluation from a mixed discipline geriatric extended care (GEC) panel that consists of a social worker (SW), registered nurse (RN), and a medical doctor (MD). Those applying for veteran care must show significant cognitive impairment or require assistance for 3 or more activities of daily living (ADLs).
Veteran Transitional Care for Chicago Heights VA Clinic
The experience of being in a hospital and transitioning back home after being discharged can be difficult for seniors, especially if they do not have a loved one to help them. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we provide transitional care and hospital sitter services for veterans and spouses receiving care from the Chicago Heights VA clinic. Our caregivers can provide company and personal assistance for veterans while in the hospital or clinic and provide the personal care they need to safely transition back home.
Hospital Sitters for Chicago Heights VA Clinic
The Chicago Heights VA Clinic is an outpatient clinic that treats veterans and spouses in the Chicago Heights, IL area. They provide primary whole-health care as well as specialty health services such as such as addiction and substance abuse care, mental health care, pharmacy services, and more. Veterans who receive care at the Chicago Heights VA Clinic can also receive transitional care and veterans home care from Assisting Hands.
When seniors are in the hospital or clinic for an injury, illness, or surgery, they are getting quality medical care, but may not be getting the personal care and assistance they need. Our caregivers can provide hospital sitting services in which we will be there to ensure seniors are comfortable and provide them with companionship and personal assistance. The care we provide does not interfere with the medical care they receive from their nurse or doctor, but rather complements their medical care with personal assistance that nurses and doctors do not provide.
Hospital Sitting Services include the following:
- Personal care: We can assist seniors with dressing, eating, using the restroom, and other activities of daily living (ADLs).
- Companionship: While spending time with your loved ones in the clinic, we will build a personal bond with them and provide them with companionship.
- 24/7 care and overnight care: We can be there overnight or 24 hours a day, so your loved ones are never alone.
- Respite care: If a member of the family is helping your loved one while in the hospital or at the clinic, we can provide respite care to have one of our caregivers take over and give the family member a break.
- Fall prevention: We can help reduce the risk of falls by helping your loved ones get in and out of their bed and move to and from the bathroom.
It is not easy for seniors to return home after being at a hospital or clinic. They will need to follow instructions from their doctor, take their medications, and get enough rest to make a full recovery. If seniors do not follow their discharge instructions, there is a risk that they could end up back in the hospital or clinic.
As part of our transitional care, our caregivers can do the following:
- We will understand the discharge instructions so we can communicate them to the patient and family.
- We provide non-medical transportation back home.
- We can help schedule follow-up appointments.
- We can pick up prescriptions and ensure your loved ones know how to take them and take them at the right time.
- We can relay information about discharge instructions and medications to their primary doctor.
- If necessary, we can coordinate the delivery of medical equipment.
- We can ensure that the home is safe and help them move around the home to prevent falls.
- We can buy groceries and take care of meal preparation.
- We can assist with light housekeeping tasks to keep the home clean.
- We will provide assistance with ADLs including bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and transferring.
- We can be there overnight for your loved ones and provide 24-hour care, so they are never alone.
- If your loved one is being cared for by a family member after returning home, we can provide respite care to allow the family caregiver some time away.
Call Assisting Hands for Veteran Home Care and Transitional Care
At Assisting Hands Home Care, we are proud to help veterans of the U.S. armed services get the care they need to live safely at home and transition back home after receiving care at a clinic or hospital. If you or your loved ones qualify for VA benefits and are in need of home care or transitional care in Chicago Heights, IL, call Assisting Hands at (708) 300-9338. We can help determine how your VA benefits can be applied to the cost of our care.
