There are approximately 19 million veterans of the armed forces in the U.S. and three quarters of U.S. veterans are over the age of 50. Veterans and their spouses over the age of 65 may be eligible for Aid and Attendance (A&A) pensions through the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) that can be put towards the cost of health care, including in-home care. In order to receive an A&A pension, veterans and spouses of veterans must apply through the VA. For seniors who are eligible and receive an A&A pension, they can use their pension to help cover the cost of veteran home care services from Assisting Hands Home Care.
At Assisting Hands Home Care, we provide VA home health care and VA respite care services for qualified veterans and surviving spouses in Elmhurst, IL and the surrounding areas. Those who receive VA home care from Assisting Hands can expect quality care from licensed caregivers based on their specific care needs. We will start by evaluating the care needs of your loved ones and our caregivers will treat them with compassion and respect while providing the best possible care.
Assisting Hands Home Care is a preferred provider of the VA for home care and we are committed to supporting our veterans in need of home care and assistance.
Aid and Attendance Pension
The Aid and Attendance pension is a monetary benefit offered by the VA for eligible veterans and the surviving spouses of veterans that can be put towards the cost of home care. Those applying for A&A benefits must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Must be a veteran, spouse of a veteran, or surviving spouse of a veteran 65 years of age or older.
- The veteran must have served “Active Duty” during a time of war.
- The veteran or spouse must fall within asset and income limits and require help with activities of daily living (ADLs) to safely live in their homes independently.
Applying for A&A pensions can be difficult as the process is complicated and applicants may not receive their benefits for up to a year after starting the application process. However, the pension will be paid retroactively to the date when the application process was started in a lump sum. This allows eligible veterans and spouses to start receiving VA home care before the process is completed.
Veterans and spouses of veterans who want help applying for A&A benefits can reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care to get assistance with the application process from the Care Planning Institute. The Care Planning Institute is an independent company with accredited VA benefits agents who work on behalf of veterans and their spouses to help the application process go smoothly and secure the maximum benefit applicants are entitled to. The services of the Care Planning Institute are of no cost to the applicant, and they also offer a plan that helps pay for home care for pre-qualified applicants while their A&A application is still pending.
VA Homemaker/ Home Health Aid (HHA) Program
Eligible veterans and veteran spouses can receive up to 12 hours of home care covered by their A&A pension through our VA homemaker and home health aid program. Those interested in these care services must reach out to their VA point of contact for a consultation. Veterans and their spouses must complete an evaluation from a mixed discipline panel for geriatric extended care (GEC) including a medical doctor (MD), registered nurse (RN), and social worker (SW).
At least one of the following criteria must also be met:
- Dependency for 3 or more activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Significant cognitive impairment
Veteran Respite Care
Some veterans and spouse of veterans may already receive care from family members. For these veterans, we can provide VA respite care to give the family caregiver some time off while they receive care from our licensed caregivers. Those who are eligible must complete the same evaluation by a mixed discipline panel for geriatric extended care and also meet one of the following criteria:
- Require assistance for 3 or more ADLs
- Significant cognitive impairment
Veterans Home Care Services from Assisting Hands
Veterans and spouses of veterans who are eligible for an A&A pension from the VA can get in touch with Assisting Hands Home Care for veteran home care services. Our VA home care services start with a free in-home consultation to evaluate your loved one’s care needs as well as how A&A benefits can be used to cover the cost of care.
Assisting Hands Home Care is a preferred home care provider of the VA for veterans and their spouses. You can call us at (630) 526-6522 for more about our VA home care services in Elmhurst, Lombard, Villa Park, IL and the surrounding areas.
