A recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau indicated that there are over eight million veterans in this country aged 65 and older. While most of them served in the Vietnam era, others saw military service in North Korea, the Persian Gulf War, and even World War II. While the report found that aging veterans were less likely to be living in poverty than other seniors, more of them had functional disabilities than others in their age group.
Fortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a range of financial and health benefits specifically tailored to help aging veterans maintain their health, independence, and quality of life. These benefits cover everything from long-term care and geriatric evaluations to home-based community services, ensuring that you get the support you need in your daily life as you grow older.
In this blog, we’ll explore the various VA benefits available to aging veterans, helping you understand how these programs can make a difference in your life or the life of a loved one. Whether you’re in need of medical care, assistance with daily activities, or simply want to ensure that you’re taking full advantage of the benefits you’ve earned, this guide will provide the information you need to get started.
VA Health Care for Aging Veterans – an Overview
As veterans age, they may require specialized care and services that address the challenges that come with aging. The VA’s health care programs for aging veterans focus on providing comprehensive support to help you maintain your health, manage chronic conditions, and live as independently as possible.
Long-Term Care Benefits
One of the most important benefits the VA offers to elderly veterans is access to long-term care services and senior living care communities. These services are designed to support you if you’re no longer able to live independently due to illness, injury, or other health conditions requiring treatment at a medical center. The VA provides several types of extended care to those who meet eligibility requirements, including:
- Nursing Home Care: The VA operates Community Living Centers (CLCs), which are nursing homes that provide constant care for senior veterans who need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and eating. These community care settings also offer medical support, rehabilitation services, and social activities to help you maintain the best possible quality of life.
- Community Nursing Homes: If you prefer to stay closer to home or if a VA facility is not nearby, the VA can contract with local community nursing homes to provide care. This option for nursing home care lets you access services in a location that’s convenient for you and your family.
- Domiciliary Care: For senior veterans who need a lower level of care, the domiciliary care option provides residential rehabilitation and support. This type of senior care is ideal if you can still perform some daily activities independently but need assistance with certain tasks or medical supervision.
- Adult Day Health Care: If you need care during the day but can still live at home, Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) programs offer a solution. These programs provide daytime care in a community setting, giving you access to medical care, prepared meals, rehabilitation services, and social activities while allowing your nursing care providers to have a break.
- Respite Care: Caring for an aging military veteran can be demanding, and the VA offers respite care to give your family caregivers a much-needed break. Respite care can be provided in your home or at a VA facility, ensuring that you continue to receive the care you need while your caregivers take time to rest and recharge.
Geriatric Evaluations and Management
As you get older, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your health and how it’s changing. The VA offers geriatric evaluations to assess your physical, mental, and emotional health and identify any issues that may need attention. These evaluations, which are conducted by healthcare professionals who specialize in caring for older adults, can help create a personalized care plan for you.
During a geriatric evaluation, your healthcare team will assess your:
- Physical Health: This includes evaluating your mobility, balance, strength, and any chronic conditions you may have, such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis.
- Mental Health: Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so the evaluation will include an assessment of your cognitive function, memory, and mood. This is particularly important for identifying conditions like dementia, depression, or anxiety, which can affect your quality of life.
- Social and Environmental Factors: The evaluation will also consider your living situation, support system, and any potential risks in your home environment, such as fall hazards. This information helps the healthcare team recommend services or modifications that can improve your safety and comfort.
- Medications: As you age, the medications you take may need to be adjusted. The evaluation includes a review of your current medications to ensure they’re appropriate for your needs and to identify any potential interactions or side effects.
Based on the results of the geriatric evaluation, your healthcare team will develop a care plan for you. This plan may include recommendations for medical treatments, therapies, lifestyle changes, or additional VA services that can help you stay healthy and independent for as long as possible.
Home-Based and Community Services
For many aging veterans, staying in their own homes is a top priority. The VA offers a variety of home-based and community services designed to help you live independently while receiving the care and support you need. These residential setting services are especially valuable if you have limited mobility, chronic health conditions, or if you prefer to age in place.
- Home-Based Primary Care: If you’re unable to travel to a VA medical facility for routine care, the VA offers Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC). This program brings primary care services to your home, provided by a team of healthcare professionals who can manage your chronic conditions, medications, and overall health. HBPC is ideal if you have complex medical needs that require ongoing care and monitoring.
- Skilled Home Health Care: For veterans who need short-term medical care at home, the VA offers Skilled Home Health Care services. These services are provided by licensed nurses and therapists who can assist with wound care, physical therapy, and other medical needs that require specialized skills.
- Homemaker and Home Health Aide Services: If you need help with daily functions, such as bathing, dressing, or meal preparation, the VA can provide homemaker and home health aide services. These services are delivered by trained aides who come to your home to assist with personal care and prepared meals, ensuring that you can continue to live comfortably and safely in your own home.
- Home Hospice Care: If you’re dealing with a terminal illness, the VA offers home hospice care to provide comfort and support during this challenging time. Hospice comfort care focuses on managing pain and symptoms, providing emotional and spiritual support, and helping you and your family prepare for end-of-life decisions. This palliative care can be provided in your home, allowing you to spend your final days in a familiar and comfortable environment.
- Home Telehealth: The VA’s Home Telehealth program uses technology to monitor your health and provide care remotely. Through this program, you can connect with your healthcare team using video calls, phone consultations, or remote monitoring devices. Home Telehealth is especially useful if you have chronic conditions that require regular monitoring but don’t need frequent in-person visits.
Financial Benefits for Aging Veterans
In addition to senior health care and long-term care services, the VA offers several financial benefits that can help aging veterans manage the costs of aging and ensure financial stability.
- VA Pension: The VA Pension is a needs-based benefit available to wartime veterans who meet certain income and asset limits. If you’re an aging veteran with limited income, this military pension benefit can provide a monthly payment to help cover your living expenses. The amount you receive depends on your income, assets, and the number of dependents you have.
- Aid and Attendance: Aid and Attendance benefits are available to qualified veterans who need assistance with daily activities or are bedridden due to a chronic condition. This benefit can be added to your military pension, providing extra financial support to help cover the costs of in-home care, assisted living, or care in a nursing home setting.
- Housebound Benefits: If you’re confined to your home due to a permanent disability, you may be eligible for Housebound Benefits, which provide additional financial assistance on top of your monthly pension. This benefit is designed to help cover the costs associated with being housebound, such as home modifications, medical equipment, and personal care services.
- Survivors Pension: The VA also offers financial benefits to the surviving spouses and dependents of deceased veterans. The Survivors Pension provides a monthly payment to eligible family members, helping them maintain financial stability after the loss of a veteran. This benefit is needs-based and is available to those who meet certain income and asset limits.
Other Disability Compensation Benefits Impacted by Aging
As veterans get older, it is not uncommon for their service-connected disabilities to worsen. Many of the physical disabilities related to military service are degenerative, meaning they naturally get worse over time. Some common examples of this would be disabilities related to the spine, joints, or any musculoskeletal condition. When this happens and the impairment becomes more severe than the current disability rating assigned by VA, the veteran can apply for an increased rating based on the worsening that is in part due to aging.
There are other service-connected disabilities, such as Parkinson’s disease, that affect many older veterans and get progressively worse as the veteran gets older. These too can be subject to an increase if the veteran applies.
Finally, many veterans struggle to maintain employment as they age. If the inability to secure or keep regular employment is due to one or more service-connected disabilities, the veteran may need to consider applying for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability.
How to Access VA Benefits for Aging Veterans
To get started, you’ll need to enroll in the VA healthcare system, which will give you access to the full range of services available to aging veterans. You can apply online, by phone, or by completing an application form in person at your nearest VA facility.
Once you’re enrolled, you’ll work with a VA healthcare provider to develop a care plan that meets your needs. This plan may include referrals to long-term care services, geriatric evaluations, home-based services, and service-connected disability benefits designed to support your health and well-being as you age.
It’s also important to stay informed about the financial and health care benefits you’re entitled to and to regularly review your care plan with your VA provider. As your needs change over time, your care plan may need to be adjusted to ensure that you’re receiving the right level of care and support. If you have questions or encounter any issues during the benefits application process, we suggest you reach out to someone at your local VA clinic or start here on VA’s website.
Questions About Your VA Benefits? Speak to a VA Disability Lawyer Today
As you age, the VA offers a wide range of benefits to help you maintain your health, independence, and quality of life. From long-term care and home-based services to financial assistance and caregiver support, these programs are designed to provide you with the care and resources you need during your later years.
Navigating the VA benefits system can be challenging, especially as your needs become more complicated. If you’re unsure about the benefits you’re entitled to or have questions about the approval process, it is important you seek help and answers. VA staff can assist with most or all of the types of benefits discussed in this article. At Perkins Studdard LLC, our focus is on disability compensation benefits for veterans and their families. If you need help with getting service-connected disability compensation initially, an increase from the current level, or have questions about individual unemployability benefits as you or the veteran gets older, contact Perkins Studdard LLC. Our team is experienced in helping veterans like you secure the benefits you need, so contact us today to get started on your claim.
Related: The Importance of Legal Representation for Veterans’ Disability Claims
Common Mistakes Veterans Make When Filing for Disability Benefits
