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 (214) 609-1340 for more about our VA home care services in Allen, TX.
