What Long-Term Care Services Can I Get As a Veteran?

The Veterans Administration (VA) offers a number of long-term care options through its health plan.

All enrolled veterans are eligible for the following services:

• Geriatric evaluation -- provides either an inpatient or outpatient evaluation of a veteran's ability to care for him- or herself.
• Adult day health care -- a therapeutic day care program that provides medical and rehabilitation services to veterans
• Respite care -- provides either inpatient or outpatient supportive care for veterans to allow caregivers to get a break
• Home care -- nursing, physical therapy, and other services provided in the veteran's home
• Hospice/palliative care -- provides services for terminally ill veterans and their families

Some long-term care services are limited to certain veterans: nursing home care and domiciliary care are not automatically available to all veterans enrolled in the VA health plan. Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive priority for nursing home care. The VA may provide nursing home care to other veterans if space permits.

A domiciliary is a VA facility that provides rehabilitation care conducted in a home-like setting for veterans disabled by age or disease who are not in need of acute hospitalization and who do not need the skilled nursing services provided in a nursing home. Domiciliary care is available to low-income veterans with a disability.

The VA also has a pension benefit called Aid and Attendance for veterans and their surviving spouses who need in-home care or are in a nursing home.  For details, click here.