Veterans have access to a special program known as Veteran Directed Care, which provides in-home care to veterans who might otherwise have to reside in a nursing home.
In addition to Medicaid, veterans have access to the VA health care system, which provides a variety of health services to those who have served our country. For veterans of any age in need of long-term care services, the Veteran Directed Care Program (VDC Program) exists. This program provides in-home care to eligible veterans who would otherwise require long-term care in a nursing home. This is a consumer-directed, community based service that provides assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care services, home services, and independent living. Veterans are assisted by the local Area Agency on Aging to choose the services they would like for their care plan, create a spending plan, and select a caregiver, which could be a paid caregiver, or a family member or other loved one. There are many care options, which are tailored to the veteran’s care needs, and directed toward the veteran’s well-being. In addition to care services, the program also provides fiscal management and financial management services. Veterans who enroll in the program are able to self-direct their own care and remain in a community living situation.
For more information, contact your local VA Medical Center (VAMC) or visit va.gov, run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.