Veterans Home Care

Delivering A Higher Standard^® of Care to Veterans

In-home care benefits are available for eligible United States Veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs(Opens in a new window). If you or a loved one served in the Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Space Force — and were honorably separated — you or they may qualify to receive financial assistance for in-home support services. These Veterans Affairs benefits extend to current and former members of the National Guard or Reserve who meet certain active-duty requirements.1

There are a variety of programs through Veterans Affairs (Community Care Network(Opens in a new window), VA Aid and Attendance(Opens in a new window), Housebound Allowance(Opens in a new window) and VA Health Care(Opens in a new window)) that may cover some (or all) of the costs for in-home care support services(Opens in a new window) (meal preparation, grooming, toileting, errands, etc.) for eligible Veterans and surviving military spouses. These services are called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). VA Health Care(Opens in a new window) may also cover the costs of respite care(Opens in a new window), which is short-term, in-home care that allows the primary family caregiver to rest and recharge from their ongoing responsibilities of caring for their loved one.

Eligible Veterans may also have coverage for more advanced needs through their VA Health Care, such as at-home infusions, wound care, physical therapy and disease management for conditions like diabetes, among other medical support. These services are typically categorized as Skilled Home Health Care(Opens in a new window) or Skilled Nursing(Opens in a new window). You can find more information in the VA Health Coverage for Skilled Services section farther down this page.

An Instant and Enduring Friendship

The respect, kindness and joy that Byron and his caregiver Ryan share is a two-way street. Bonding over shared experiences, love for cats and passion for art, Byron is thankful for Ryan’s reliable presence in his life.

Who is Eligible for the Home Care Program?

We recognize that the vast amount of information related to Veteran Affairs benefits can be overwhelming, so we’re here to help you. We are providing you with…

a brief overview of some resources and programs you may qualify for,
links to program sites where you can find more details and
an easy way to contact a local agency so they can help you navigate the VA resources you’re eligible for. Contact a local BrightStar Care agency online(Opens in a new window) or call 866-618-7827(Opens in a new window).

It’s important to note that those with VA Health Care(Opens in a new window) “have the right to be involved in choosing (their) providers(Opens in a new window).” This includes providers like BrightStar Care that offer in-home HHA care or Skilled Nursing care. In addition, you should not be charged by an individual or organization to fill out application forms for VA assistance.

Community Care Network (CCN)

The Community Care Network (CCN)(Opens in a new window) was created in response to Veterans not receiving health care in a timely fashion. CCN providers such as BrightStar Care have been credentialed with the VA to work in coordination with the eligible Veteran’s primary care provider to deliver Veterans home care services.

Each VA office(Opens in a new window) has its own policies, but you typically must need assistance with at least three (3) ADLs in order to qualify for Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care (H/HHA), which is sometimes referred to as a Home Health Aide Care (HHA).

Home Health Aides (HHA) – also called caregivers – are not nurses, but they are supervised by a Registered Nurse (RN) who assesses the ongoing needs of the Veteran being cared for. Find details from the VA here(Opens in a new window) or review an online summary here(Opens in a new window).

BrightStar Care is contracted with TriWest Healthcare Alliance^® and Optum Serve^® (the VA's third party administrators – TPAs) to facilitate healthcare services to Veterans in their home. Contact a local BrightStar Care agency online(Opens in a new window) or call 866-618-7827(Opens in a new window).

VA Aid and Attendance

While CCN benefits are paid directly to the provider, financial support from VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance(Opens in a new window) provides monthly payments added to the amount of the VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors.

You could be eligible for VA Aid and Attendance if you receive a VA pension AND you meet at least one of these requirements:

You need another person to help you perform daily activities such as bathing, feeding and dressing. These are sometimes called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
You must stay in bed – or spend a large portion of the day in bed – due to illness.
You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability.
Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contact lenses you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less).

You could be eligible for Housebound Benefits if you receive a VA pension and you spend most of your time in your home because of a permanent disability (a disability that doesn’t go away).

Some Veterans may be eligible to receive one or both benefits, so it’s important to verify what you specifically qualify for. If you need help with daily activities or you’re housebound, learn more on the VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound section of the Veterans Affairs website(Opens in a new window), contact a BrightStar Care agency online(Opens in a new window) or call 866-618-7827(Opens in a new window).

VA Health Coverage for Skilled Services

While CCN and VA Aid and Attendance provide financial support for ADLs for eligible Veterans and survivors, VA Health(Opens in a new window) may pay for some in-home skilled care not covered by Medicare.

Nurses can provide a wide range of skilled services to support Veterans with their medical needs at home, including wound care, medical equipment set-up and operation, ostomy and catheter maintenance, infusions, blood draws and other required (and approved) treatments.

In addition, some Veterans who have VA Health(Opens in a new window) may be eligible to receive physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT) and speech therapy (SLP) at home. These therapies are designed to help individuals regain physical function or their ability to perform their daily activities after an illness, injury or surgery. Speech and language pathologists often support patients recovering from stroke (and other conditions) with rehabilitation care addressing issues such as swallowing, speaking and cognitive (memory and thinking) challenges.

To learn more about eligibility requirements, you can find details on the Veterans Affairs website under “How do I access these services?”(Opens in a new window) In addition, if you have general questions about covering the costs of Long-Term Care (LTC)(Opens in a new window), the VA provides a large amount of helpful information. If you don’t have VA Health Care yet, you can sign up here(Opens in a new window) or call 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday.

VA Caregiver Support Program

Veterans Affairs recognizes the significant role that family caregivers play in supporting their loved one. Family members of eligible Veterans that are enrolled in VA Health have access to the VA Caregiver Support Program, which is comprised of two separate programs.

The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) provides peer support mentoring,(Opens in a new window) skills training, coaching, telephone support, online programs and referrals to resources for caregivers of Veterans. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)(Opens in a new window) offers enhanced clinical support for Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans.