Help With VA Assisted Living Benefits
There are three tiers of VA benefits for older wartime veterans and their dependents. Basic Pension can be considered the first tier, Housebound the second tier, and Aid and Attendance (A&A) the third tier. At Stacys Helping Hand, Inc we’ve learned that many people don’t know about Aid and Attendance and if they do, they’ve probably avoided trying since so many people are denied. Often, veterans who need help often don’t have the expertise necessary for conveying their needs in order to receive the A&A benefits. There is an art to receiving the benefits, and many more details that can result in a denial. One problem many veterans encounter is that they are supposed to apply for A&A before Medicaid.
When veterans seek out Aid and Attendance, many are turned down by the VA because they don’t meet the activities of daily living (ADL) or financial qualifications required. The physical requirements seem straightforward:
- The aid of another person is needed in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting himself/herself from the hazards of his/her daily environment; or
- The claimant is bedridden, in that his/her disability or disabilities require that he/she remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment; or
- The claimant is in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity; or
- The claimant is blind, or so nearly blind as to have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
Even with the seemingly straightforward nature of the requirements, they are a barrier that stop many veterans in the process. Even if they meet the ADL’s, the financial requirements make the process even murkier. If veterans and their caregivers seek expert help early in the process, they will have a much better chance of qualifying.
VA Aid and Attendance Benefits
The VA does not pay for Veteran’s Assisted Living, which usually includes basic services, but with the right help, the VA may pay for some of the extra services the Veteran may need in an Assisted Living Facility. For example, some services are included with the price of renting a room while other services may be provided by VA or the facility. Most Assisted Living Facilities in Denver Colorado provide:
For Veterans:
- Help with your activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed)
- Help taking your medications
- Some nursing assistance (varies by state and facility)
- Some or all of your meals (varies from place to place)
- Planned recreational and social activities
For Caregivers:
- Round-the-clock assistance for the Veteran
- Peace of mind when Home Care services can no longer meet all the Veteran’s needs
- A place to enjoy spending time with the Veteran without the daily responsibilities of caregiving
Our Assisted Living Denver Experts have experience in helping veterans receive the benefits they deserve. Give our team at Stacy’s Helping Hand a call today to discuss your A&A case, or arrange an appointment or claim through the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs. Or, click here for more information about filing a claim.