Did you know that when it comes to paying for senior living – be it home care or residential care – veterans can receive certain benefits? If you are thinking of making the move to a senior living community and wondering how you can defray the cost, get in touch with your local Veterans Administration office today. They will be able to let you know about the veteran benefits you are eligible for.

VA Aid & Attendance

VA Aid & Attendance benefits constitute an additional sum paid on top of your monthly pension. This is meant to go towards the cost of senior living. You may qualify for VA Aid & Attendance if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • You are bedbound or spend the most part of a day in bed due to a health condition.
  • You are a resident in a nursing home.
  • You require a level of assistance with daily living activities.
  • Your eyesight is poorer than 5/200 even with the aid of glasses or contact lenses, or your concentric concentration is limited to 5 degrees or less.

If you are largely confined to the house due to a mobility limitation and/or health condition(s), you may be eligible for an additional Housebound payment. Take note that you must already be receiving a monthly VA pension to be eligible for these additional benefits.

VA Disability Compensation

If you have a service-connected disability, a monthly tax-free compensation is payable to you. Keep in mind that you do not automatically qualify for this payment simply because you have a disability; you have to apply for it. The amount you receive will depend on your disability rating on a scale of 1 to 10. The higher this rating, the more it affects your daily life and therefore, the higher the amount of compensation you will receive.

It’s important to apply for VA disability compensation if you qualify because this will affect the benefits packages and programs you are able to receive as well as your priority in receiving certain services.

VA Long-Term Care Services

Under the VA Standard Benefits Package, you can opt to receive the following services: respite care, adult day health care, and skilled home health care. To determine your need for these services, a geriatric assessment will be carried out. These benefits fall under Services at Home and in the Community, and your priority for receiving them will depend on your level of need, income, and service-connected status.

For care in a residential setting, such as a senior living community or nursing home, you will need to meet a different set of eligibility requirements. While VA benefits do not pay for room and board in a residential community, you may be able to receive some services within the residential setting.

Paying for Senior Living Out of Pocket

Many of our residents at Morada Quintessence tap on a number of different sources to pay for senior living. You may wish to combine your VA benefits with your own retirement savings or private insurance plans – whatever works for you!