Senior Care for Veterans: The Aid and Attendance Benefit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total number of Americans over the age of 65 was about 54 million as of July 2019. Of that population, more than 12 million consisted of war veterans, their surviving spouses or both. They make up a segment of Americans who may be eligible to receive a VA Pension, such as the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit. Receiving the pension ultimately depends on income, assets and long-term healthcare needs, but due to the rising occurrence of long-term care, statistics show that 60 to 80 percent of this population will qualify for pension benefits at some point.

The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension is a part of the VA Improved Pension, which has three tiers. There is the Basic Pension, which begins at age 65. The second tier is the Housebound Pension, which is for those who need more simple care, like assistance with activities of daily living. The third tier is the Aid and Attendance Benefit.

To apply for the Aid and Attendance Benefit, one can write to the VA regional office where he or she filed a Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation. Along with a DD-214 form (or military “separation papers”), a person should include evidence provided by medical personnel that they qualify, with specific details about the injury or illness or if they need assistance with activities of daily living. Is the veteran confined to his or her home? How well can he or she get around? These are details that will be needed in order to be considered for the benefit.

There are four basic points that qualify someone to receive the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit:

The first point to consider is the veteran’s military service. A person is required to have at least 90 days of active duty on his or her service record, with at least one day of service within a war-time period. The reason for leaving the service can be anything but a dishonorable discharge. A surviving spouse is also eligible, as long as the marriage was ended by the veteran’s death.

The following is a list that VA recognizes as wartime periods to determine eligibility for VA Pension benefits (from va.gov):

World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)

Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)

Vietnam era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)

Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – through a future date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation)

The second point to consider for qualification is the veteran’s state of health. A doctor needs to certify that the veteran’s health has declined to where he or she needs assistance from another person.

To qualify, one specifically must need assistance with activities of daily living like eating, bathing and getting dressed. Other qualifications include blindness, or living in a nursing home or assisted-living facility. Even a healthy veteran can file for a sick spouse if the spouse’s medical needs qualify and medical bills deplete their monthly income.

The third point to consider is if the veteran is spending the majority of his or her monthly income on healthcare expenses. One’s net worth limitations and net income come into play, but there is no set amount to qualify. Each individual is considered on a case-by-case basis. Even if one’s income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate, one could still qualify for the benefit based on annual medical expenses. The Aid and Attendance Benefit provides up to $1,936 per month for a single veteran; $1,244 for a surviving spouse; and $3,072 for two married veterans.

The last point to consider is the veteran’s age. The older the veteran, the less he or she will receive from the benefit in most cases. Due to lower life expectancy as age increases, the VA will most likely decline older veterans if they have a higher amount of income and assets.

Rick Hagins, the owner of Amada Senior Care San Fernando Valley, says Amada works to help individuals understand financial resource management, in which VA benefits are just one category of many.

“Managing the Aid and Attendance benefit can be a difficult process because there are many things to consider such as military service, age, health, income and assets” said Hagins. “There’s also a lot of information out there concerning the Aid and Attendance Benefit that is simply untrue.”

With so much competitive information circulating and so many hurdles to jump through, Rick stressed the importance of good research and reliable information. “It’s generally good to speak to someone who’s familiar with the intricacies and details of these types of programs,” Rick said. “At Amada, we can help people find the right resources and connect them with others who are equipped to handle these situations.”

If you think you or someone you know may be eligible for veterans benefits to pay for home care, visit this locations list to contact an Amada Senior Care advisor near you.

Written by Amada blog contributor Taylor French.


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The Value of Home Care

The Value of Home Care The Home Care Association of America and Global Coalition on Aging‘s collaborative booklet, “Caring for America’s Seniors: The Value of Home Care,” was the first report to shed a light on the critical role home care plays in the lives of many seniors, families, the healthcare system, and the nation’s economy as America continues to gray.

“The Value of Home Care” emphasizes the importance of home care by helping us not only understand the needs of our aging population, but also by forcing us to recognize American seniors’ desire to age in the comfort of their own homes and in the communities with which they are familiar. Here are a few key takeaways from the report, as well as some insight as to how home care is a key component of the senior care continuum.

The Graying of America By 2021, 56 million Americans will be 65 and older. By 2050, that number will reach 84 million By 2040, the number of adults older than 85 is expected to triple. Americans (and much of the world) are aging. There are now more adults over the age of 65 than ever before. The percentage of Americans over 65 will continue to increase as baby boomers age, and improvements in healthcare extend our average life span.

While this is certainly something to celebrate, our “bonus years” don’t come without a price. An increase in age often leads to an increase in the likelihood you will need care. In fact, nearly 70% of Americans who reach 65 will be unable to care for themselves at some point; as a result, they will need some form of assistance.

Who is Going to Provide the Care? It’s no secret that our current government healthcare programs and institutions are insufficient when it comes to meeting the needs of our rapidly aging population.

This begs the question, “Who is going to provide that care?”

The answer lies in home care – more specifically, private-pay home care.

Home Care Home care allows seniors age in the comfort of their own homes while maintaining their health and prolonging their active lifestyles for as long as possible. This service is provided by home care professionals referred to as caregivers.

Although caregivers are typically not medically certified, they do receive professional training that allows them to assist seniors with the activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include:
Bathing Dressing Meal preparation/feeding Medication reminders Walking/exercise assistance Light housekeeping Errands/shopping Toileting Arguably more importantly, caregivers also provide seniors with the companionship and mental stimulation many older adults fail to receive. These caring professionals have various ways of doing this, including engaging seniors in conversation and accompanying them in other activities. Caregivers also give families peace of mind by recognizing and alerting loved ones to any signs they feel may indicate a decline in health.

At this time of pandemic, the additional professional training that Amada Senior Care caregivers receive includes ongoing training and certifications on minimizing Covid-19 risks. In addition to this education on universal precautions, Amada caregivers also are provided with PPE (personal protective equipment) like gloves, masks and hand sanitizer.

Home Care Allows Seniors To “Age in Place” It’s no secret why older Americans want to stay at home. There is a sense of pride that comes with owning your own home and it is often part of the American dream. Over 80 percent of Americans in their early 70s own their own home, and as you can imagine, many of them worked hard to do so. Owning a home is something they are proud of, and it can be devastating for them to leave simply because they need a little (or a lot) of help. Home care often provides seniors with the option to live where they choose.

Home Care Reduces Long-Term Care Costs Not only does home care allow seniors to age where they want, but it does so while reducing the overall financial cost of health care. Home care is a far more cost-effective option for long-term care than traditional methods. Here is a snapshot of the current annual cost of long-term care.

It costs about $91,250 for a private room at a nursing home, while a semi-private room cost an average of $80,300. $43,200 is the average cost to live in an assisted living facility. It costs an estimated $45,000 to receive in-home care services. You can calculate the cost of care in your area with the Genworth Cost of Care Survey tool.

Home care has also been shown to…
Reduce hospital readmissions Reduce the need for a doctor Reduce senior falls (which often result in a trip to the doctor) The Takeaway Private-pay home care complements our existing health care services by alleviating some of the pressure on the healthcare system and simultaneously allowing many seniors to age where they want to—in their homes. Not only does home care fill a critical gap for seniors in between hospital stays, nursing home facilities, and care provided by loved ones, home care provides seniors with a choice about how and where they age. Furthermore, home care gives family members peace of mind knowing their older loved ones are safe.

If you have questions about home care, how to safely age in place and how to pay for caregiving services, we would love to speak with you and provide answers. Amada Senior Care is committed to enriching lives by providing nurturing, compassionate, non-medical in-home care and by guiding families through the many supportive senior living options available to them.

Visit our website today! https://www.amadaseniorcare.com/mesa-senior-care/