1. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources for Veterans
Julie Bury, LCSW-C, C-SWHC
Assistant Chief of Social Work, Ambulatory and Emergency Care Clinical Center
VA Maryland Health Care System

2. Structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Care Administration
Veterans Benefits Administration
National Cemetery Administration

3. Eligibility for VA Health Care
“If you served in active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits.”
“Most Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980 or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty to be eligible.....Since there are a number of exceptions to the minimum duty requirements, VA encourages all Veterans to apply to determine their enrollment eligibility.”

4. Other Eligibility Information
Service Connected vs. Non-Service Connected
Financial thresholds and co-pays
OEF/OIF/OND Veterans
Not all Veterans are eligible for VA Health Care Services

5. VA Maryland Health Care System Locations
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Perry Point VA Medical Center
Loch Raven VA Community Living and Rehabilitation Center
Loch Raven/Fort Howard VA Outpatient Clinic
Fort Meade VA Outpatient Clinic
Glen Burnie VA Outpatient Clinic
Cambridge VA Outpatient Clinic
Pocomoke City VA Outpatient Clinic

6. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources
Homemaker/Home Health Aide
10 hours/week, often has a waiting list, possible co-payments
All enrolled Veterans are eligible
Adult Day Health Care
2 days/week, often has a waiting list, possible co-payments
Respite
In-home and inpatient
Possible waiting lists and co-payments
All enrolled Veterans are eligible for in-home respite when funding allows; only % Service Connected Veterans are eligible for inpatient respite at this time

7. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources Continued
Home Based Primary Care
Not currently available on the eastern shore
Possible waiting list
All enrolled Veterans are eligible
Veteran Directed Care
Partnership with local Departments of Aging
Consumer directed mix of in-home and community based services
For Veterans who need skilled services, case management, assistance with ADLs and/or IADLs, and are isolated or their caregiver is experiencing burden
Only available in certain counties, often has waiting lists

8. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources Continued
Community Residential Care
Assisted Living Facilities, Personal Care Homes, Family Care Homes, Group Living Homes, and Psychiatric Community Residential Care Homes
Not owned or paid for by the VA, but inspected and approved by VA medical center staff
Not all residents are Veterans
All enrolled Veterans are eligible
Medical Foster Home
Private homes in which a trained caregiver provides services to a few individuals
Serves as an alternative to a nursing home for Veterans who require a nursing home level of care, but prefer a non-institutional setting with fewer residents
All Medical Foster Home residents receive Home Based Primary Care

9. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources Continued
Caregiver Support Program
Comprehensive Assistance to Family Caregivers—available to caregivers of service-connected Veterans who served post 9/11/2001 and need care for a service-connected injury
General Caregiver Program—available to caregivers of Veterans of all eras
Support Groups
Through Caregiver Support Program and the Dementia Clinic
Available to all Veterans who are caregivers as well as to caregivers of Veterans
Caregiver Support Line
National 24/7 support line
Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Social Workers
Every Veteran who is assigned to a primary care provider in the VA also has an assigned social worker
VA system navigation assistance; VA resource and referral services; long term care planning; case management; crisis intervention; etc.

10. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources Continued
Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant
Medically necessary improvements and structural alterations for allowing entrance or exit to homes; use of essential lavatory and sanitary facilities; allowing accessibility to kitchen or bathroom sinks or counters; improving entrance paths or driveways in immediate area of the home to facilitate access to the home through construction of permanent ramping; and improving plumbing or electrical systems made necessary due to installation of home medical equipment
Lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 for Veterans who need alterations and/or improvements for a service connected condition or for Veterans who have a non-service connected condition need and are rated 50% or more service connected
Lifetime benefit of up to $2,000 for Veterans who are not service connected

11. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources Continued
Durable Medical Equipment
Shower chairs, bedside commodes, hospital beds, stair glides, manual and electric wheelchairs, wheelchair ramps, personal emergency response systems, etc.
No co-payments for DME
All enrolled Veterans are eligible
Hospice
In-home and inpatient
No co-payments
Community Living Centers
Subacute and acute rehabilitation; respite; hospice; and long term care
Eligibility is based on clinical need, setting availability, service connected status, level of disability and income
Possible co-payments and waiting lists

12. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources Continued
State Veterans Home Program
Charlotte Hall Veterans Home for Maryland
Income based ALF
Nursing home (some financial assistance may be available)
Both Veterans and their spouses are eligible
Non-Service Connected Pension with Aid and Attendance
Veterans Benefits Administration
Veterans and/or their surviving spouses can be eligible for the non-service connected pension if the Veteran served during wartime, they are low-income, and are 65 or older or disabled
Aid and Attendance benefits are paid in addition to the pension when the Veteran or surviving spouse are housebound or in need of regular assistance with ADLs; are bedridden; are a patient in a nursing home or assisted living facility; or have certain eyesight limitations

13. Aging Services and Caregiver Support Resources Continued
Special Monthly Compensation
Veterans Benefits Administration
This benefit is comparable to Aid and Attendance for service connected Veterans and their spouses
Housing Grants for Disabled Veterans
Veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities can use these grants to purchase or construct an adapted home or modify an existing home to accommodate a disability
Specially Adapted Housing Grant
Special Housing Adaptation Grant
Temporary Residence Assistance Grant

14. Access to VA Aging and Caregiver Support Services
Veteran must be enrolled and assigned to a primary care provider to access most, but not all, of the above services and benefits
PACT social workers as well as social workers in various specialty programs throughout the VA are available for assistance with education on and connecting to VA and community aging and caregiver support services
Veterans Service Organizations and Veterans Benefits Administration Personnel are available to assist with Non-Service Connected Pension; Service Connected Compensation; Aid and Attendance; and Special Monthly Compensation claims as well as with Housing Grant applications
Charlotte Hall can be contacted at or via
VA website can also be used to research and access services
Encourage early VA enrollment, so it is not a crisis when assistance is needed

15. Questions?