Someone once said that you can tell a lot about a society by looking at how they take care of those that cannot take care of themselves. This is a good thing to keep in mind when looking at senior care as a whole, but it is something that requires a bit of a closer look at the same time. For starters, one area where senior care can definitely improve is in regard to how veterans who need senior care are assisted. Not only are these people that are beginning to have difficulty taking care of themselves, but they are also brave men and women who put their lives on the line to help care for their fellow countrymen at one point.
Certainly, these are people who deserve our love and attention.
The truth is, that even though veterans do have a lot of options when it comes to senior care, oftentimes they do not receive the assistance that they need because of the bureaucracy involved in paying for senior care. This is really unfortunate because there’s no need for this to happen. Seniors have a lot of options in front of them, and veterans tend to have even more help available than most. It’s just a matter of knowing what’s available, and how to connect your family with what they need. Actually doing this is a very different story.
The first place to start when helping an elderly loved one that has veteran status look for long term care is what is known as Aid and Attendance. This is a benefit program that the VA offers and it is designed to help with living expenses, kind of like a pension. It is given tax free, and it can be used for long term care expenses, including in-home care and assisted living. It can also be applied for by married couples and surviving spouses.
For many, this, combined with VA services and Medicare, all care expenses will be covered. Some may have more intensive needs. If you find yourself in this situation, Medicaid can also be used. It all depends on your financial background and what the extent and nature of the needs might be. For more information, get in touch with your local VA office or Department of Social Services to learn just how your family’s particular set of needs can best be met.
If you’re located in the Bay Area, you can feel free to come to us for information, too. We have a large staff of trained caregivers that are experts in the field of long term care, and we would love to help you find the information and assistance that your family needs to thrive. Each family and each situation is a little different, and customized help is going to be far more beneficial to you than anything else. If you have questions or concerns, let us know. We can go over these things during a free consultation session and help you to find the senior care that will be best for your unique needs.
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