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If you’re a caregiver for a spouse or loved one who served in the military, then the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has multiple resources for you spanning support programs, respite services and educational videos. But to access those benefits, the veteran in your life must first apply for VA health care.
How do you apply for VA health care?
The road to finding caregiver support services starts with finding out a veteran’s eligibility for VA health care. Check out the VA website’s checklist to determine their eligibility. If they’re eligible, they can apply in person at a VA Medical Center, online or by mail.1
An accredited Veteran Service Officer can help you ensure all your necessary documents are submitted with the application.1 The enrollment process takes up to one week.2 Once enrolled, the veteran must schedule an appointment with a VA primary care doctor at a VA Medical Center. A VA clinic may be closer to home, and you should ask what is required for the first visit.
Use the VA online search tool to find the closest Veteran Service Officer near you.
After a veteran is enrolled, the caregiver may be eligible for the following services:
1. VA Home & Community Based Services
The VHA Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Home and Community Based Services program supports veterans and caregivers. Some services require an application for extended care benefits and others may not.
Veteran and caregiver support services include:3
- Respite care
- Home telehealth
- Home-based primary care
- Homemaker and home health aides
- Adult day health care centers
- Remote monitoring care
- Skilled home care
- Home hospice care
The VHA Geriatrics and Extended Care division also offers a Veteran-Directed Care Program that gives veterans a budget to hire professionals to help them with activities of daily living, shopping or mobility issues.4 Eligibility is based on a veteran’s medical needs, their caregiver’s needs and availability of services.
- Caregivers with questions or in need of help with applications can contact a caregiver support coordinator or call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Note: Some services not available at all VA Medical Centers
Learn more about VA Home and Community Based Services.
2. VA caregiver support programs
The VA has two caregiver support programs:
- The Program of General Caregiver Support Services
- The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) provides resources, education, training, and peer support to caregivers of veterans.5 A veteran does not need to have a service-connected condition and may have served during any era.5 No application is necessary for these services; just contact the VA caregiver support program team for intake.5
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is for eligible veterans who have incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty during any service era .6 The eligibility for this program requires that a veteran be service connected at a 70% rating or higher.6 This means the veteran would have already filed a claim for service-connected disability through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). The veteran also must need at least six consecutive months of care in order to function daily or complete activities of daily living, such as bathing and eating.6
If a veteran’s service-connected disability worsens, there is an application to request a rating increase. Connect the veteran to an accredited Veteran Service Officer to help ease the application process.
The PCAFC program provides resources, education, support, a financial stipend, health insurance (if eligible), beneficiary travel (if eligible), mental health services to caregivers of eligible veterans.6
The veteran and caregiver can apply for this program online, but working directly with a VA Caregiver Support team member is ideal. Use the VA Caregiver Support Directory to find one locally, or call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
3. VA caregiver support video series
Finally, the VHA Office of Rural Health developed a caregiver support video series for those caring for veterans with dementia.7 These are free and available in these short segments:
- Series One: “Information and Support for In-Home Dementia Caregivers”
- Series Two: “Managing Dementia Behaviors: ABCs for Caregivers”
There are also free videos on specific topics such as:7
- Improving communication with someone with dementia
- Helping someone with dementia manage their finances
- Reducing inappropriate behavior
- Minimizing safety risks
All videos are available online at Caregiver Video Series. If you prefer a DVD, contact the Salt Lake City VHA Office of Rural Health at 801-582-1565 ext. 2770.
These benefits and services are earned and can make a huge long-term impact on access to health care, services, and support for their caregivers.
Sources
1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. How to apply for VA health care. Found on the Internet at https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/
2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Apply for VA health care. Found on the Internet at https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply-for-health-care-form-10-10ez/introduction.
3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA - Home & Community Based Services. Found on the Internet at https://www.caregiver.va.gov/care_veterans.asp
4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veteran-Directed Care. Found on the Internet at https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/pages/Veteran-Directed_Care.asp
5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS). Found on the Internet at https://www.caregiver.va.gov/Care_Caregivers.asp.
6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). Found on the Internet at https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/support_benefits.asp.
