For Veterans who need extra support with everyday activities, getting care may bring up an important question: Do I have to leave my home or travel to a VA facility to receive help?
Not always.
Eligible Veterans may receive certain VA-authorized services in their own homes through community providers. For Veterans who have difficulty traveling, limited mobility, or simply feel more comfortable at home, this can provide another option for getting the support they need.
At Aging With Comfort, we participate in the Optum VA Community Care Network and provide non-medical home care services to eligible Veterans in Pennsylvania.
What Kind of VA-Authorized Care Can Veterans Receive at Home?
The services available depend on each Veteran’s individual needs and what the VA has authorized.
Non-medical home care may include assistance with:
- Bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene
- Meal preparation
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Mobility and moving safely around the home
- Transfers, such as moving between a bed, wheelchair, or chair
- Medication reminders
- Everyday routines and activities
- Companionship and social interaction
These may sound like simple daily tasks, but difficulty with even one or two of them can significantly impact someone’s independence.
A Veteran who struggles to prepare meals may start skipping them. Someone worried about falling may avoid moving around the home. Others may become increasingly dependent on a spouse or family member for personal care and daily tasks.
Having the right support can make everyday life safer and more manageable.
Does Receiving Home Care Mean Giving Up Your Independence?
No. In many cases, getting the right support can actually help a Veteran maintain their independence for longer.
We believe home care should not be about taking over a Veteran’s life. It should be about providing the right amount of support so they can continue living it.
If getting dressed has become difficult, a caregiver can help with that task without taking over everything else. If preparing meals or moving safely has become challenging, assistance with those specific needs may help the Veteran continue following their usual routines.
Care should respect what each person can still do for themselves while providing support where it is needed.
Receiving care at home also allows Veterans to remain in familiar surroundings. They can sleep in their own bed, follow their routines, spend time with family, and stay connected to the home and community they know.
How Can a Veteran Receive Authorized Home Care?
Receiving VA-authorized home care differs from simply contacting a home care agency to schedule services.
Veterans generally need to meet applicable VA eligibility requirements and have the appropriate services authorized before VA-funded care can begin.
If you or a loved one is struggling with everyday activities, a good place to start is by talking with your VA care team. Be specific about what has become difficult. Explain if you are having trouble getting dressed, preparing meals, moving safely around your home, or managing other daily activities.
If community-based home care is appropriate and authorized, an eligible Veteran may be connected with a participating provider through the VA Community Care Network.
Once Aging With Comfort receives the appropriate authorization and information needed to begin services, our team can work with the Veteran and their family to coordinate the approved support.
Families who want to understand the next steps can learn more about how Veterans in Pennsylvania can access home care through the VA Community Care Network.
What If You’re Hesitant to Ask for Help?
Many Veterans value their independence, which can make asking for help difficult.
Some worry that accepting care means losing control over their lives. Others don’t want to become a burden on their spouse or children.
But accepting support doesn’t have to mean giving up your independence. Sometimes, having help with the things that have become difficult is exactly what allows you to keep doing the things that matter most.
Home care can also ease some of the responsibility family members may have gradually taken on. Additional support doesn’t replace the family’s role. It can give spouses, children, and other loved ones more room to simply be family.
Don’t Assume Leaving Home Is Your Only Option
Not every Veteran will qualify for VA-authorized home care, and not every type of VA care can be provided at home. Eligibility, individual needs, and authorization all matter.
However, Veterans and their families should not assume they have to travel to a facility every time they need support.
If everyday activities are becoming difficult, talk with your VA care team and ask what options may be available at home. As a trusted home care provider in Pennsylvania, Aging With Comfort can also help you understand the non-medical home care services we provide to eligible Veterans through the Optum VA Community Care Network.
For some eligible Veterans, getting the support they need doesn’t always mean seeking care elsewhere. The right care may be able to come to them.