Veterans In-Home Care
John was just 17 years old when he enlisted in the United States Army. His parents allowed him to enlist at the tail end of World War II because they knew their country needed people to step up and serve. He didn’t see any actual combat, but he did serve during a time of combat, as defined by Congress.
At 87 years of age, John had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia. His family didn’t live anywhere close to him, so relying on family members or friends to help him as the disease progressed wasn’t really an option. He didn’t know where to turn, but a friend of his with whom he served all those years ago, who lived on the other side of the country, suggested he look into the Aid and Attendance Benefit.
At first, John didn’t know what his friend was talking about. “I’m going to need home care,” he said. “I just don’t know how going to pay for it.”
His friend went on to talk about the Aid and Attendance Benefit because he believed his friend John did certainly qualify for that type of financial support. John contacted a representative at the VA, but it was many weeks and even months before he heard back. He wasn’t home when the phone rang and the representative left a message for him to call him back, and when he did, he left another message and was waiting weeks again for a return phone call.
Finally, John’s friend from the other side of the country told him to contact a local home care agency for some support. He did and what he found was people willing to help him fill out an application for the Aid and Attendance Benefit that could be used to pay for support and care as he moves through the various stages of Alzheimer’s.
It took a long time, but approval finally went through and he was able to hire a series of home care aides. At first, they were limited to 40 hours a week, but as the disease progressed, with his desire to remain in the comfort of his own home, he was able to get around the clock care, most of it paid for by the Aid and Attendance Benefit.
For those veterans who may be diagnosed with some form of dementia, and who may be on a limited income, the Aid and Attendance Benefit could be something to look into for the future.
For more information and to learn about veterans in-home care, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
