Throughout most of my life, my father always seemed so strong and independent. He served during the Vietnam War, but he never talked about his experiences over there. From what my mother told me, he lost a few good friends during battles. Now that he’s approaching 80 and he’s having more trouble tending to his own care, I’m trying to determine whether he qualifies for veterans home care assistance.
He had applied for a pension assistance program a long time ago and had been denied because he made too much money, though he wasn’t rich by any stretch of the imagination. He was a blue collar working class guy who was a member of a small union. He earned a pension when he retired, but then a few years ago the company folded and it turned out that they had diluted the entire pension program. My father’s pension just ran out last month.
Now he’s staying with me and it’s not easy because I don’t know how to provide the care he needs, and I don’t make enough to really support both of us and hire a home care provider. So I began to look into different programs that might help him.
Medicare and Medicaid do provide some reimbursement for home care, but only for a limited time. Someone told me to check out the VA again, but he had already been down that road. That’s when someone mentioned the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit, which provides money for qualified veterans for home care.
I started looking into it more and since my father served at least one day of active duty during a time of war (as well as at least 90 days of active duty), he could qualify for this Aid and Attendance pension. Even though he was turned down in the past for a pension, he could qualify for this one. He would just have to have a doctor state that he needs home care, as well as other requirements.
I would tell anyone whose father (or mother) who served during a time of war who may require some form of home care to look into this benefit. The Aid and Attendance pension could be just what they need to get the right level of care.
For more information and to learn about the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
