This program uses VA funds to help any elderly or disabled Vet remain home with loved ones instead of needing nursing home care.
by Wes Carter
WHAT? VA PROGRAM PAYS TO HELP VETERANS AVOID NURSING HOMES AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY!
REQUIREMENTS: ONLY A NEED AND AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE
INTRODUCTION
In Colorado, this terrific program is currently available to Veterans living in these counties: City and County of Denver, Adams, Lane, Larimer, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Douglas, Gilpin and Jefferson, Boulder, Washington, and the City and County of Broomfield.
Veterans Health Administration launched Veteran Directed Care (VDC) to help Veterans with disabilities of all ages and their families pay for needed services in their own homes and communities. VDC is an exciting and comprehensive VA program, open to all veterans in those counties, regardless of service-connection.
VDC delivers home and community-based long-term service and support, giving Veterans more choices and control over nearly all types of care they receive in their homes and communities. This program combines the hands-on experience and skills of local medical and service providers with the VA’s extensive resources to provide additional opportunities to avoid nursing home placement and stay independent in your own home
Under the VDC Program, Veterans (or their caregivers) manage their own flexible VA-provided spending budgets, hire and supervise their own workers, including family or friends, and purchase what’s needed to live independently. The key point again: VA gives the Veteran a budget to pay for this!
Thousands of Veterans have already signed up with VDC, including the elderly, and younger, severely injured Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. The keys to this program are an Honorable Discharge, the need for it, and availability of VDC where you live. There is no financial test, no need for a VA disability rating, and there’s no impact on any Social Security or other disability program.
A Veteran in the VDC Program is supported by: a VA program coordinator to oversee quality, satisfaction and service delivery; a person-centered counselor from an Area Agency on Aging, Aging & Disability Resource Center or Center for Independent Living to assist in finding and/or training workers caring for the Veteran’s needs.
ENROLLED VETERANS:
• Receive a comprehensive assessment and care planning assistance
• Decide for themselves, or with a participant representative, what mix of goods and services will best meet their needs
• Manage a flexible, individual budget. Funds are provided by VA and used by the veteran to pay for services and supplies to remain independent in the community.
• Hire and supervise their own workers, including family or friends
• Get financial management and support services available if needed
• Use traditional service providers, or an overall contractor or palliative care provider, if desired, to coordinate care
TARGETED VETERANS IN VDC
All Veterans enrolled in the Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System are eligible to participate in the VDC program when the Veteran is “in need of nursing home care” and interested in self-directed care. The determination of whether a Veteran is “in need of nursing home care” is made by the VAMC.
The VDC Program is targeted to Veterans whose home care needs exceed the average number of hours generally available through the Homemaker/Home Health Aide (H/HHA) Program. (If the need is more modest than VA requirements and if the Veteran is service-connected, ask about this homemaker support.)
IS VDC FOR YOU?
Do you want the control and flexibility to live more independently by choosing how and when you purchase your goods or services? Can you be responsible for recruiting, hiring, and dismissing your workers and services providers? If so, the VDC Program might be for you! If you know another vet who might benefit, pass the word!
