Often, yes. Veterans enrolled in VA health care may have some or all of their home care costs covered when their VA care team decides there's a clinical need. Coverage can include help with daily activities like bathing, dressing and meals, as well as skilled nursing at home, such as wound care, infusions and chronic disease management. Separately, veterans and surviving spouses who receive a VA pension may qualify for Aid and Attendance, a monthly payment that can help cover the cost of care. BrightStar Care of Schaumburg is credentialed with the VA's Community Care Network, so eligible veterans in the northwest suburbs can ask for us when their VA care team approves home care.
If you've been reading about this late at night, trying to make sense of acronyms and eligibility rules, you're in good company. Maybe your dad has been slowing down and won't talk about it. Maybe you only just learned these benefits exist and you're wondering why no one mentioned them sooner. You're not behind. You're right on time.
For help with daily routines, many VA offices look at activities of daily living, or ADLs: basic self-care tasks like bathing, dressing, eating and getting to the bathroom. Policies vary by VA office, but veterans often need help with around three ADLs to qualify for Homemaker and Home Health Aide care.
Skilled care works differently. A VA provider prescribes it when it's medically necessary, and according to VA policy, veterans don't have to meet Medicare's homebound criteria to be clinically eligible.
Community Care Network (CCN) is the VA program that lets eligible veterans get approved care from credentialed providers outside VA facilities. With CCN, the VA pays the provider directly for authorized care. BrightStar Care works with TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Optum Serve, the third-party administrators that coordinate this care for the VA.
Aid and Attendance works differently. It's a monthly payment added to his VA pension, so the money goes to the veteran or surviving spouse, who can use it toward care. Applying requires VA Form 21-2680, and part of it is completed by a doctor.
Some veterans qualify for both, so it's worth checking each one.
Many families blend options: VA services for part of the week, Medicare home health after a hospital stay, long-term care insurance or private care to fill the gaps. The right mix depends on his health, not just his paperwork.
Nurse-led care means a registered nurse assesses your loved one, writes his care plan and adjusts it as his needs change. At BrightStar Care of Schaumburg, that nurse looks at the medical picture first, including post-hospital recovery, wound care, infusions and chronic disease management, and then builds in the daily support that helps him stay independent at home. Even our home health aides work under RN supervision.
Call BrightStar Care of Schaumburg at 847.925.0818 to schedule a free nurse assessment, or visit our Veterans Care page.
BrightStar Care of Schaumburg | 650 E. Algonquin Road, Suite 301, Schaumburg, IL 60173
If you've been reading about this late at night, trying to make sense of acronyms and eligibility rules, you're in good company. Maybe your dad has been slowing down and won't talk about it. Maybe you only just learned these benefits exist and you're wondering why no one mentioned them sooner. You're not behind. You're right on time.
Which VA programs help pay for care at home?
The VA has several home and community based programs. These are the ones families ask us about most:- Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care: hands-on help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, toileting and meal prep.
- Skilled Home Health Care: nursing and therapy at home, prescribed by a VA provider when medically needed.
- Respite Care: short-term care at home that gives a family caregiver time to rest.
- Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits: monthly payments added to a VA pension for qualifying veterans and surviving spouses.
- VA Caregiver Support Program: training, coaching and, for some families, enhanced support for the family member providing care.
Who qualifies for VA home care?
Most VA home care programs start with two things: he's enrolled in VA health care, and his VA care team agrees there's a clinical need.For help with daily routines, many VA offices look at activities of daily living, or ADLs: basic self-care tasks like bathing, dressing, eating and getting to the bathroom. Policies vary by VA office, but veterans often need help with around three ADLs to qualify for Homemaker and Home Health Aide care.
Skilled care works differently. A VA provider prescribes it when it's medically necessary, and according to VA policy, veterans don't have to meet Medicare's homebound criteria to be clinically eligible.
How do you get VA home care started?
- Make sure he's enrolled in VA health care. If he isn't, you can apply online or call the VA at 877-222-8387.
- Contact his VA primary care team or social worker. Ask directly about home care or respite care services, and request an assessment.
- Share specifics. Falls, missed meals, new medications and recent hospital stays all help the VA understand what he needs.
- Tell the VA which provider you'd like. Veterans have the right to be involved in choosing their providers, so you can let the case manager know you'd like BrightStar Care of Schaumburg.
- Watch for the authorization. The VA will confirm the approved care and hours, typically with an authorization letter.
Who pays the home care agency, the VA or your family?
It depends on the benefit.Community Care Network (CCN) is the VA program that lets eligible veterans get approved care from credentialed providers outside VA facilities. With CCN, the VA pays the provider directly for authorized care. BrightStar Care works with TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Optum Serve, the third-party administrators that coordinate this care for the VA.
Aid and Attendance works differently. It's a monthly payment added to his VA pension, so the money goes to the veteran or surviving spouse, who can use it toward care. Applying requires VA Form 21-2680, and part of it is completed by a doctor.
Some veterans qualify for both, so it's worth checking each one.
What if the VA doesn't cover everything he needs?
That's common, and it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Approved hours are based on assessed need and may not match every hour of help he actually needs.Many families blend options: VA services for part of the week, Medicare home health after a hospital stay, long-term care insurance or private care to fill the gaps. The right mix depends on his health, not just his paperwork.
Why does a nurse-led care plan matter for veterans?
Veterans often carry more complex health needs than people realize: chronic conditions, old service injuries, long medication lists and recoveries that don't always go to plan.Nurse-led care means a registered nurse assesses your loved one, writes his care plan and adjusts it as his needs change. At BrightStar Care of Schaumburg, that nurse looks at the medical picture first, including post-hospital recovery, wound care, infusions and chronic disease management, and then builds in the daily support that helps him stay independent at home. Even our home health aides work under RN supervision.
Frequently asked questions
Does the VA pay family members to care for a veteran?
In some cases. The VA Caregiver Support Program includes the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, which offers added support to eligible family caregivers. His VA care team can explain whether your family qualifies.Can a surviving spouse get Aid and Attendance?
Yes. Aid and Attendance can be added to a survivor's pension for eligible surviving spouses who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to bed.Is BrightStar Care of Schaumburg a VA provider?
Yes. We're credentialed with the VA's Community Care Network, so eligible veterans can request us when their VA care team authorizes home care. The VA decides eligibility, hours and authorization.When should we start the VA process?
Sooner than you think you need to. Approvals take time, and winter is when many families end up scrambling after an illness or hospital stay. Starting now means you're planning, not reacting.Which communities do you serve?
We serve Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Hanover Park, Roselle and the surrounding northwest suburban communities.He earned this. You don't have to figure it out alone.
The benefits are real, the process is learnable and the first step is a conversation. Let a registered nurse help your family see the whole picture, from VA options to the care he needs right now.Call BrightStar Care of Schaumburg at 847.925.0818 to schedule a free nurse assessment, or visit our Veterans Care page.
BrightStar Care of Schaumburg | 650 E. Algonquin Road, Suite 301, Schaumburg, IL 60173
References
- VA Home and Community Based Services: a list of VA in-home programs.
- VHA Notice 2024-01: skilled home health care eligibility criteria.
- How to Get Community Care Referrals: the referral and authorization process.
- VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits: eligibility and how to apply.
- VA Caregiver Support Program: family caregiver programs.
- BrightStar Care of Schaumburg: Veterans Care: the location's VA credentialing and its guidance on choosing a provider.