Long-Term Care Benefits
Standard Benefits
The following long-term care services are available to all enrolled Veterans.
Geriatric Evaluation
Geriatric evaluation is the comprehensive assessment of a Veteran’s ability to care for him/herself, his/her physical health and social environment, which leads to a plan of care. The plan could include treatment, rehabilitation, health promotion and social services. These evaluations are performed by inpatient Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Units, GEM clinics, geriatric primary care clinics and other outpatient settings.
Adult Day Health Care
The adult day health care (ADHC) program is a therapeutic day care program, providing medical and rehabilitation services to disabled Veterans in a combined setting.
Respite Care
Respite care provides supportive care to Veterans on a short-term basis to give the caregiver a planned period of relief from the physical and emotional demands associated with providing care. Respite care can be provided in the home or other non institutional settings.
Home Care
Skilled home care is provided by VA and contract agencies to Veterans that are homebound with chronic diseases and includes nursing, physical/occupational therapy and social services.
Hospice/Palliative Care
Hospice/palliative care programs offer pain management, symptom control, and other medical services to terminally ill Veterans or Veterans in the late stages of the chronic disease process. Services also include respite care as well as bereavement counseling to family members.
NOTE: There are no copays for hospice care provided in any setting.
For those Veterans who do not qualify for cost-free services, the financial assessment for long term care services is used to determine the copay requirement.