Finding the Right Caregiver for a Veteran

If you or your loved one is someone who is disabled and also a veteran, they may qualify for a VA caregiver through the veterans affairs caregiver program. Just like many other military-related health services, caregivers and benefits must be approved by the Veterans Administration (VA) and there a few rules to follow so the caregiver and the veteran to qualify. Read on to learn more about how to find a caregiver for a veteran, and how to qualify for the program.

Veterans Caregiver Eligibility Requirements

Many returning vets and their families often ask, do VA benefits cover home care? In many cases they do; however, there are some guidelines that must be followed. Also, note that these guidelines only apply to veterans injured on or after September 11, 2011. Injured veterans that were injured before this date may have trouble getting a caregiver covered. There have been recent changes to the Disabled Veterans Caregiver Compensation Act, and all disabled and injured veterans should be eligible for in-home care services by 2021.

Here are the current guidelines for having an in-home, paid veterans caregiver:

• The veteran must have a serious injury. Injuries include traumatic brain injury (TBI), and emotional and mental disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• The veteran must demonstrate a need for in-home personal care services due to an inability to perform them on one’s own.
• The caregiver can be related to the veteran (spouse, child, mother, father, other family members), but does not have to be.
• The caregiver may or may not live in-home with the veteran.
• The caregiver may not provide any financial support to the veteran to qualify.

Veterans Caregiver Benefits

The veterans caregiver is entitled to certain veterans caregiver benefits, as covered by the VA. While the veteran’s caregiver may be eligible for all of the benefits below or financial support for caregivers, each benefit may have to be applied for separately. Some of these benefits include:

• Veteran caregiver stipend
• Travel expenses (mainly if the patient must travel for care)
• Mental health services
• Respite care
• Personal health care insurance

How to Become a Veterans Caregiver

If you are interested in becoming a veteran’s caregiver because of a friend or family member who needs in-home care, you must apply through the Veterans Administration (VA). Before application, there is a pre-screening questionnaire that can help determine your eligibility before you go through the formal process. Once you are approved to be a veteran’s caregiver, you can go through and apply for each benefit you feel would be of worth to you and your patient.

Dependent upon needs, some home modifications may also be covered under the VA, such as wheelchair ramps and stair lifts. If you are unsure about the process during any step of the journey, you can contact your local branch of the VA to get in touch with the Caregiver Support Program. This program can help guide you through the appropriate channels.

To learn more about VA caregiver benefits, or to determine how in-home modifications such as stair lifts and wheelchair ramps can increase mobility, contact Williams Lift Co. today. We want both caregivers and patients to live their best lives.