Has your senior spouse or parent served their country? Are they at a point they need a little extra help?

If so, you should definitely look into programs available through the Department of Veterans Affairs for aging veterans. The VA has a variety of in-home and community care options for vets, and your loved one might be eligible.

What options are available? And how do you know if your loved one is in a position to receive these benefits?

Home and Community Care Benefits Provided by the VA

Throughout our lives, we thrive on our independence. It allows us to be adventurous, free, and to (sometimes) accomplish things beyond our wildest dreams.

This is definitely true of our veterans. They appreciate their freedom and independence – and of every other citizen in the country – which they fought to protect.

As we get older, though, we tend to slow down, and our bodies don’t obey us nearly as much as we would like. This can be due to injury, illness, or simply age.

These limitations can definitely put a damper on our ability to maintain our independence.

This is why senior home and community care programs are so important. They allow people to stay independent while ensuring their health, safety, and happiness.

These are some of the care programs which are available to seniors through the VA in our area.

Part- or Full-Day Adult Day Care Programs

One of the things veterans miss about their time in active duty was the camaraderie they had with other soldiers.

As life changes, senior veterans lose some of their friends in death or when they move away to be closer to their immediate family.

Not having those friends around any longer can lead to loneliness and depression.

Thankfully, the VA recognizes the importance of socialization and provides coverage for adult day care programs.

These programs provide a great space for interaction, as well as physical activity and mental stimulation. It’s the ideal way to keep seniors’ bodies and minds healthy and active, while providing them with a sense of emotional fulfillment, too.

In-Home Care Aides

One of the VA’s most popular services is the home care aide. Aides are trained to assist seniors in caring for themselves at home.

Aides can assist with meals, bathing, dressing, and medication. The VA will work with you and your loved one to create a personalized care program to ensure proper care and safety.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the VA’s website, they also provide benefits for:

• Hospice care
• Palliative care
• Respite care
• Telehealth care
• And more

Look at All of Your Options Before Making Any Decisions about Care for Your Loved One

Life is busy, hectic at times, and unpredictable. We’re all just trying to make it through the day, caring for our loved ones and our responsibilities. And in the midst of it all, life decides to throw us a curveball.

A senior loved one in our family may end up sick or injured. This “new normal” now requires they receive some form of aide in order to stay at home and enjoy their independence.

Even if they haven’t experienced an injury or illness, age can creep up on the best of us, which often means we may need some extra help around the house.

These situations can easily lead to stress for your loved one, as well as family members.

Thankfully, there are programs which can help. In-home assistance and community programs like adult day care can be a major stress reliever for both the senior and their family.

These programs can ease the workload of the caretakers in the family, while giving the seniors the help they need to stay relatively independent.

Your Senior Deserves the Best Care Possible

You might assume, though, you can’t afford this type of care. But there are assistance programs available to seniors for these types of services, some of which are available through the VA.

If your loved one served in the United States military, they’re entitled to receive this type of assistance. It will take a little time to find out which programs they’re eligible for, but it will definitely be worth it.

Don’t just assume you have to take on every aspect of caring for your loved one. The VA is there to help those who have bravely served their country. Take advantage of it!