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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 8.1 million retired veterans over the age of 65. Many of these patriots, having survived wars, now need help staying safe within their own homes. Assisted Living Services, a nonmedical home-care agency in Connecticut, is assisting military service personnel and their families in accessing the maximum benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during November – home to Veterans’ Day, Monday, Nov. 11, and National Caregivers Month.
“Along with the work and stress of ensuring that aging loved ones are receiving the best possible care at home, families are also faced with the challenge of figuring out how to pay for quality, in-home senior care,” said Mario D’Aquila, MBA and COO of family-owned Assisted Living Services Inc. “Many veteran families come to us not knowing that they qualify for VA coverage. But after some education and research on our part, they discover that they do, which offers much financial relief.”
D’Aquila said that Veterans Affairs offers two key programs that can help
cover the cost of home care for veterans and their spouses:
- The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Program: This program provides a monthly stipend to veterans and their spouses who meet specific income, asset and service criteria. The funds can be used for nonmedical home-care services, helping veterans access care without using up personal savings.
- VA-Sponsored Home Care: This program is available for veterans who may have been
injured during service or meet certain income qualifications. Unlike the Aid and
Attendance Pension, where the funds go to the veteran, VA-sponsored home care allows
agencies to bill the VA directly for services. This often results in higher reimbursement
rates, allowing for more comprehensive care.
D’Aquila noted that many veterans also qualify for The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), a state-specific Medicaid waiver program administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS), designed for seniors with limited income and assets who require home-care services. To qualify, individuals must meet certain criteria based on income, assets, age and health conditions. The CHCPE covers a wide range of services, including personal care assistance, homemaking, 24-hour live-in care, nursing services and even programs like Meals on Wheels and adult daycare.
D’Aquila also discussed using Medicare to defray the cost of in-home senior care: “Though Medicare does not typically cover nonmedical home care, some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited benefits for in-home services. This option is still in its infancy and not widely available, but it’s worth asking about if you or your loved one are on a Medicare Advantage plan.”
Additionally, families may choose to use long-term care insurance to offset the cost of home care services. Not to be confused with traditional health insurance, long-term care insurance is designed specifically to cover expenses related to nonmedical home care, assisted living, and other senior care services. Some seniors even discover they have policies through former employers that they may have forgotten about, D’Aquila added. Many of these older policies offer an unlimited benefit, meaning they can cover services indefinitely, a financial lifesaver for families facing caregiving costs.
The most straightforward way to pay for in-home care services is through private, direct billing to the senior, he said. Although this is a common method, many families explore other options to alleviate the financial burden that comes with caring for their elderly loved one.
“At our agency, we become partners with the families in helping them navigate the various funding options, including conducting research and identifying any means possible to help them cover the costs of eldercare,” D’Aquila said. “Understanding the various resources available to families, even if they qualify for government or other benefits down the road, can make a significant difference in the quality and affordability of care that their loved one receives.”
Since 1996, award-winning home care agency Assisted Living Services Inc. (ALS) in Cheshire, Putnam and Westport has provided care to residents across Connecticut. Its CarePlus program blends personal care by more than 700 employees and caregivers with technological safety and monitoring devices from sister company Assisted Living Technologies Inc. ALS was ranked on the 2020 Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies and recognized by Home Care Pulse as a “Best of Home Care Leader In Excellence,” a designation given to the best home-care providers in the nation. For more, you can also call 203-634-8668.
