6/23/2020

What to Know About Using Veterans Assistance for Assisted Living


Many assisted living communities proudly serve veteran residents. We know that you honorably served our country, and now it’s our turn to take pride in serving you. In order to do that, we want to make sure you spend your retirement years enjoying the quality of life that you deserve.

That’s why senior living communities like Bridgewater Assisted Living provides veteran’s assistance for assisted living. We feel your finances shouldn’t be a barrier to receiving top-of-the-line treatment and house or high-quality care. So let us help you understand what you need to know about using your veteran’s assistance to live where you’d like to call home.

Confirm Your Eligibility

You’ll first want to confirm whether you qualify to receive veteran’s assistance benefits. You may be eligible to receive VA Aid and Attendance benefits if you already receive a veteran’s pension and one or more of the following applies to you:

        You need another person to help you perform daily activities, such as feeding, dressing, or bathing.

        You must stay in bed for the majority of the day because of an illness.

        You have a disability and are a nursing home patient due to the loss of physical and/or mental abilities as a result of that disability.

        Your eyesight is limited.

In addition to Aid and Attendance benefits, the VA also offers household benefits for those who are mostly confined to home due to a permanent disability. If you’re already receiving a VA pension, you may qualify for one of these programs. If you qualify for both programs, you may only receive benefits from one program at a time. In addition, if you do qualify for assistance, both you and your spouse are eligible to receive benefits. Surviving spouses may also be eligible if a loved one was.

If you’re uncertain whether you qualify for either program, you can contact your VA regional office for assistance in determining your eligibility.

Apply for Benefits

If you believe you qualify for veteran’s assistance for assisted living, the next step is to apply for benefits. You’ll need to download and complete VA Form 21-2680. Your doctor can fill out the examination information section of the application. You may also include supplementary information with your application, such as a doctor’s note or information about your disability or injury, or challenges you experience in performing daily activities.

If you’re already residing in an assisted living home, you’ll also need to complete VA Form 21-0779. Once you’ve completed the necessary documentation, you can either mail the forms to your pension management center or drop them off at your nearest VA regional office.

If you’re a veteran with no dependents, you may qualify for as much as $22,939 in annual benefits. If you’re a veteran who has one dependent, you may qualify for $27,195 annually. You may view a full breakdown of benefits here.

Research Your Care Options

If you require assistance with your daily needs, you should research care options to find the best solution for you. As a veteran, you may qualify for long-term care directly through the VA. Care settings may include your own home, a nursing home, adult day health centers, or assisted living centers. Some of these are operated by the VA, others are run by the state or community organizations and approved by the VA.

You should consider your options carefully and decide which is the right living situation for you. The VA provides a detailed breakdown of each care option, along with a variety of other resources regarding long-term care.

For instance, assisted living centers to afford you the opportunity to live in your own room or apartment and are staffed around the clock with caregivers who can attend to your daily needs. That means you can maintain your independence while still getting the level of care you require. If you want help deciding if this is the right option for you, the VA has some helpful tips to guide you through the decision-making process.

Explore Alternative Financial Solutions

What happens if you’re not eligible to receive veteran’s assistance for assisted living? Don’t worry. There are still alternative options for you to explore. For instance, Bridgewater Assisted Living is a Medicaid-certified senior living community—as are many other communities. That means we can receive payment for benefits that you may qualify for under Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS). ALTCS is a program to help seniors with a disability qualify for high-quality affordable care.

If you’re on a fixed income, rent-controlled apartments may be available to those who qualify. For example, at Bridgewater, if you make less than $2,420 a month, you’ll likely be eligible to receive financial assistance at our senior living community. In addition to the financial solutions we provide, our apartment rents and care rates are extremely affordable. We also don’t charge any community fees or deposits. Your only upfront expense will be a reasonable application fee. Be assured, there are affordable options available for you.

Every senior, including our veterans, should be able to receive affordable, high-quality long-term care. If you’re unable to qualify for veteran’s assistance for assisted living, our Community Benefits Advocate will work with you to help you determine what financial solutions are available to you. They can also walk you through the steps of applying for veteran’s assistance or other benefits, and even help you with the paperwork. You can contact our Community Benefits Advocate at 602-603-7482 to learn more about the benefits that may be available to help you cover the costs of long-term care.

At Bridgewater Assisted Living, we want to help you every step of the way. You have served and defended us. Now, this is our opportunity to show you our gratitude and help you find a place to call home.

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