VA Home Care Benefits Explained for Veterans and Spouses

For many veterans and surviving spouses, paying for home care feels overwhelming. What most families don’t realize is that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers powerful benefits that can help pay for in-home care, allowing veterans to stay safely in their own homes instead of moving to a facility.

At Caring Companions, we work with families across Southwest Missouri to help them understand and use their VA benefits for home care. This guide explains what’s available, who qualifies, and how to get started.

What VA Home Care Benefits Are Available?

The VA does not offer one single “home care program.” Instead, several VA benefits can be used to pay for care at home.

The most common VA programs include:

1. VA Community Care Network (CCN)

The VA CCN allows veterans to receive care from approved community providers, like Caring Companions, instead of traveling to a VA facility.

If a veteran qualifies, the VA:

• Authorizes home care services

• Sends the referral to an approved agency

• Pays the agency directly

This can include:

• Personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting)

• Help with meals and mobility

• Safety supervision

• Companion care

• Some live-in and extended hour services

2. VA Aid & Attendance Benefit

Aid & Attendance is a monthly cash benefit added to a veteran’s or surviving spouse’s VA pension.

This money can be used to pay for:

• In-home caregivers

• Live-in care

• Assisted living

• Memory care

Unlike CCN, this money is paid directly to the veteran or spouse, who then pays the home care agency.

3. VA Homemaker & Home Health Aide Program

This program provides in-home support through the VA when a veteran has a medical need for assistance with daily activities.

It can cover:

• Personal care

• Help with daily living

• Light homemaker services

This is usually coordinated through the veteran’s VA doctor and care team.

Who Qualifies for VA Home Care?

Eligibility depends on the program, but many veterans qualify if they:

• Served on active duty

• Were not dishonorably discharged

• Need help with daily activities

• Are enrolled in VA healthcare

Surviving spouses may also qualify for Aid & Attendance if:

• They were married to the veteran at the time of death

• They have limited income and assets

• They need assistance with daily living

Even veterans who already receive VA healthcare may not realize they can use it for home care.

How VA Home Care Works With Caring Companions

Caring Companions is an approved VA Community Care Network provider. That means when the VA authorizes care, we can deliver it directly to your home.

Here’s how it typically works:

1. The veteran or family contacts the VA or their VA primary care provider

2. The VA issues a referral for home care

3. The VA sends the authorization to Caring Companions

4. We schedule a care assessment

5. Care begins in the home

6. We bill the VA directly — families don’t have to

For Aid & Attendance, families use their monthly benefit to pay for care.

Why Families Use VA Benefits for Home Care

Using VA benefits allows veterans to:

• Stay safely at home

• Avoid nursing home placement

• Maintain independence

• Receive consistent caregiver support

• Reduce financial stress

Many families combine VA benefits with private pay, long-term care insurance, or Medicaid to create a care plan that works long-term.

Not Every Veteran Qualifies

VA programs have eligibility rules, service requirements, and medical criteria. Not every situation will be approved for VA-funded home care.

That’s why Caring Companions encourages families to call and talk through their situation. We can help determine:

• Whether VA CCN or Aid & Attendance might apply

• What paperwork is needed

• Whether a different funding option would be a better fit

There is no obligation — just guidance.

Talk to Caring Companions About VA Home Care

If you or your loved one is a veteran or surviving spouse, you may have more help available than you realize.

📞 Call Caring Companions to talk through your situation and find out if VA benefits can be used for home care. We’re here to help you understand your options and choose what’s best for your family.