Elderly veterans who need aid may be able to apply to live in special assisted living facilities. They can rent out entire apartments or rooms in these complexes, and they also have some shared spaces. For instance, while some may have small kitchens in their rooms, others will use a shared dining area.

The advantage is that veterans then have 24/7 access to special caregivers. They can help with all manner of tasks, from mobility assistance to bathing assistance. The VA may also be able to set things up to send a nurse or a health professional to the facility for those who need more care than the on-duty workers can provide.

Some services that may be offered in the assisted living center include:

• Assistance with daily activities, such as getting dressed or eating.
• Assistance preparing meals, as noted above.
• Assistance taking any necessary medications.
• Social and recreational activities. In short, veterans in the facilities get to live in a group setting, with a social atmosphere, though their physical limitations may have prevented that outside of the facility.

One important thing to note is that the veteran still has to pay the rent. This is not covered by the VA. That said, if the veteran needs extra services, the VA may help make those payments.

Another key point is that veterans do have to apply to live in these facilities. The government says that they base eligibility on two things: room availability and clinical need. Naturally, this means that not everyone will get in, even when the need is there.

It’s important for veterans to know about all of the benefits they may receive and opportunities they may have as they grow older. They should also know what legal steps are needed to take advantage of them.

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Assisted Living Facilities,” accessed Jan. 19, 2018