WSJ photo WWII vet in
MFH

Losing one’s independence due to disability is costly in many ways.  No one wants to end up in a nursing home and eating poor quality food.  The idea of living with strangers seems unpleasant but many aged are alone in this world when they need more help. Caregiving is hard work. But the pay is decent if caring for the maximum allowed 3 vets.  It should attract good people to this private-public partnership.

The VA can pay for nursing home care for service-connected disabilities or partially for Medical Foster Homes.  This 2010 Wall Street Journal article, is favorable for reasons the title makes clear:  Happier Vets, Lower Costs

The home is one of hundreds across the country that take in veterans who can’t care for themselves, but don’t want to live in an institution. The vets pay the foster family’s expenses, while the VA covers the costs of regular visits from health-care providers, such as nurses, therapists and dietitians. The result is dramatically lower costs—the VA pays just about $52 a day for patients in foster homes, compared with an average of $469 for those in nursing homes.

Slides from Denver put the VA’s cost at around $1,500 per month including health visits.  Priorty 1A vets are used in the cost estimates towards the end.   I would keep an open mind about this option in case one can no longer age in one’s own home and you want to pay for a private room.  (Some vets share a room and use the VA’s telehealth services–NYT.)

VSO’s often get involved.  Here is the American Legions fact sheet.  The DAV estimates taxpayer savings of 1 million dollars every 12 days.  With such huge savings to the taxpayers, I’m sure this program will continue to expand to all 50 states.

The Official VA Handbook 1141.02  is here.