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How Do You Find Assisted Living for Veterans With Dementia?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Ashlee Shefer is a freelance copywriter, content writer, and digital marketer who specializes in senior care, mental health, health care, and other wellness-related topics. She has one year of experience writing both short- and long-form content related to senior resources, assisted living, nursing homes, and home care, including blog posts, research-based articles, resource guides, product reviews, facility blurbs, finances, and care costs.
You can find assisted living for veterans with dementia by contacting your local Veterans Affairs (VA) office or the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to learn about available resources. If your loved one qualifies for the VA Standard Benefits Package, they’re eligible for a geriatric evaluation to determine their health status and what care services align with their needs.
Because there are varying stages of dementia, assisted living may not be the most suitable care option, depending on the severity of your loved one’s cognitive decline. Memory care communities better serve severe memory loss. Fortunately, the VA covers a range of long-term care and health services.
What long-term care benefits are available for veterans with dementia?
There are several benefits veterans with dementia may qualify for to supplement long-term care costs. Although not specifically for long-term care, VA pension benefits provide monthly payments for veterans meeting certain age, income, health and active duty requirements and don’t restrict how the funds can be used.
Veterans who receive a pension and meet certain health requirements may also be eligible for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits. Aid and Attendance benefits cater to veterans needing help with daily living activities, while Housebound benefits assist veterans confined to their homes due to permanent disabilities. However, you can’t receive both benefits simultaneously. Consider what care services your loved one needs before applying.
Assisted living versus memory care for veterans with dementia
Both assisted living and memory care provide housing, meals and assistance with daily living activities, including dressing and bathing. However, memory care communities employ staff specially trained in cognitive impairments and offer therapeutic activities, including reminiscence or art therapy, to help residents maintain cognitive functions. They also feature easy-to-navigate layouts, with security measures, such as visual directional cues and obscured entrances, to prevent confusion and wandering.
Veterans in early stages of dementia may function independently and need minimal daily living assistance. In this case, assisted living may be suitable. Once they progress to later stages of dementia, they may need around-the-clock medical care and supervision to maintain quality of life, which memory care communities provide.
Should you tell staff your loved one is a veteran?
Sharing your loved one’s veteran status with staff can be helpful in managing finances and benefits to pay for care. Some communities also offer acknowledgments in their wellness department exclusive to veterans. Additionally, if your loved one has other health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, informing the community can help staff monitor or reduce triggers and provide necessary psychotropic ancillary services to alleviate symptoms and distress.