Elderly Veteran Programs
VA offers specialized geriatric and long-term care programs for aging veterans, including home-based services that allow veterans to stay in their homes rather than move to institutional care.
Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC)
HBPC provides complete healthcare services in the veteran's home for veterans who need ongoing team-based support for chronic or complex health conditions. A team of medical professionals comes to you:
- Primary care and nursing
- Medication management
- Physical rehabilitation
- Mental health care
- Social work
- Referrals to VA and community services
Who qualifies: Veterans who need team-based in-home support for ongoing diseases that affect their health and daily activities.
PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly)
PACE provides comprehensive medical and social services for frail community-dwelling elderly veterans, enabling them to remain in their communities instead of moving to a nursing home.
- Who qualifies: Seniors (including veterans) who are frail enough to meet their state's standards for nursing home care. Most participants are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
- How it works: An interdisciplinary team provides coordinated care tailored to each veteran's needs
- VA role: VHA partners with PACE centers targeting veterans at high risk for nursing home admission
- Goal: Keep veterans living independently in their communities as long as safely possible
GeriPACT (Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team)
GeriPACT provides expert care for veterans with challenging health needs due to geriatric syndromes. Available at approximately two-thirds of VA medical centers.
Conditions addressed include:
- Frailty
- Falls and fall prevention
- Incontinence
- Memory loss and cognitive decline
- Caregiver burden
- Complex medication management
Additional Long-Term Care Programs
| Program | What It Provides |
|---|---|
| Adult Day Health Care | Supervised daytime program at VA medical centers — social activities, health monitoring, meals |
| Community Residential Care | For veterans who do not need hospital or nursing home care but cannot live independently |
| Respite Care | Temporary relief for caregivers — veteran receives care while caregiver takes a break |
| Homemaker / Home Health Aide | Help with activities of daily living — bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping |
| Hospice & Palliative Care | End-of-life care services focused on comfort and quality of life |
| Community Nursing Home | VA-contracted nursing home beds in the community |
| State Veterans Homes | State-run long-term care facilities with VA per diem support — nursing home, domiciliary, or adult day care |
How to Access
- Contact your VA medical center's Geriatrics and Extended Care department
- Ask your VA primary care provider for a referral to the appropriate program
- For Aid & Attendance benefits (additional monthly payment for veterans who need help with daily activities), submit VA Form 21-2680 — Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance
- To apply for Veterans Pension (income-based benefit for wartime veterans age 65+ or with a permanent and total disability), file VA Form 21P-527EZ — Application for Veterans Pension
- VA Caregiver Support: caregiver.va.gov
- VA In-Home and Support Services: caregiver.va.gov/care_veterans.asp
- Long-term care info: va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/long-term-care
- VA Geriatrics: va.gov/geriatrics
Call: 1-800-827-1000
Medicare & VA Healthcare
Many veterans assume that VA healthcare replaces the need for Medicare — but there are important reasons to consider enrolling in Medicare Part B when you turn 65, even if you are happy with your VA care.
- Not every doctor participates in VA Community Care. If you need care outside the VA system, Medicare Part B covers most civilian providers.
- Late enrollment penalty: There is a 10% premium penalty for each 12-month period you delay Part B enrollment past your initial eligibility. This penalty is permanent and increases your premiums for life.
- Part D (prescriptions): Generally not needed if you use VA pharmacy services, which provide medications at no or low cost. VA prescription coverage is considered "creditable coverage" by Medicare.
- Part A (hospital): Most veterans get Part A automatically and premium-free at age 65 if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for 10+ years.
Bottom line: Even if you plan to continue using VA healthcare as your primary coverage, enrolling in Medicare Part B when first eligible protects you from penalties and gives you more provider options if you ever need them.