If you’re a wartime veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran who needs supportive care, you should know about a VA program that can help pay for that care.

The Aid and Attendance Pension, a benefit of the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides monthly income to veterans and their surviving spouses to help pay for an assisted living or personal care facility, home care provider, adult day center, or nursing home.

The program supports veterans who require care for a disability unrelated to their military service or need help with daily living activities. The VA will also provide income to a surviving spouse who was married to a veteran with qualifying military service. Eligibility is based on the veteran’s wartime service, health and care needs, income versus medical expenses, and total assets. In 2023, benefit will pay $1,432-$2,642 per month, tax-free.

A free webinar about the benefit, sponsored by Redeemer Health, took place on November 10, led by Emily Schwarz, President of AidandAttendance.com. You can view a video of the webinar here.

“A lot of veterans and surviving spouses don’t realize this program is available to help pay for assistance with care and activities of daily living,” says David McDonald, Personal Care Administrator for Redeemer Health. He notes that Redeemer Health offers two communities—in Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County—that accept the payments.

Who is Eligible?

AidandAttendance.com provides a short, free evaluation tool you can use to see if you meet eligibility criteria and are a good candidate to apply. More information on criteria and applying for the benefit are available at AidandAttendance.com.

Qualifying wartime military service includes:

• World War II
• The Korean Conflict
• Vietnam Era
• Gulf War

Types of care expenses that qualify include:

• Assisted living or personal care
• Home care
• Senior living (with care)
• Memory care
• Adult day care
• Nursing home

More information on the program is available by calling AidandAttendance.com at 800-626-7145 or the VA at 800-827-1000.

A Local Opportunity

Redeemer Health’s communities for older adults are among the facilities that qualify to accept the VA Aid and Attendance benefit. These communities help older adults stay safe and independent while enjoying access to therapeutic, social, recreational, and spiritual life opportunities.

Redeemer Health Lafayette in Northeast Philadelphia, and St. Joseph Manor in Meadowbrook, PA, offer personal care accommodations and services that include:

• A wide range of personal care apartments, suites, and rooms to suit many preferences and budgets
• Housekeeping and linen services
• Three meals daily
• Recreational programs
• Pastoral care
• Nightly check-in by nursing staff
• Assistance with medical appointment scheduling, medication management, dressing, washing and grooming

If residents' care needs should increase, the communities offer additional assistance via progressive levels of personal care.

Residents enjoy additional peace of mind knowing that the facilities' unique status as members of the Redeemer Health family gives them access to Redeemer Health's wide-ranging expertise and resources.

For more information on Redeemer Health's communities, visit redeemerhealth.org/lifecare/personal-care or call 215-214-2877.