A trained aide at home, so a Veteran can keep living in it.
The VA's Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide into a Veteran's own home to help with bathing, dressing, meals and getting around. One call explains how it works and whether it may fit your family.
Free call. Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm ET
- For Veterans of any age
- Care in your own home
- Relief for family caregivers
Everyday help, delivered by a trained aide, supervised by a nurse.
Through the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program, the VA arranges for a trained aide to visit a Veteran at home. The aide is not a nurse, but a registered nurse supervises the care and assesses what the Veteran needs. Aides work for organizations that contract with the VA.
Visits are based on the Veteran's assessed needs. Some Veterans get help several times a week, others now and then. The program can help a Veteran stay at home instead of moving to a nursing home, and it gives family caregivers a break.
The daily tasks that get harder with age or injury.
Exact services depend on the Veteran's assessment and what is available where they live. These are the kinds of help the VA describes.
Bathing and grooming
Safe help with washing, shaving, hair and oral care.
Dressing
Getting dressed in the morning and ready for bed at night.
Eating and meals
Help at mealtimes, so eating well does not become a struggle.
Moving around the home
Support getting up, walking and using the bathroom safely.
Grocery shopping
Keeping the kitchen stocked when getting out is hard.
Respite for the family
Time off for the spouse, son or daughter who carries the load.
Enrolled Veterans who need help with daily activities.
The VA says all enrolled Veterans are eligible when three things are true:
- Enrolled in VA health care and eligible for community care.
- Meets the clinical need, for example help with personal care, isolation, or a caregiver who is overwhelmed.
- The service is available in the Veteran's area.
There is no age limit. A copay may apply depending on the Veteran's service-connected disability status. No benefit is guaranteed. The VA makes every decision about eligibility and care.
Three steps, starting with one phone call.
Tell us about the Veteran
A care advisor asks a few questions: who needs help, what kind, and whether the Veteran is enrolled in VA health care.
Get the program explained plainly
We walk you through how Homemaker and Home Health Aide care works, what to expect, and which other VA options may apply.
Know your next step
You leave the call knowing what to ask your VA social worker and how to connect with a home care agency near you that works with the VA.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm ET
We are an official partner of Home Care for Veterans.
Home Care for Veterans is an independent resource built for Veteran families. It explains the VA benefits that help pay for care at home and runs a free nationwide directory of home care agencies drawn from the federal provider registry.
- Plain-language guides to Aid & Attendance, Homemaker & Home Health Aide, and Veteran-Directed Care.
- A free directory you can search by ZIP code. Agencies are listed free of charge.
- Not affiliated with the VA. Neither are we. We say so because it matters.
What families usually ask first.
Is the aide a nurse?
No. Homemaker and Home Health Aides are trained to help with personal care and daily activities. A registered nurse supervises them and assesses the Veteran's needs. If the Veteran needs skilled nursing, the VA has separate programs for that.
Does the Veteran have to be a certain age?
No. The program is for Veterans of any age who need help with personal care or daily activities, who are isolated, or whose caregiver is under strain.
What does it cost?
The VA pays the organization that provides the aide. Depending on the Veteran's service-connected disability status, the VA may charge a copay. The VA does not publish a single copay figure, so ask your VA social worker about your situation.
How often would the aide come?
It depends on the Veteran's assessed needs. Some Veterans have visits several times a week, others only occasionally. Veterans can keep receiving the service for as long as they need extra help with daily activities.
Can this be combined with other VA home care?
Yes. The VA says Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can be used together with other Home and Community Based Services. What is available varies by location.
What about surviving spouses?
This program is for enrolled Veterans. Some surviving spouses may qualify for other VA benefits, such as Aid & Attendance, which can help pay for care at home. Our partner Home Care for Veterans explains those programs.
Who am I calling?
A care advisor who explains the program and helps you find the right next step. We are a private service, not the VA or any government agency. We do not decide eligibility and cannot promise any benefit.
Find out if a home aide fits your family.
(800) 555-0199
Tap to callMonday to Friday, 8am to 6pm ET. Free call, no obligation.