Many caregivers and older adults worry about the cost of senior living and long-term care. These expenses can consume a significant part of a senior’s monthly income, even for people who thought they had saved enough. How people pay for senior care depends on their financial situation and the kinds of services they use. Seniors and their families may rely on a combination of funding sources, including personal savings, pensions or retirement accounts, investment income, or proceeds of a home sale.
Professional care in assisted living facilities or continuing care retirement communities is typically paid out of pocket.
Each year, our nation celebrates our veterans with numerous observances to keep their service and sacrifice top of mind. But beyond remembrance, the United States is committed to supporting veterans, especially as they age and require care. For the more than 10 million war veterans living in the U.S., and their spouses, a little-known Veterans Affairs benefit called Aid and Attendance can significantly offset the cost of home care, assisted living, or nursing care.
With many military bases located in Colorado, it’s no wonder that veterans choose to retire in the Centennial State, and as they age, many have successfully accessed this valuable benefit.
Aid and Attendance Benefit Details
The VA Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly payment added to the regular VA pension for eligible veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities due to disability, illness, or age.
The benefit extends to veterans of the Iraq Gulf War, the Korean and Vietnam wars, World War II, and even members of the American Merchant Marines during that same period of the 1940s. The benefit usually extends to surviving spouses of veterans as well.
Monthly benefit amounts vary from approximately $1,500 for a surviving spouse needing care to about $2,800 for a veteran and spouse who both require assistance. These funds can help defray the cost of assisted living or home care, which averages more than $5,500 per month, according to SeniorLiving.org.
The supplemental funding of the Aid and Attendance benefit helps cover the cost of assistance with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting. It can be used for care provided at home, in assisted living communities like Sopris Lodge, or skilled nursing facilities.
Veterans or their families can apply for Aid and Attendance by filing VA Form 21-2680, providing the required medical documentation showing a need for assistance, and submitting this to the VA Pension Management Center. Applications can also be submitted online through the VA website, in person at a VA office, or with the help of a Veterans Service Officer.
If you think you or a loved one may be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit – just like several of our proud veteran residents who have served our nation – talk to our leasing agents. They can assist you with questions or help guide you to a nearby Veterans Service Office. To contact the Sopris Lodge at Carbondale Senior Living team, call 970-678-0057 or visit soprislodge.com.
DISCLAIMER: Sopris Lodge at Carbondale Senior Living cannot determine eligibility for veterans’ benefits; only the Veterans Administration can determine applicant eligibility.
