Coco is using the VA respite this fall. My sister used it for her husband after his stroke and he became bad. I believe he had VaD but was never diagnosed. In Vanc. (WA) they went to the nursing home for the respite. She broke up the 4 weeks to two at a time. They staff told her this was her time for rest and not to come in. We checked on him a couple times. He was happy, well taken care of and having a blast with all the female staff. I think Coco's husband will be in an AD unit. Go check out the place he will be, if you go around lunch you can see the food and if the staff helps those eat who need it.
I have found that some areas of the country the VA is great, other areas not so great.
I have an aide that comes in for 4 hours Monday, Wed. and Friday. She comes at 8:30 to 12:30. The VA is paying for this aide through hospice. I am allowed 24 hours per week. Monday through Sat. I also can get respite in their contract nursing homes...but, I understand they are the pits. He also could go to the VA hospital and stay and I would get respite care. However, that place has a long waiting list. The one problem with the VA and the various places you can pay and get respite care (like ALF) most of them do not make reservations so you can actually plan ahead to go some place.
But, any help is better then none. I love the aide they have sent and she is super. She comes in and immedidately gets him out of bed and dressed. Then she fixes him his breakfast and then he goes back to bed to sleep...around 11:30 she gets him up again and fixes his lunch. She also folds his clothes, changes his hospital bed, checks on him about every 15 minutes. Does the dishes and anything that has to do with his care.
I run out and do a few things and usually I am gone an hour to an hour and half when the aide is here.
I should have made it more clear. It is respite help that will come to my home. Does everyone get the same amount. I would be ecstatic to get 4 hrs 3xwk.
Don't know about VA since DH did not qualify - just over the income limit for anything. But, I'm in Somerset and we have an ALZ Respite Center. I take DH there 3 days one week and two days the next week, only for about 2-3 hours in the mornings and leave him there for lunch, which they provide. Cost is excellent - $5.24 per hr. Can't buy lunch for that! Have you called the Office on Aging in your county? I know places are available in Russell County. But they don't come to your home. It's working out good for us, since he gets to "go to work".
Ky...I was talking about in home in care 3 times a week ....I could get 24 hours per week. Call your VA social worker. I told the social worker here that if they didn't get me me help they would be getting my dh full time because I couldn't do it by myself. Get tuff with them if needed. Of course, hospice was helping me to and they were in contact with the VA. How bad is your dh. Does you dh get any type of VA disability pension?? My dh has 60% for his heart condition from exposure to Agent Orange...that might be why I got the help....I really don't know. He has a total of 100% VA pension, 10% for a finger lost, 60% for heart and the rest is because he cannot work...because of his heart.
Ky...you can't just wait for them to contact you...at least where I live you can't wait for them to call. You need to find out who the social worker is that works in your area and tell her what the dr. said and ask when the help will start. Three months ago I was told I would get help and I just got it a week ago and that is because I threw a fit... And, hospice also told them I needed help. You got to push them and get in contact with the person who makes the decision on who gets the help and who doesn't get the help.
We are 'Category 5" on the VA medical. This qualified Dado, (along with meeting the requirements), to 10 hours a week, paid in full. I take it all in one day at least for now. We have been really lucky with the VA over here in Hawaii. I don't know if I could do all this without them.
We also qualify for up to 30 days, taken in no less than 10 day increments, in the VA hospital in Honolulu. I applied and they are going to give us 10 days, I could not get the 20 I asked for. (Dec. 3 thru the 13th.) I will have to fly him over and go back, but that is ok. Also fully paid for.
I get in home Respite through the va. or at least i'm suppose to. I have been given 30 days a year and up to 6 hr a day. I am having trouble with the company they hired. Called three times and they said they would call me when they found someone to come in. I think it usually starts at 30 days a year it is a calendar year. but I've heard of some in other states that get a lot more. The dr set it up with the social worker and they sent this company down to take some info and stats to enroll him. good luck
Coco...what does category 5 mean...and how did you get this information. I never heard anyone say anything about a category. But, it makes sense that there would be such a thing.
Vickie I don't think the help from the VA has anything to do with your income if it is provided directly from the VA. But, if you want to put your spouse in an ALF and want financial help in paying for that then your financial situation comes into consideration. It is kind of like the requirement when you have to qualify for Medicaid.
Judith, I took my DH to our local VA outpatient clinic for a physical because I wanted him in their system in case I ever have to place him in the VA home that is also right there. Earlier this year I decided that I needed to take him back so I called to make an appointment & was told that I had to come back & fill out new paperwork. Well since his first visit 2 years ago I started collecting Social Security & when I filled out the financial part of the paperwork I was informed that we make to much money to get any VA benefits. Nice, huh? Almost got killed over in Vietnam, but can't get any VA benefits.
My dh is a Korea era veteran (served two year draft time) and he gets VA Rx and sees a doctor at our local AF base. When he filled out the forms he didn't put any financial info and they didn't question it. He also has hearing aids and a cane (which he didn't ask for and doesn't use at this time). However, my sister, who was in the army 8 years, Korean era, applied in Kansas recently and was told her income which is little more than social security was too much. It must depend on who reads the application as to the outcome. I am going to inquire about other VA benefits dh might be eligible for now that he has VaD. The nearest VA hospital has been under investigation in recent years so I'd have to look closely should he ever need to be placed. So far he is doing alright at home but I could use respite care for sure.
Judith KB, the "Groups" are from 1 to 8. 1 being fully covered for everything, mainly active duty for a certain number of years and of course injured or disabled. Your dh I believe falls in to the disabled category so he gets more benefits.
Dado served two years in war time in Vietnam. That, along with our income, got us in the Priority "5" . We get no co pays for anything other than drugs. However , no dental of course, no nursing home, limited other stuff.
Here is what it says in the little book.
Group 5. Veterans receiving VA pension benefits or eligible for Medicaid programs, and non service connected veterans and non compensable, zero percent service-connected veterans whose gross annual household income and net worth are below the established VA means test thresholds.
It looks to me like you are in Group 3?-
Veterans with service connected disabilities rated 10 and 20 percent: veterans who are former Prisoners of War or were awarded a Purple Heart medal: veterans awarded special eligibility for disabilities incurred in treatment or participation in a VA Vocational Rehabilitation program: and veterans whose discharge was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Jean 21, in my book "Federal Benefits for Veterans and their Dependants", here is what is says...
VA Medical Programs
Eligiblity:
Veterans are eligible if they served on active duty in a combat theater during World War 2, The Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, or the campaigns in Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Global War on Terror. Veterans who served in the active military during the Vietnam Era, but not in the Republic of VIetnam, must have requested services at t Vet Center before Jan. 1, 2004.
I have an extra book if you would like me to send one.
coco you will need to get with your respite folks when its time to 'fly' dado over to the mainland. traveling with them on a smaller plane can be a real nightmare. especially if he acts out or is anxious or rebellious. its something you may need to talk over with the nurse you may need to have him medicated some so he doesnt cause any issues. maybe he is docile enough and wont cause any issues but he disrupts the crew or othr passengers the captain could cause you some issues when you land. hoping this is not the case when the time comes but i would definately have meds on hand prior during and after. divvi
hey divvi, it is just to Honolulu, a 25 minute flight!! The days of long travel are over, thank God we went to Canada at Christmas to see my family, I knew, it was his last trip.
For you that want a response on what you are entitled to and don't care for the answer the VA gives you need to contact your local VSO (Veterans Service Officer)....they have been trained by the VA and they know all that is available and how to get it. Contact your local VFW or try to find who the VSO is in your area by going to goggle...typing in VSO in.....City/State.....you may come up with an answer that way. There are VSO people all over and it shouldn't be a problem finding one that serves your area.
I have a great one that I get info regarding my dh and he helped us fill out the papers and get the disability he now has.
JudithKB - thanks for the info. I think our new next door neighbor may be a VSO. We've only met him a couple of time but what he told me of his job sounds like that. I'll sure call him to see if he can help me.
Veteran groups often have officers who are trained to appeal VA decisions. It was impossible to even appeal these decisions until the 1980s or 1990s. My wife used to work for a veterans advocacy group and her boss used to work for the VA, he would regale her with stories about how the VA illegally denied benefits, which caused him to leave. But it was also well known that the VA is underbudgetted by Congress, which is why benefits were denied improperly, there simply wasn't the money. I do not know how the situation has improved.
I was contacted by the VA social worker at our nearby AF base today. I am to get two 6 hr. respite times a month. There will be someone come to visit with us and evaluate our circumstances in the next week or two. I am pleased to get any respite at all. The worker said they used local folks trained especially for az people. Also, the VA will send his latest meds - resperidone - even though our pcp in town did the prescribing. The AF doctor has seen dh in the past six months and is aware of his dx so she approved it. Dh can also have 21 days respite care in a facility each year. The only thing about that is it will be in another town as our county doesn't have an approved VA facility. I hope he doesn't have to go for any days soon but as I've seen in the past two months so much down hill trend it could come sooner than I think. This came so smoothly I was surprised but so thankful. We live in Tennessee.
Hey flo good I hope it all works out for you. It must be different state to state, and of course, depending on where and when they served. At the risk of repeating, Dado gets 10 hours a week with the Home Aide, and up to 30 days a year in the VA hospital in Honolulu. (taken in 10 day increments) This is off island and will take flying him there and going back, looks like I will maybe get 10 days in December. So it is a bit of a hassle and expense, but hopefully I can do something very nice in those 10 days.
Sounds like that 21 days a year will come in real handy, and I am sure you have to put in many months ahead of time. The Social worker here recommended putting in way ahead even if you are not sure, as you can always change it. Glad you are getting some help flo.