FREE Home Care Is Available Now!
“As a young boy in the mid 80’s, I remember making home visits (off SW 51st & Western) to my then 85 year old, great-grandmother, Mrs. Tennie Frass, also known as ‘Ninny’ to us kids. Today, over 30+ years later it chokes me up knowing that she could have received 40 hours per month of FREE home care services through this unique program AND because she was a widow of a WWII Veteran! However, the care was never introduced…. Why? because no one knew about it.”
Question: Have you heard of a ‘not-so-popular’ benefit called the Aid & Attendance through the VA? In 1952, Congress passed Title 38 of the US code creating the Department of Veteran’s Affair which authorized benefits for Veterans. One of these benefits was the Aid & Attendance (a.k.a. the A & A) that was created to provide non-medical care for those that qualify. An incredibly powerful benefit that covers non-medical expenses of light house cleaning, bathing, meal prep, laundry, transportation, medication reminders, companionship and much more… again, if you ‘qualify.’
Qualification requirements include the following: · over 65 years old · Veteran served 90 days of active duty, one day during a major wartime (i.e. WWII, Korean, Vietnam) · be honorably discharged · have a medical condition causing them to need assistance with ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) · have limited income and assets (excluding home and car)
Fact: Traditional methods of getting ‘entitled’ with the A&A takes an estimated 6-24 months before care starts… why so long you ask? Because most family members don’t understand the precision and articulation of the estimated 15+ pages of VA required forms. When these items are submitted to the VA, in most cases they’re sent incorrectly. So what is our estimated start of care? It ranges from 2-4 weeks! It’s not voodoo or black magic but it does include an experienced staff. Moreover, there are never any hidden fees or upfront costs and remember, once you’re entitled, the benefit can remain in effect for the rest of your life!
“I can only imagine how good life would have been for Ninny had we known about this program so many years ago. My goal today is to NOT allow other ‘Ninny’s’ to go through life without the awareness of such an awesome and available offering!”
This article was submitted by Steve Lee, Founder & Owner and Shelley Degelos, Area Manager in OKC, (siblings). Veterans Aide at Home, is a non-medical home care agency dedicated to Veterans, Spouses and their Widows/ers with coverage in CO, OK and WY. For more info, Shelley Degelos and our OKC office number is 405.415.1444 or email her at: [email protected]