Area Agency on Aging

VETERAN ENHANCED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

The Veteran Enhanced Transportation Service (V.E.T.S.) is a volunteer transportation program for veterans and their spouses, age 55 or older, who are unable to transport themselves to doctors’ offices or pharmacies. This program is administered through a community partnership between the Prince William Area Agency on Aging (Agency) and Volunteer Prince William’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Call 703-792-6374 for more information.

VETERAN DIRECT CARE

(FORMALLY KNOWN AS VETERAN-DIRECTED HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES (VDHCBS) PROGRAM)

 

The Prince William Area Agency on Aging, in partnership with the Veterans Health Administration and Aging Network Agencies are working with Veterans of all ages under a contracted service with VAMC-DC and Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC-Richmond. The VDHCBS Program is a service program for veterans of any age, who are determined and referred by the Veterans Health Administration, to be at-risk of institutional placement and desire self-directed care. In other words, the program is designed to allow veterans who are potential candidates for nursing home placement to receive that level of care in their homes.

Eligible veterans, in coordination with a Prince William Area Agency on Aging Supportive Services Specialist, are able to manage a flexible budget, decide for themselves what mix of services will best meet their personal care needs, hire their own personal care aides, including family or neighbors, and purchase items or services in order to live independently in the community.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES COVERED

VDHCBS programs will pay for a very wide range of services and goods. Any product or service that is required for the participant’s care, health maintenance, or improves the participant’s ability to live independently, will usually be covered by the program. The following is a list of products and services that are typically included.

• Adult day care

• Caregiver education, training and support

• Chore and maintenance services such as yard trash, debris and snow removal

• Electronic monitoring products and services such as room and bed monitors, voice-activated phones and emergency response systems

• Home modifications such as bathroom grab bars, railings, wheelchair ramps and vehicle modifications

• Health maintenance costs such as health counseling, massage therapy, weight reduction programs and health club memberships

• Homemaker services such as laundry, house, kitchen and bath cleaning

• Personal care services which includes assistance with bathing, toileting, personal grooming and dressing

• Other services or products needed in the home to keep the veteran living independently

• Respite care in-home, out-of-home and overnight

• Nutritional services such as home delivered meals and supplements provided they have been prescribed by a physician or dietitian

• Home safety services

• Shopping, errand and escort assistance

• Socialization support services such as having a caregiver accompany the veteran to education or exercise classes and on social engagements

• Transportation required for socialization support or medical support activities

HOW THE VDHCBS PROGRAM WORKS

1. The veteran, working with family and a Supportive Services Specialist from the Prince William Area Agency on Aging, develops a Service Plan outlining the services, supports, supplies and estimated budget for the veteran to live at home or in the community instead of a nursing home. 2. The veterans submit their Care Plan for approval to the administering agency. The Plan is reviewed and any required modifications, are agreed upon through a collaborative back-and-forth process. In conclusion a spending budget is established for the veteran. 3. The veteran hires and schedules all care providers, services providers, and necessary supplies. Typically a veteran may hire relatives and friends to provide personal care services, with the exception of their spouses or legal guardians. Hired care providers are expected to pay taxes for the wages received. 4. The administering agency provides a Financial Management Service (FMS) that pays for care and issues checks to the service providers and / or reimbursement for goods purchased with pre-approval. Payments made to care and service providers are authorized by both the veteran and the FMS. VDHCBS programs are not appropriate for everyone. A substantial amount of effort is required of the veteran and their family in the determination of care requirements, selection of providers and ongoing management of the care services. However, for many families the independence to choose care providers, the potential to pay family members for their assistance, and the ability for the veteran to continue living at home make participation in this program well worth the effort.

RESOURCES

Veterans in the tri-jurisdictional area of Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County are eligible to participate once they have been referred by the Veterans Health Administration divisions of VAMC-DC and Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC-Richmond.

For additional information about the program, please contact:
Prince William Area Agency on Aging
703-792-6374

For more information on the VDHDBS program visit the Department of Veterans Affairs' Guide to Long Term Care.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of benefits and services that provide financial and other forms of assistance to Service members, Veterans, their dependents and survivors. For more information visit www.va.gov.