Assisted Living Facilities are places where Veterans can live in a rented room or apartment.
There are some shared living spaces, like a dining room. In some facilities the Veteran could have their own kitchen or kitchenette.
There is a trained caregiver on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This person can help the Veteran with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed). Veterans may also be able to have the VA arrange for a health professional (e.g., a nurse) to visit and give them extra care.
The VA does not pay for the Veteran's rent, which usually includes basic services. However, the VA may pay for some of the extra services the Veteran may need in an Assisted Living Facility.
Assisted Living Facilities are not provided or paid for by VA. Your eligibility is based on clinical need and setting availability. Your VA social worker or case manager may be able to help you with eligibility guidelines.
You will have to pay for the Assisted Living Facility yourself or through other insurance. Your VA social worker/case manager can explain any services that you may be able to get while living in an Assisted Living Facility that could be paid for by VA.
Find out more about Paying for Long Term Care.
Some services are included with the price of renting a room. Other services may be provided by VA or the facility. Most Assisted Living Facilities provide:
For Veterans:
- Help with your activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed)
- Help taking your medications
- Some nursing assistance (varies by state and facility)
- Some or all of your meals (varies from place to place)
- Planned recreational and social activities
For Caregivers:
- Round-the-clock assistance for the Veteran
- Peace of mind when Home and Community Based Services can no longer meet all the Veteran's needs
- A place to enjoy spending time with the Veteran without the daily responsibilities of caregiving
You can also talk with a VA social worker to help decide if you will need extra help from a nurse or aide at the facility.
Deciding to move into an Assisted Living Facility is an important decision for you and your family.
You can use a Shared Decision Making Worksheet to help you figure out what long term care services or settings may best meet your needs now or in the future.
There's also a Caregiver Self-Assessment. It can help your caregiver identify their own needs and decide how much support they can offer to you. Having this information from your caregiver, along with the involvement of your care team and social worker, will help you reach good long term care decisions.
Your physician or other primary care provider can answer questions about your medical needs. Some important questions to talk about with your social worker and family include:
- How much assistance do I need for my activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed)?
- What are my caregiver's needs?
- How much independence and privacy do I want?
- What sort of social interactions are important to me?
- How much can I afford to pay for care each month?
If an Assisted Living seems right for you, your VA social worker may be able to help you locate options in your community.
You can also use the Helpful Websites listed in the Guide to Long Term Care to help you locate facilities in your community.
At the Assisted Living Facility I can be social or have my privacy. I enjoy doing some cooking for myself and knowing my family can go about their busy lives without worrying about me.
Lucille, Veteran
I travel a lot for my job. It helps me sleep better at night knowing that my dad is not alone and that he's getting the help he needs.
Don, Veteran's son and caregiver
