Finding Your Way Around the VA: Personal Care Services for Veterans

Navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can sometimes feel overwhelming, but a wide range of programs exist to support veterans with personal care needs. Whether it’s in-home support, respite care, or caregiver assistance, these services are designed to help veterans maintain independence, dignity, and quality of life.

The VA at a Glance

The VA is made up of three main branches, each with a different focus:

• Veterans Health Administration (VHA): Provides medical services and health programs.
• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA): Offers financial and educational benefits.
• National Cemetery Administration (NCA): Oversees burial and memorial benefits.

For general resources, veterans and families can visit www.va.gov

Who Helps Veterans Navigate Care?

VA Social Workers are often the first point of connection when veterans or their families need help understanding and accessing resources. They work in:

• Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs): Primary care teams providing comprehensive, coordinated services.
• Specialty Clinics: Focused on specific health conditions and needs.

Social workers can guide veterans through eligibility, enrollment, and connections to local programs.

Programs Providing Personal Care Services

The VA offers multiple options to meet veterans’ health and daily living needs, including:

• Adult Day Health Care (ADHC): Daytime health and social programs for veterans.
• Aid & Attendance (A&A): Financial assistance for veterans who need daily personal care.
• Community Nursing Home (CNH): Long-term care in contracted nursing facilities.
• Community Residential Care (CRC): Supervised housing for veterans unable to live alone safely.
• Home Based Primary Care (HBPC): In-home care for veterans with complex medical needs.
• Homemaker/Home Health Aide (H/HHA): Personal care support in the home.
• Home Hospice: Compassionate, end-of-life care delivered at home.
• Medical Foster Home (MFH): A family-style alternative to nursing home placement.
• Family Caregiver Support Programs: Comprehensive support for family caregivers.
• Respite Care: Short-term relief for caregivers, either at home or in a facility.
• SCI Bowel & Bladder (B&B) Program: Specialized care for veterans with spinal cord injuries.
• Skilled Home Care: Clinical health services delivered in the home.
• Veteran Directed Care (VDC): Empowers veterans to manage their own in-home care budgets.

How Griswold Home Care for North San Diego Can Help

Many veterans and families don’t realize that VA benefits can be paired with in-home care services from licensed providers like Griswold Home Care. Our care partners can support veterans by:

• Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming, and mobility.
• Providing meal preparation, light housekeeping, and errands to maintain independence.
• Offering respite care to give family caregivers a much-needed break.
• Supporting participation in VA programs by coordinating services alongside VA social workers.

As a VA Community Care Network provider, we are uniquely positioned to help families access and maximize VA caregiver resources while delivering compassionate, professional in-home support.

Need support navigating VA personal care services in San Diego? Call us today at 858-240-2074 to learn how we can help.