VA Home Health Aide & Respite Services

VA Home Health Aide Services (HHA)

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOMEMAKERS PROGRAM:

The primary objective of the homemaker program is to improve/maintain the patient’s safety and ability to remain in their home as long as feasible by providing needed assist w/basic ADL’s and IADL’s, thus avoiding or delaying the need for nursing home care.

Homemaker services are intended to provide visits of 3 hours or less throughout the week to meet hygiene needs safely.

Generally Veterans who qualify will receive 6 hours of visit spread over the week. Some Veterans will qualify for the maximum of 9 hours per week.

VA Respite Care

VA IN HOME RESPITE PROGRAM

The primary objective of the in home respite services is to provide needed relief for the Veteran’s family of the in-home respite services is to provide needed relief for the Veteran’s family/non paid caregivers for Veterans who cannot be safely left alone/unsupervised while the family member is occupied or absent.

The in home respite program provides one 4 hour visit every other week.

For all referrals to VA pay homemaker or respite program, the payer source is the VA. If the payer wants to use another source that will be between the Agency and the Veteran/Veteran’s representative or other insurance (such as in private duty arrangements etc.).

Qualifying Criteria

HOMEMAKER CRITERIA

Dependent in 3 or more primary ADL’s	Significant cognitive impairment
Currently using community hospice services	Dependent in 2 primary ADL’s & has 2 or more other qualifying factors

PRIMARY ADL’S:

Bathing	Dressing	Toileting
Transfers	Continence	Feeding

IADL’S:

Using the phone	Shopping	Food Preparation	Laundry
Transportation	Housekeeping	Finances	Medication Reminders

OTHER QUALIFYING FACTORS:

Dependent in 3 or more ADL’s	Recently D/C From a Nursing Home	75 years or older	Diagnosed with depression
Lives Alone	3 or more hospitalizations	12 or more ED visits in the past 12 months