Receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be devastating for both seniors and their loved ones.
Research is finding that veterans who experience TBIs and PTSD are at risk for cognitive problems later in life.
As veterans who served in conflicts from World War II to the Gulf War and beyond. Reach mature ages and many experience Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
VA Programs for Memory Care
Veterans who qualify for VA Healthcare have access to a wide variety of help with the treatment of dementia. Often times, the VA allows a veteran to use multiple programs at once.
Even if there’s no obvious connection between dementia and the veteran’s time in service. He or she may still be eligible for some VA Healthcare or pension benefits.
As patients enter the late stages of dementia, they often need more support for activities of daily living (ADLs). They may pay for a community aid agency to send a trained aide to your home if the veteran needs 3 or more ADLs.
These can include:
- eating
- bathing
- moving around in the home
Managing Care
Programs that are most helpful can include:
- Veteran Directed Home Based Care
- Community nursing homes
- State veteran nursing home
- Aid & attendant benefits
Other programs help with providing:
- Home improvements to age in place
- Skilled home care
- Telehealth
- Palliative care teams
- Hospice
There’s also respite care, where a temporary caregiver steps in to give family members a break.
Respite care can be a regular part of a care plan, or it can be a rarely-used service that comes in handy during stressful times.
One of the most loving things you can do for a veteran with dementia is to connect them to the care that’s best for them.
Thank you to MemoryCare.com for this content!
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