Written by Isaac F. Davis,

Many elderly veterans, like those injured in battle, have conditions that may require long-term care.  Many elderly veterans who are homeowners assume that certain long-term healthcare needs will eventually force them to sell their houses and move into nursing facilities to receive the proper care. 

In fact, elderly veterans with long-term care needs should not shy away from staying in their homes or even buying a new home with a VA loan.  The VA provides benefits for elderly homeowners with long-term care needs. 

Such VA benefits allow elderly veterans with long-term care requirements to receive health and other services in the comfort of their own homes. 

Certain conditions and health indicators will qualify an elderly veteran for these in-home services as long as he or she is enrolled in the VA health care system. Certain other requirements must be met for veterans to have access to an array of geriatric and extended care services.  The VA health care staff can identify veterans in need of these in-home services.   

Many elderly homeowners have difficulty leaving the house.  That’s why the VA services are supportive of most veterans’ needs and desires to remain in their homes and communities as long as possible. 

With long-term care being an essential part of many elderly veterans’ needs, the VA provides extended in-home care that includes home-based primary care, purchased skilled home care, homemaker and home health aide services, home respite care, home hospice care and community residential care.