Ask the Expert- Are There Any Veterans Benefits That Can Help My Father?
Published: Sat, 05/25/13
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Ask the Expert- Your Elder Law Questions Answered by Evan H. Farr, CELA |
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Ask the Expert- Are There Any Veterans Benefits That Can Help My Father?
 Q. My dad is a 72 year old Vietnam Veteran who recently suffered a stroke. He has some leg weakness from an injury he sustained during his time in Vietnam and has been in and out of rehabilitation ever since. The effect of the stroke and the weakness he feels in his leg has made it difficult for him to take care of himself. He is eager to remain at home where he lives alone, but is concerned he won't be able to manage without help. I live two hours away and can visit only twice a month. I am concerned about my father's ability to live alone, but in-home care is not affordable for the family at this time. Are there any Veteran's benefits that can help my father?
A. First, this Memorial Day we want to take a moment to extend a big THANK YOU to your father, and all those who are now serving or have previously served our country. Memorial Day and Veterans Day are a reminder of the many brave people who give their lives to defend our country. Thank you for your service and for protecting our freedoms.
Millions of veterans and their families--our nation's greatest heroes--are eligible for Veterans benefits but they do not know about them or take advantage of them. This could be because there is confusion over the benefits available, eligibility requirements, and the complexity of the application process itself.
Your father may be eligible for the Veterans Administration (VA) Aid and Attendance pension program. It is available to veterans, or their widowed spouses, if they meet the eligibility requirements (listed below). For an eligible veteran or widowed spouse, the Aid and Attendance benefit pays up to $2,054 for the veteran and over $1,113 to the spouse to assist with medical expenses and the cost of long-term care.
This Aid and Attendance benefit can be used to help pay for professional care in the home, assisted living rent, nursing care, prescription drugs, insurance premiums, copays and much more.
Since your father is over age 65, there is no requirement to prove disability. However, he must be in need of regular aid and attendance due to: Inability to dress or undress himself, or to keep himself ordinarily clean and presentable; frequent need of adjustment of any special prosthetic or orthopedic appliances which by reason of the particular disability cannot be done without aid (this will not include the adjustment of appliances which normal persons would be unable to adjust without aid, such as supports, belts, lacing at the back etc.); inability to feed himself through loss of coordination of upper extremities or through extreme weakness; inability to attend to the wants of nature; or incapacity, physical or mental, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect the claimant from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment.
Not all of the disabling conditions in the list above are required to exist. It is only necessary that the evidence establish that he needs "regular" (scheduled and ongoing) aid and attendance from someone else, not that there be a 24-hour need. Determinations of need for the Aid and Attendance benefit are based on medical reports and findings by private physicians or from hospital facilities.
Although your father may be eligible for the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit now, he may also need Medicaid for in-home care or eventually, nursing home care. Evan H. Farr is an Accredited Attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs who understands both the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and the Medicaid program and the interaction between both benefit programs.
If you are a Veteran or spouse of a Veteran and you need assistance, make an appointment for a free consultation. We can work with you to evaluate whether you qualify for The Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and help you file the paperwork. Call The Fairfax Veteran's Benefits Law Firm of Evan H. Farr at 703-691-1888 to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation.
 Critter Corner- Featuring Ernie and Jannette
Dear Ernie and Jannette,
I have had a lot of moments of forgetfulness lately. Sometimes, I call my wife "Florence" by the dog's name, which is "Fido" and vice versa (and have to sleep on the couch when I do). I lose my glasses and keys at least five times a day, and recently had a letter sent back to me because I forgot to put a stamp on it. Are these memory lapses just "senior moments," or could they be something more? Don Raymond Burr ------ Dear Don, Everyone experiences "senior moments" or "tip-of-the-tongue" experiences, like forgetting where you parked your car or the name of an acquaintance you see on the street. Jannette once called me Big Red (the name of the Betta fish) and I forgave her. The question is, when are these forgetful moments an indication of a need to be evaluated for a cognitive problem, such as Alzheimer's or dementia? The risk of mild cognitive disorder and dementia increases with age; Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia. About 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's. Some studies estimate that a person's risk of developing the disease doubles every five years after age 65. It seems memory lapses start in our 20s, even though we probably don't admit them to ourselves. In the Neurobiology of Aging Journal, psychologists asked about 2,000 participants to engage in memory tests. The top performers were 22 years old. Researchers saw a notable decline in the ability to make rapid comparisons, remember unrelated information and detect relationships by age 27. A weakening memory can usually be detected by the late 30's, according to the study findings. Some people turn to "brain calisthenics" such as crossword puzzles, playing music, or learning a new language to stay sharp. Scientists found that people who did 11 of such activities a week delayed rapid memory loss by about 1.3 years compared with those who did just four a week. Discussing with your physician any issues of memory loss is better done sooner than later. Not only may there be treatment that will assist in prolonging your memory, your doctor may uncover other causes and issues, such as depression, stress, or a thyroid or other disorder. What if you or a loved one has Alzheimer's or another form of dementia? At The Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C., we are dedicated to easing the financial and emotional burden on those suffering from Alzheimer's or other forms or dementia. We can help you prepare for your future financial and long-term care needs. We help protect your hard-earned assets while maintaining your comfort, dignity, and quality of life by ensuring your eligibility for critical government benefits. Call 703-691-1888 today to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation. Ribbits, Ernie About Ernie and Jannette: African dwarf frogs Ernie and Jannette have lived at The Farr Law Firm for about two years, and they belong to Evan and Jeannie Farr. They reside on Jeannie's desk, and love socializing with Big Red the Betta fish and greeting all of the clients that come to the firm. |
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