My father is a 104 World War II vet. SInce he came to live with us in September, 2014, he has had congestive heart failure and a stroke. He needs a lots more help now with activities of daily living. He can walk using a walker as long as someone walks with him, and can feed himself, but needs help with most other things. He doesn't have dementia or Alzheimer's, thank goodness. The VA has only given my father 10 hours of caregiving per week, which isn't nearly enough. I am having his doctor fill out a new VA form 21-2680. Since this is a new application, is there a case number that I need to put on, which it asks for? My father does get 30 hours a week from Medicaid also, but my husband and I work fulltime on our business at our house and could use more hours in the afternoon for a caregiver to look after my father. My father refuses to go to adult daycare. Private pay for caregivers starts at $15.00 in our area of Virginia, and my father has no savings left. There are no other relatives to help care for him.
The question becomes not the number of hours, but the monthly benefit in dollars. They have limits to the benefit. 10 hours a week is roughly $1000 per month they reimburse you? Create a case of the number of hours he needs and calculate that monthly financial need and submit it. The VSO should be able to help you determine how to best represent the need.
I do not recall the frequency which you can re-apply to adjust benefit / pension amount. For sure yearly, but during the year it may be every 6 months. I would estimate something more than the max benefit in anticipation that his needs will increase and easier to do this once. Again the VSO can help there. Good luck.
http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/Content_atchs/pr/Copy%20of%20Price-Based%20Reimb%20Rates-07%2001%202015-06%2030%202016%20WEB%20Final%20updated.pdf
Have you checked out any of the activities honoring older veterans? I'm not suggesting that he request one of the honor flights to D.C., but I've read in a military newsletter I get that older veterans have been honored, including at the White House.
An event like that would get your father some attention, which might help the VA accelerate processing of his re-application.
In our state, I would recommend that you contact the local ADRC office for Medicaid guidance. Medicaid will pay for home care in order to save the high cost of assisted living. Additionally, there are provisions for relatives to be trained and paid (all eligibility standards must be met). Your local county ADRC can guide you as to the specifics as to when VA is applicable, when Medicare and when/if Medicaid your family might be Medicaid eligible.
The aide and attendance money can be used to hire private caregivers to give you respite in addition to the hours Medicaid gives you.
The fact that he is getting the Medicaid in home assistance means the he has already met the Nursing Home Level of Care and he should get A+A promptly.
Each County in the US has a Veterans Service Office. look them up, they are the door to the program and will assist you in getting the medical records and expediting the process. WWll Vets get priority. You can have both programs and will not lose any benefits.
Good luck.....
If the plan of care by the physician and the care team calculates a stated need for more care hours and if your State authorizes that amount, the short answer is yes, you can have more than 30 hours per week for just one client. Our State mandates a review every 62 days but you can request a review if health changes warrant the screening.
Side note: When there are multiple clients, the incidentals of care cannot be duplicated. The ADLs determine the number of units; the IADLs - instrumental activities of daily living (cooking, driving, managing medicine). The ADLS are essential - caring for and moving the body such as walking, dressing, eating, and hygiene (toileting, bathing).