Veterans Affairs offers health care benefits for seriously ill

On Nov. 11, the nation marks Veterans Day and thanks them for their service. The Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association takes this opportunity to share some of the resources the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides to seriously ill veterans.

“At the PCHPCA, we hear many stories of satisfied veterans receiving high-quality diagnostic and other care from the VA,” Executive Director Elaine Peck said. “We do not have a VA clinic in Putnam County, but there are clinics in Terre Haute, Martinsville and Brownsburg where veterans can receive health care and information about the benefits for which they may be eligible.”

Several VA benefits are identified below:

1. For veterans who served during a foreign war and meet the income/assets guidelines, VA Aid and Attendance benefits provide monthly financial support to cover the cost of non-medical care such as bathing, eating and grooming. This monthly income is also available to the spouses of these veterans.

2. Medications, artificial limbs, physical therapy and mobility assistance such as wheelchairs may be available at no cost to the veteran.

3. The VA’s hospice benefit does not require a six-month prognosis, and does not require patients to end curative treatment to enroll in hospice. The VA will cover both types of care concurrently, and provides this service both within its own facilities and also in the veteran’s home through collaborations with private community-based hospice and health care providers.

4. The Indiana Veterans’ Home is located in West Lafayette and provides several levels of residential care for veterans. They accept Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and private pay. Veterans with a 70-percent or greater service-connected disability are eligible to receive free nursing care at the facility.

For information about whether persons or their loved ones are eligible to receive these and other VA benefits, they should contact their VA health care provider.

The Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association seeks to enhance the quality of life for the terminally ill, their loved ones and caregivers by educating the community about the benefits of hospice, palliative care and advance care planning.

For more information, visit www.pchpca.org.