Veteran Directed Care
Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) gives Veterans of all ages the opportunity to receive the Home and Community Services they need in a consumer-directed way.
Veteran-Directed Care is for Veterans who need assistance with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed) or instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., fixing meals); are isolated, or their caregiver is experiencing burden.
Veterans in this program are given a flexible budget for services that can be managed by the Veteran or the family caregiver. Veteran-Directed Care can be used to help Veterans continue to live at home or in their community.
VDC is part of the Veterans Health Administration Standard Medical Benefits Package. The program is available to Veterans who are in need of nursing home level of care, regardless of service connection or wartime era.
- VA Primary Care Provider identifies that the Veteran is in need of a nursing home level of care but the Veteran wants to remain in their own home environment.
- The Veteran receives their primary care with the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.
- The Veteran and Authorized Veteran Representative agree to allow in-home visits by staff from the assigned Area Agency on Aging, Elder Options.
Services
- Eating
- Getting Dressed
- Personal Grooming
- Bathing
- Using the Bathroom
- Moving from one place to another
- Grocery Shopping
How Does It Work
Instead of receiving VHA funded Home makers/Home Health Aids and in-home Respite, Veterans and their caregivers have more access, choice and control over their home care services or long term care services. For example, Veterans can:
- Decide what mix of services will best meet their needs.
- Hire their own personal care aides (which might include their own family member or neighbor).
- Buy items and services needed to live independently in the community.
You don’t need to do this alone, a Person centered counselor will work with you. Through a partnership between the VHA and the local Area Agency on Aging, Elder Options, you will receive monthly support.
Each local Area Agency on Aging has a person-centered counselor who will come to your home as part of the enrollment process.
The person centered counselor will help you as long as your choose to be enrolled in the VDC program with:
- Developing a spending plan and hiring workers.
- Answering Questions about how the funds can be used.
- Completion of budgets and timecards for your paid employees.
Elder Helpline
You may also call the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center at 352-264-7300, and select Option 3.
