VA provides nursing home services to veterans through three national programs:
- VA owned and operated Community Living Centers
- State Veterans' Homes, owned and operated by the states
- The community nursing home program.
Each program has different admission and eligibility criteria.
Nursing home care is available for veterans who need nursing home care for a service-connected disability, those who have a 70% or greater service-connected disability, or those with a rating of total disability based on individual unemployability.
VA provided nursing home care for all other veterans is on a case-by-case basis and based on the individual situation.
VA Community Living Centers
A Community Living Center (CLC) is designed to resemble home as much as possible. There are activities for veterans of all ages, veterans are allowed to decorate their rooms, and keep pets. There are more than 130 CLCs, most are located near VA hospitals.
Veterans may stay for a short time or, in rare instances, for the rest of their life. It is a place where they can receive nursing home level of care, which includes help with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed) and skilled nursing and medical care.
Some of the services provided at CLCs include:
- 24-hour skilled nursing care (e.g., help with a wound or IV care)
- Restorative care
- Access to social work services
- Geriatric evaluation and management
- Mental health recovery care
- Special care for veterans with dementia or other cognitive deficits
- Respite care
- Palliative and hospice care for end of life
A copay may be charged for CLC care based on VA service-connected disability status and financial information.
State Veterans' Home Program
State Veterans homes are owned and operated by individual states. The states establish eligibility criteria and determine services offered for short and long-term care.
VA pays a portion of the veteran's cost if the state meets VA standards.
Specialized services offered are dependent upon the capability of the home to render them.
Please visit our State Veterans Benefits page for locations and details.
Community Nursing Home Program
The VA establishes contracts with community nursing homes. This program helps meet the needs of veterans who require long-term nursing home care in their own community and meet the enrollment and eligibility requirements.
The VA will only pay for Community Nursing Home care for those who meet eligibility criteria including service connected status, level of disability, and income.
Other Care Options
In addition to nursing home care, VA offers a variety of other long-term care services either directly or by contract with community-based agencies. Such services include
- Medical foster homes
- Adult family homes
- Assisted living
- Adult day health care
- Home based primary care
- Homemaker and home health aide care
- Palliative and hospice care
- Respite care
- Skilled home health care
- Telehealth care
- Veteran-directed care
For More Information
For more details check out the VA's website.
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