VA geriatrics and extended care services provide veterans with late-in-life care. These services include several programs that help older veterans with everyday tasks if they have a serious illness like mesothelioma. Learn about geriatric services available for veterans with mesothelioma.
What Are VA Geriatrics and VA Extended Care Services?
U.S. veterans with mesothelioma and other chronic illnesses who are entering the later stages of life often require long-term care. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several benefits to help such veterans through their geriatrics and extended care programs.
VA geriatrics and extended care programs include:
- Home-based care
- Hospice services
- Palliative care
Many VA geriatrics and extended care programs can be accessed at a veteran’s home, a nursing home, community sites, and residential settings. Further, geriatrics and extended care programs are not just for veterans — many services provide support for family members and other caregivers.
If you or a loved one is a veteran with mesothelioma, VA geriatric services and other benefits can help greatly. Our team — consisting of fellow American veterans, claims agents, and patient advocates — can help you file for mesothelioma VA benefits right now.
- Disability Claims
- Survivor Benefits
- Health Care
List of VA Geriatric Care Programs
The VA provides many different types of services for veterans who need extended care. Learn about some of the top VA geriatric services that can help veterans with mesothelioma below.
Home-Based Primary Care
Home-based primary care offers medical services to veterans who have complex care needs and can't easily travel to a VA medical center.
Veterans will be assigned a VA health care team (including nurses, physicians, social workers, and more) to meet their needs.
This program also helps veterans experiencing isolation and caregivers who feel overburdened by their duties.
Hospice Care
The VA’s hospice care services help veterans who have six months of life or less make the most of their precious time. Hospice can be recommended for veterans with late-stage mesothelioma.
This program involves a multidisciplinary team that works with veterans and their families to create a plan of care that meets the veteran’s needs.
The VA hospice care program provides:
- Help controlling symptoms
- Palliative care to relieve pain
- Support and bereavement to family members
Social workers, doctors, nurses, psychologists, and other medical professionals may be part of a veteran's hospice care team.
Palliative Care
The VA’s palliative care program focuses on relieving suffering and controlling symptoms to help veterans live as comfortably and happily as possible.
The veteran works with an interdisciplinary team to come up with the best plan of care for them.
A VA palliative care team may include:
- Chaplains
- Mental health providers
- Nurses
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Social workers
Veterans with mesothelioma can access palliative care at any point in their illness. They can continue to see their regular doctors for treatment while getting palliative care.
Skilled Home Health Care
Skilled home health care is a program that brings in VA-paid medical professionals to serve veterans who have special care needs but live far away from VA hospitals. It's usually a temporary service rather than an ongoing one.
Skilled home health care helps veterans who need services such as:
- Case management
- Intravenous (IV) antibiotics
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Wound care
A doctor will determine if a veteran with mesothelioma needs this type of care. If so, medical personnel will meet the veteran in the home.
Our team can help you access VA extended care services and other benefits after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Call (877) 450-8973.
Help for Mesothelioma Caregivers
For many older veterans with mesothelioma, a family member is usually their primary caregiver. However, caring for a loved one with a chronic illness can be taxing.
Fortunately, the VA has multiple caregiver benefits that can help individuals who support veterans living with cancer.
VA caregiver services include:
- Building Better Caregivers: This free online workshop helps caretakers build the practical coping skills needed to care for a veteran at home.
- Caregiver Support Line: This resource connects caregivers with licensed professionals who can help them find VA services, connect with a local caregiver support coordinator, or simply lend a sympathetic ear.
- Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers: This program provides veterans' family members with financial services, health insurance, mental health services, and respite care.
- Peer Support Mentoring Program: This connects caregivers to mentors. The mentors will give tips on providing care and avoiding burnout.
- Respite Care: This is designed to give primary caregivers a break from their daily responsibilities. A third party may enter the home to provide relief, or a veteran could get dropped off at an adult daycare program. In cases where a caregiver will be going out of town, a veteran can stay at a nursing home for a short period.
How Much Will VA Geriatric Services Cost?
How much you'll need to pay for VA geriatric services will depend on the veteran's income, how long they'll need the services, and if the health problem being treated is connected to their military service.
"When you enroll in VA health care, your VA service-connected disability status and income will be reviewed to determine if you will be charged a copay."
— U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans with mesothelioma are usually assigned a 100% disability rating. This means they usually have the lowest co-pays for medical services.
If VA health care won't cover the costs of treatment, private insurance or Medicaid may be used to pay for some of the expenses.
Applying for VA Geriatrics and Extended Care Benefits
Older veterans fighting mesothelioma can find a lot of relief through VA geriatrics and extended care benefits. These services can also make caregiving easier for their family members.
In order to apply for VA geriatrics and extended care benefits, veterans must be enrolled in VA health care.
Our team can help you file for mesothelioma VA health care and other benefits with less stress. Get help filing for VA benefits right now.
FAQs About VA Geriatrics for Mesothelioma
What are the VA benefits for the elderly?
VA geriatrics and extended care services are a series of programs designed to help older veterans.
They include home health care, hospice services, palliative treatments, and more.
All of these services are very important to consider if an older veteran has mesothelioma since this cancer can be quite aggressive and fatal in months.
Does the VA pay for palliative care?
Yes. The VA may pay some or all of the costs of palliative care, which is just one of several VA geriatrics and extended care services.
Palliative care can be very helpful in relieving painful symptoms of mesothelioma. There may be a copay depending on the nature of your case.
How can I access VA geriatrics and extended care for mesothelioma?
To get VA geriatric services for a veteran with mesothelioma, contact our team right now.
We can help you file for key mesothelioma benefits, including VA extended care services, that can help make living with this cancer easier and less stressful.
