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VA Geriatrics and Extended Care Respite

VA-purchased respite care providing temporary relief for family caregivers of enrolled veterans. Covers up to 30 days per calendar year across in-home respite, adult day health care, and nursing home respite. Available to all enrolled veterans who meet clinical criteria.

Up to 30 days of respite care per calendar year, divisible among service types: (1) Home Respite Care — paid caregiver comes to the veteran's home or veteran attends adult day health care while family caregiver takes a break, (2) Nursing Home Respite Care — veteran stays in a VA or community nursing home temporarily. Days can be divided among types. No direct payment to family caregiver.

Eligibility

  • Care recipient must have a qualifying disability
  • Care recipient must be a veteran

Questions to ask the program

These are questions to ask the program, not a verdict on your eligibility. Confirm the current rules directly with the program.

  • What counts as a qualifying disability or level of care need, and what documentation shows it?
  • Does the veteran’s service history and discharge status fit this program’s rules?
  • Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name. — Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.
  • What documents do you need from us to start an application?
  • Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?

What this record does not yet say

  • copay information
  • geographic availability by vamc

Services

Up to 30 days of respite care per calendar year, divisible among service types: (1) Home Respite Care — paid caregiver comes to the veteran's home or veteran attends adult day health care while family caregiver takes a break, (2) Nursing Home Respite Care — veteran stays in a VA or community nursing home temporarily. Days can be divided among types. No direct payment to family caregiver.

How to apply

  • Contact your VA social worker/case manager to complete the Application for Extended Care Benefits (VA Form 10-10EC); a copay may apply based on service-connected disability status and financial information.