VA Caregiver Benefits and Services National Lifespan Respite Conference October 26, 2010 Baltimore, MD

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Thomas Benson
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1 VA Caregiver Benefits and Services 2010 National Lifespan Respite Conference October 26, 2010 Baltimore, MD

2 Caregivers of Veterans 2

3 Current VA Services In-Home Care Homemaker Home Health Services Skilled Home Care Home Based Primary Care Veteran Directed Home & Community Based Care Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Bowel & Bladder Care Respite Care In Home Volunteer Network Adult Day Health Care Institutional Placement Additional Benefits Equipment Home Adaptation Automobile Grant Transportation Assistance Increased Veteran Pension and Compensation Aid & Attendance 3

4 Education, Training and Support Caregiver Education and Training Pre-Discharge Care Instruction Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Polytrauma Rehabilitation Blind Rehabilitation Family Psycho-education MyHealtheVet Caregiver Assistance Healthy Living Center Caregiver Information on VA Health Website Brochures and written materials Family Support Services Support Groups Family Counseling Spiritual and Pastoral Care Family Leisure and Recreation Activities Temporary Lodging Fisher Houses 4

5 Caregiver Assistance Pilot Programs Congressional Mandate for Caregiver Pilots VA Allocated $5 million RFP April 2007 with 52 Proposals Submitted 8 Pilots selected for 3 year funding 39 VA medical centers participated Over 1400 Veteran/Caregiver dyads served Used to identify best practices 5

6 Lessons Learned Caregiver Support Pilots Supportive services improve quality of life Reduction in healthcare utilization Veteran/Caregiver centric multi-component approach Menu of short and long-term interventions Focused intervention at critical times Technology based interventions work Unique challenges of OEF/OIF caregivers 6

7 REACH VA Six month intensive intervention 12 in-home sessions, 5 telephone support group sessions Focus on: Education and training Safety Health and well-being Behavior management 7

8 Transition Assistance Program One in person session, four follow-up phone calls Focus on: Skill development Education Supportive problem solving 8

9 Powerful Tools for Caregivers In person, six week psycho-educational class Focus on: Self efficacy Empowerment Problem solving Stress reduction Communication skills Setting goals 9

10 Caregiver Support Points of Contact At all VISN offices and VA medical centers Clinical experts on caregiver issues including VA and non-va resources that are available for Veterans and caregivers at home Organize caregiver focused activities and services Ensure that caregiver awareness is integrated into all programs

11 Key Assumptions VA relies on family caregivers to prevent institutionalization of Veterans Family caregiving has significant challenges Supporting caregivers helps Veterans Caregivers are individuals with needs Caregiver sensitivity and awareness is important in all programs Integrating family caregivers into treatment teams is part of Veteran Centered Care 11

12 Eligibility for P.L Sections P.L Section 101 Veteran Eligibility Criteria: Veteran who suffered a serious injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after 9/11/01 including traumatic brain injury and psychological trauma or other mental disorder and Is in need of personal care services because of an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living; a need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury; or such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate General Caregiver benefits include all era Veterans 12

13 All General Caregivers Receive: All Eras In person education Interactive website Telehealth training Teaching techniques, strategies, and skills for caring Counseling and other services under 1782 Respite care under 1720B Information on all available services Family Caregivers Additionally Receive: Post 9-11 Only Appropriate instruction and training Travel, lodging, and per diem for training Lodging and subsistence for appointments Respite care during training Ongoing technical support Counseling Primary Family Caregiver Additionally Receive: Post 9-11 Only Monthly caregiver stipend Appropriate Mental health services Health care coverage 13

14 P.L Benefits Sections Currently Provide* General Caregiver Services Education and training Counseling Support Groups Lodging if Veteran present Fisher Houses Respite Care Home Based Primary Care Telehealth Non-Institutional Care Caregiver Healthy Living Center MyHealtheVet Caregiver information on VA Health Website New Benefits Post 9/11 Primary Caregiver Caregiver stipend Formalized training program Validation of competencies On-going monitoring Health care coverage Mental health services Travel, lodging, subsistence and respite for training and for hospital stays Additional Family Caregivers Formalized training Travel, lodging, subsistence and respite for training and hospital stays *programs will need to be expanded to meet requirements of the Law 14

15 Moving Forward Focus on both Veteran and Caregiver Well-Being Assessment of eligibility clinically based National criteria for eligibility based on Veteran s deficits in functional capabilities and need for assistance Standardized caregiver curriculum and core training In home support and training National tracking to ensure consistency 15

16 Timeframes Implementation Plan due to Congress within 180 days of enactment (11/2010) Programs commence within 270 days of enactment (02/2011) Comprehensive report on implementation at two years Within two years: assessment of feasibility and advisability of expansion to all era Veterans Annual report each year thereafter 16

17 Thank you! Heather Mahoney-Gleason

Access to VA Caregiving Benefits for Veterans with Disabilities. Presented by

Access to VA Caregiving Benefits for Veterans with Disabilities Presented by Presenters Heather L. Ansley, Esq., MSW Vice President & Christopher Neiweem Director of Veterans Policy Questions To ask a