The primary avenue for arranging in-home care is through the VA’s **Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC)** services, which you must access by first ensuring your father is enrolled in VA health care (38 CFR 17.38). The core program is **VA Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)**, which includes skilled home health care, homemaker/home health aide services, and home-based primary care, all contingent upon a clinical need assessment and care coordinator approval. For non-medical custodial care, the **Veteran Directed Care (VDC)** program (CFR 71.50) is a flexible option that provides a budget for veterans to hire their own caregivers, including family members. To fund long-term in-home care, determine eligibility for the **Aid and Attendance (A&A)** pension benefit (38 CFR 3.352), a monthly monetary allowance added to a VA Pension for veterans requiring the regular aid of another person to perform activities of daily living; this can be used to pay for private in-home care. Actionable steps are: 1) Contact your local VA Medical Center and ask for the **Geriatrics and Extended Care** social worker or call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274; 2) Request a comprehensive clinical assessment for HCBS eligibility; 3) For A&A, work with an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to complete VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) and submit it with your pension claim; 4) Explore state Veterans Affairs offices via the NCOA.org resource for additional local programs and assistance. *This information is for educational purposes regarding VA benefits and is not intended as legal or medical advice; for case-specific guidance, consult an accredited VSO, VA clinician, or legal professional.*
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