There are several distinct VA avenues to look into, and it's worth pursuing more than one at the same time since they aren't mutually exclusive.
Aid & Attendance (A&A) is a special monthly pension benefit under 38 U.S.C. 1521 and 38 CFR 3.351 for wartime-era veterans (or their surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or supervision due to cognitive impairment. It is needs-based, so income and net worth limits apply, and medical evidence of the need for aid and attendance (often documented on VA Form 21-2680, completed by a physician) is required. The claim is filed on VA Form 21P-527EZ. A&A pension can be used toward the cost of assisted living, memory care, or in-home care, though it rarely covers the full cost.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →Separately, VA's Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) program oversees several long-term care options, including VA Community Living Centers (the VA's own nursing homes), State Veterans Homes (state-run, VA-subsidized facilities that are often less expensive and may have memory care units), and the Veteran-Directed Care program, which lets an eligible veteran manage a VA budget to pay for in-home or community-based services, sometimes including hiring family members as paid caregivers.
Priority for VA-run or VA-subsidized nursing home placement is generally tied to the veteran's service-connected disability rating and specific eligibility criteria, so it helps to know the grandfather's current rating, if any, and whether dementia or another condition has ever been evaluated for service connection.
The most efficient way to cut through the runaround many people experience calling general VA lines is to go directly to the VA Medical Center's Geriatrics and Extended Care social work team, who coordinate placement, Aid & Attendance applications, and State Veterans Home referrals. A County or State Veterans Service Officer (completely free, not the general VA call center) can also help file the A&A pension claim and identify Georgia-specific State Veterans Homes.
Outcomes and waitlists vary significantly by VA medical center and state, so it is not possible to say in advance what will be approved or how quickly.
The concrete next step is to call the nearest VA Medical Center and ask specifically to speak with a Geriatrics and Extended Care social worker, and separately contact a Georgia County Veterans Service Officer to begin an Aid & Attendance pension application.
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