Vietnam Veteran’s Day was celebrated in August, making it a good time to dive into all the help war veterans can receive when accessing Australian aged care services.
Help with finances
If you move into a residential aged care facility, aged care fees will be payable for every day you spend in your aged care home. These include the basic daily fee (which covers your daily living costs, such as meals, power and laundry) and the means-tested care fee (which is a contribution to the cost of your care based on your income and assets). Eligible veterans can get some help with these fees, however. If you’re an eligible former Prisoner of War (POW) or Victoria Cross (VC) recipient, the DVA will pay your basic daily fee. Likewise, eligible former POWs and VC recipients are exempt from paying the means-tested care fee. DVA will organise these payments with your provider.
As well, if you have a service-related mental health condition accepted by DVA, your aged care provider may receive extra funding (The Veterans’ Supplement in Residential Care) to help provide you with appropriate care for your condition. As well, those with a service-related mental health condition who are still living at home may be entitled to the Veterans’ Supplement in Home Care – extra funding paid to your provider to allow them to provide you with appropriate care.
Help with care
The Department of Veteran’s Affairs offers a range of entry level aged and community care services for veterans. These include:
The Veterans’ Home Care Program (VHC)
This program, conducted in your home, provides services such as personal care, domestic assistance, respite care, lawn mowing and safety-related home and garden maintenance for holders of a Veteran Gold or White Card. You will need an assessment from the VHC (call 1300 550 450) to access this service.
Community Nursing Program
This program, also delivered in your home, provides required clinical nursing and personal care such as wound care, hygiene and medication management for holders of a Veteran Gold or White Card. These services also require a referral from a health professional to a DVA-approved community nursing provider.
Other services
There are a number of other care services available for eligible veterans and war widows/widowers, including:
- Allied health care and services (click here to discover exactly what services are available)
- The Rehabilitation Appliance Program, which provides equipment, aids and modifications
- The Coordinated Veteran’s Care (CVC) Program, which helps manage chronic conditions
- Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling, which provides mental health support services
- Assistance with transport for medical treatment
- Veterans’ Access Network
As long as you don’t receive the same service from both, senior veterans or war widows/widowers may actually be able to access aged care services from My Aged Care and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) at the same time.
Help with access
If you need help accessing appropriate health and aged care services, there are a range of handy resources (including books, videos and webinars) available here.
To find out more about aged care services for the senior veteran community, click here, or call DVA on 1800 838 372 (1800 VETERAN) or go to the website.
