Indiana veterans who need home care, a nursing home, or help with daily living can tap six VA long-term care programs, plus Aid and Attendance payments of up to $2,874 a month. Most families never learn the full picture. If your loved one is a veteran, the challenge usually isn't eligibility. It's knowing what to ask for.

This guide covers every VA program that helps pay for or provide senior care, how to access them in Indiana, and what happens when VA care isn't enough on its own.

In This Guide

VA Senior Care Benefits: Long-Term Care Programs

The VA offers multiple long-term care programs. Eligibility for each depends on the veteran's enrollment priority group, service-connected disabilities, and clinical need.

Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)

A VA physician supervises a health care team that visits the veteran at home. HBPC is designed for veterans with complex medical needs who have difficulty getting to a clinic regularly. The team typically includes a doctor, nurse, social worker, and may include rehabilitation therapists and a dietitian.

This isn't the same as home health care through Medicare. HBPC provides ongoing, coordinated primary care at home, not just short-term skilled visits. For veterans who qualify, it's one of the best programs the VA offers.

Adult Day Health Care

Veterans attend a structured daytime program that provides health monitoring, social activities, rehabilitation services, and meals. It also gives family caregivers reliable daytime relief. Programs may be at VA facilities or contracted community adult day centers.

Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Homes)

Community Living Centers are VA-run nursing homes providing full nursing facility care, including help with daily activities and skilled nursing. There are over 100 CLCs across the country, located at larger VA medical centers. They serve veterans who need short-term rehabilitation (after surgery or hospitalization), long-term nursing care, hospice care, or respite care.

Community Nursing Home Program

The VA contracts with community (non-VA) nursing homes to provide care for veterans who need nursing home services but live far from a CLC or when CLC beds aren't available. The VA covers the cost for eligible veterans.

Respite Care

The VA provides at least 30 days of respite care per year for caregivers of enrolled veterans. Respite can be in-home, where a substitute caregiver comes to the house, or facility-based, where the veteran stays temporarily in a CLC or community nursing home. Contact the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.

Not sure which VA program fits your family's situation? Chat with Brevy to get a personalized recommendation.

The Indiana Veterans' Home

Indiana operates one state veterans home, the Indiana Veterans' Home (IVH) in West Lafayette, on a campus of more than 250 acres. Operating since 1896, it offers skilled nursing care, long-term residential care, short-term rehabilitation, and memory care. It falls under the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA).

Eligibility to apply extends to an honorably discharged veteran, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse, and Gold Star parents. Applicants generally must have been an Indiana resident for at least one year immediately before applying, though residency waivers may apply for those who enlisted from or were discharged to Indiana. There is no wartime-service requirement; all periods of service are accepted, and all applicants must pass a criminal background check.

Applications and current details are available from the IVH Admissions and Marketing Department at 765-497-8072. You can learn more through the Indiana Veterans' Home and the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA Aid and Attendance

The Aid and Attendance pension is a monthly cash benefit for veterans (or surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities. It is paid as an increased amount added to a qualified veteran's or survivor's VA pension, not as a standalone benefit.

2026 Rates

Category Monthly Amount
Veteran alone Up to $2,424
Veteran with spouse Up to $2,874
Two married veterans Up to $3,845
Surviving spouse Up to $1,558
Housebound (veteran alone) Up to $1,776

Who Qualifies

To be eligible, the veteran must have:

  • Served during a wartime period
  • Be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled
  • Need help with at least one daily activity, such as bathing, dressing, or feeding
  • Have a net worth below $163,699 (including assets, not counting the primary home)

The VA enforces a 3-year look-back period on asset transfers for less than fair market value.

How to Apply

Apply using VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) and Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Pension). Processing typically takes 3 to 6 months.

You don't have to file this on your own. The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs and certified County Veterans Service Officers provide free help with VA claims, and their experience with the paperwork can meaningfully improve your chances of approval.

For the full application walkthrough, see our VA Aid and Attendance guide.

Veteran-Directed Care

The Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) program gives veterans a flexible budget to hire their own caregivers, including family members. The veteran (or their representative) decides who provides care, what services to purchase, and how to manage the budget.

A financial management services provider handles payroll and employer responsibilities. This is a good option for veterans who want control over their care and prefer family members as caregivers.

Contact your local VA medical center's social work department to ask about VDC availability in your area.

Community Care Through the MISSION Act

The MISSION Act (2018) expanded when veterans can receive care from community (non-VA) providers. You may be eligible for community care if:

  • The VA can't offer an appointment within 20 days (primary care/mental health) or 28 days (specialty care)
  • The drive to a VA facility exceeds 30 minutes (primary care) or 60 minutes (specialty care)
  • The care you need isn't available at your VA facility
  • Community care is in your best medical interest

In 2025, the Senator Elizabeth Dole Act removed a second-physician review step, making it faster for eligible veterans to access community care.

For Indiana veterans in rural areas far from a VA medical center, the MISSION Act can be the difference between getting timely care and waiting months.

How VA Benefits Work with Medicare and Medicaid

VA benefits don't replace Medicare or Medicaid. They work alongside them.

  • VA + Medicare: Many veterans use both. Medicare covers care from non-VA providers, while VA covers care at VA facilities. You can't bill both for the same service, but having both gives you more options.
  • VA + Medicaid: Indiana Medicaid covers long-term care for low-income aged, blind, and disabled residents through nursing facility coverage and home- and community-based pathways, including the Indiana PathWays for Aging program for members age 60 and older. Under general federal rules, VA pension (including the A&A increase) counts as income, but unreimbursed medical expenses the veteran actually pays out of pocket can reduce the income that counts for VA pension purposes.
  • The Indiana Veterans' Home serves veterans across care levels and can layer with other coverage depending on the resident's situation.

Because how a VA pension is treated for Medicaid eligibility depends on the specific Medicaid pathway and a household's circumstances, families should confirm their situation with a County Veterans Service Officer and the Indiana Medicaid eligibility office before relying on any single rule.

How to Get Started

1
Step 1

Confirm VA health care enrollment

If the veteran isn't already enrolled in VA health care, apply at va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply. The VA assigns a priority group (1-8) based on service-connected disabilities, income, and other factors. Higher priority groups get more benefits with lower or no copays.

2
Step 2

Get free help

Don't file claims or applications alone. The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs assists Hoosier veterans, dependents, and survivors in obtaining the benefits due them under state and federal law, and certified County Veterans Service Officers in Indiana counties complete federal and state benefit applications on a veteran's behalf at no charge. Your local VA medical center can help as well.

3
Step 3

Gather records

You'll need the veteran's DD-214 (discharge papers), medical records documenting the need for care, and financial information. If you can't find the DD-214, the National Personnel Records Center can provide copies (request through va.gov).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be service-connected disabled to get VA long-term care?

Not for all programs. Veterans with a high service-connected disability rating get priority access to VA long-term care, often at no cost, but other enrolled veterans can access many programs too, depending on their priority group and available resources. Aid and Attendance doesn't require a service-connected disability at all; it requires wartime service, age or disability, and need for help with daily activities.

Can a veteran's spouse live in the Indiana Veterans' Home?

In some cases, yes. The Indiana Veterans' Home accepts applications from an honorably discharged veteran, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse, and Gold Star parents, subject to residency and background-check requirements. Contact the IVH Admissions and Marketing Department at 765-497-8072 for current admission policies.

How long does it take to get Aid and Attendance approved?

Typically 3 to 6 months from application to first payment. Working with an Indiana County Veterans Service Officer or accredited representative can speed up the process and reduce the chance of errors that cause delays. You can apply while your loved one is already receiving care.

Does the VA pay for assisted living?

The VA doesn't directly operate assisted living facilities, but Aid and Attendance payments can be used to pay for assisted living. The Veteran-Directed Care program can also fund assisted living services. And if the veteran qualifies for Indiana Medicaid, home- and community-based pathways such as PathWays for Aging may cover care services depending on the setting and the member's needs.

Next Steps

If you're caring for a veteran who needs help, start by contacting the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs or your County Veterans Service Officer. They can assess which benefits apply and help you file at no cost.

Learn More

VA BenefitsVA Aid and Attendance in IndianaVA Aid and Attendance in Indiana for 2026: who qualifies, monthly rates up to $2,874, how to apply, and free help from IDVA and county service officers. MedicaidMedicaid Planning StrategiesSee which assets you keep, how the 5-year look-back works, and the legal moves that qualify you for Medicaid long-term care without losing the house. Care TypesHome Care vs Home Health in IndianaHome care vs. home health in Indiana: home health is skilled care Medicare covers, home care is non-medical help it won't, and the IDOH license draws the line. Care TypesNursing Homes in IndianaNursing homes in Indiana in 2026: what a skilled nursing facility costs, how to check a facility's quality, and how Medicaid pays for long-term care. Care TypesMemory Care in IndianaIndiana has no separate memory care license. A state disclosure form lays a facility's dementia care bare. See what it tells you, the cost, and how to use it.
Your next step Find personalized help navigating VA senior care benefits in Indiana at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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