If your loved one is a veteran, the VA offers more senior care benefits than most families realize. From home-based medical care to nursing homes and monthly cash payments, VA benefits for senior care in Virginia can cover a wide range of needs. The challenge isn't usually 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 Virginia, and what happens when VA care isn't enough on its own.

In This Guide

VA Senior Care Benefits in Virginia: Long-Term Care Options

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 respite. 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. CLCs are located at larger VA medical centers around the country.

CLCs 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 (a substitute caregiver comes to the house) or facility-based (the veteran stays temporarily in a CLC or community nursing home). Contact the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.

For more on respite options, see our guide to respite care in Virginia.

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

Virginia State Veterans Care Centers

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) operates a network of state Veterans Care Centers that provide affordable long-term skilled nursing care, dementia and memory care, and short-term rehabilitative care for Virginia's veterans.

Location Center Notable Details
Richmond Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center 200 beds, single-occupancy rooms, secure dementia/memory care unit
Roanoke Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center Skilled nursing and rehabilitative care
Warrenton Puller Veterans Care Center Newer facility, Fauquier County area
Virginia Beach Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center 128 beds, all-private rooms in 16-bed households

Admission is open to eligible veterans, and DVS administers the application and eligibility process, which considers factors such as veteran status, discharge under honorable conditions, and care needs. Prospective residents apply through the Virginia DVS or the individual care center.

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.

2026 Rates

Category Monthly Annual
Veteran, no dependents Up to $2,424 Up to $29,093
Veteran with spouse Up to $2,874 Up to $34,488
Two married veterans (both A&A) Up to $3,845 Up to $46,143
Housebound (veteran, no dependents) Up to $1,776 Up to $21,313
Surviving spouse Up to $1,558 Up to $18,697

Who Qualifies

To be eligible, the veteran must have:

  • Served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period
  • Be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled
  • Need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or feeding (or be bedridden, in a nursing home, or have very limited eyesight)
  • Have a net worth below $163,699 (including assets and annual income, not counting the primary home)

The VA enforces a 3-year look-back period on asset transfers made 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, if not already receiving VA pension, Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension). Forms can be submitted online at va.gov, mailed, or filed through an accredited representative. Processing often takes several months or longer.

Don't do this alone. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services provides free, accredited help with VA claims and can significantly 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, with assistance from Aging and Disability Network Agencies such as Area Agencies on Aging.

A financial management services provider handles payroll and employer responsibilities. Eligibility requires VA enrollment, clinical need for personal care services, and risk of institutional admission. 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/mental health) 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 Dole Act removed an extra review step, making it faster for eligible veterans to access community care.

For Virginia 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: VA Pension, including Aid and Attendance, generally counts as income when a senior applies for Medicaid long-term care, but the two programs use different income rules. Under VA rules, countable income can be reduced by unreimbursed medical expenses, so much of the A&A amount is often effectively tied to care costs. For Medicaid, that medical-expense portion can frequently be offset, so not all of the VA pension counts against Medicaid's much lower income limits. The exact treatment depends on the Medicaid pathway and is determined case by case.
  • In Virginia, Medicaid is called Cardinal Care, administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). It provides long-term services and supports, including nursing-facility care and home- and community-based waivers such as the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC+) waiver, and applies special income and resource rules to applicants seeking long-term care.

The interaction between these programs gets complicated. A veteran receiving A&A who also needs Medicaid long-term care should have their income and medical-expense treatment reviewed for their specific situation, ideally with a DVS benefits representative and/or DMAS.

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 Virginia Department of Veterans Services provides free, accredited assistance through a statewide network of benefit service offices. Their Veterans Service Representatives can help you identify, apply for, and file claims for federal VA benefits, including VA Pension and Aid and Attendance, and DVS encourages veterans to work with a representative before filing rather than self-filing or paying a third party. Find your nearest office through the Virginia DVS.

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 higher service-connected disability ratings get priority access to VA long-term care. 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 permanent disability, and need for help with daily activities.

Can a veteran live in a Virginia Veterans Care Center if they need memory care?

Yes. Virginia's state Veterans Care Centers provide dementia and memory care alongside skilled nursing and rehabilitation. The Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond, for example, has a secure dementia/memory care unit. Admission is handled by DVS, which reviews veteran status, discharge under honorable conditions, and care needs.

What if an Aid and Attendance or pension claim is denied?

You can challenge it. If the VA denies a claim (or grants less than expected), the veteran has three decision review options: file a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, request a Higher-Level Review by a more senior reviewer, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals for a Veterans Law Judge to decide. The deadline to request a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal is generally 1 year from the date on the decision letter. A Virginia DVS representative can prepare and file the review for free and help identify what evidence was missing.

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

Claims often take several months or longer from application to first payment. Working with a Virginia DVS claims representative can speed up the process and reduce 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 care services for veterans who want to direct their own budget.

Next Steps

If you're caring for a veteran who needs help, start by contacting the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. They can assess which benefits apply and help you file at no charge.

Learn More

VA BenefitsVA Aid and Attendance in VirginiaVA Aid and Attendance in Virginia for 2026: who qualifies, monthly rates up to $2,874, how to apply, and free help from Virginia veterans services. 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 TypesCost of Senior Care in VirginiaWhat senior care costs in Virginia in 2026: assisted living about $6,944 a month, a nursing home about $123,005 a year. See every setting and how to pay. Care TypesNursing Homes in VirginiaNursing homes in Virginia in 2026: what a skilled nursing facility costs, how to check a facility's quality, and how Virginia Medicaid pays for long-term care. Care TypesMemory Care in VirginiaMemory care in Virginia is an assisted living 'safe, secure environment.' See the admission rules, staffing protections, cost, and how to vet a place.
Your next step Find personalized help navigating VA senior care benefits in Virginia 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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