Getting out, military retirement, military to civilian transition - Military Times

Other benefits: Retirement homes

A number of retirement and long-term treatment facilities are available to veterans. Most veterans’ retirement homes are free to residents, although some ask for payments.

These homes range from domiciliaries, with communal arrangements, to nursing homes providing personal medical care. Because of long waiting lists, priority for admission to retirement facilities generally goes to those who face the greatest financial hardships.

Armed Forces Retirement Home. A facility with a special relationship to the military is the Armed Forces Retirement Home Washington.

Contact: Admissions Office, 3700 N. Capitol St. N.W., Washington, DC 20011-8400; (202) 730-3336; (800) 422-9988.

A second Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss., was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and its residents were evacuated to other facilities. The fate of the Gulfport home is still uncertain, although government officials say they hope to rebuild it by 2010.

VA domiciliaries. These facilities provide institutional care to veterans who are not acutely ill and do not need hospital care. They also offer short-term rehabilitation and long-term health maintenance to veterans who require minimal medical care. Patients typically stay about seven months, after which most return to their communities. The VA operates 43 domiciliaries across the country. Some have special programs for homeless veterans.

VA nursing homes. Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 70 percent or higher, as well as veterans in need of nursing home care for a service-related condition, are considered mandatory placements in VA nursing homes and are provided free care.

If space and resources are available, other veterans may be eligible on a case-by-case basis, with priority given to veterans with service-connected conditions and those who need care for post-acute rehabilitation, respite, hospice, geriatric evaluation and management, or spinal cord injury.

All other veterans who are subject to co-payments also may be considered for nursing home care, although placement options vary by location.

There is no co-payment for the first 21 days of nursing home care in any 12-month period. Charges beginning on the 22nd day vary, depending on income, expenses, liquid assets, daily allowance and a spousal asset protection amount.

The VA nursing home program includes VA-operated nursing home care units, contract community nursing homes and state homes. VA contracts with about 2,500 community nursing homes and operates 136 other nursing home care units in 47 states.

Contact: http://www1.va.gov/ geriatricsshg