VA Benefits for Long-Term Care: What Veterans Can Use

Veterans may qualify for VA nursing homes, community care, and Aid and Attendance. Learn which benefits exist and who is eligible.

Category: costs-and-payment · Updated 2026

Veterans have long-term care benefits that many families never claim. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates its own nursing homes, partners with state veterans homes, pays for care in the community for eligible veterans, and provides a monthly benefit called Aid and Attendance for those who need help with daily activities. Eligibility is different from Medicare and Medicaid, so a veteran can sometimes combine them.

This guide summarizes the main VA long-term care programs. It is educational only. Confirm current eligibility and rates with the VA, because programs and rules change.

VA nursing homes and Community Living Centers

The VA operates nursing homes, now called Community Living Centers, for eligible veterans. Eligibility generally favors veterans with service-connected conditions or those who need care that the VA determines is medically necessary. Because there are far fewer VA beds than veterans, admission is prioritized and may be limited. A VA social worker or the facility's admission office can explain current criteria.

State Veterans Homes

Many states run veterans homes, often with VA per diem support, that provide nursing home care, domiciliary care, and sometimes adult day care. Eligibility and cost vary by state and by the veteran's service history and income. Contact your state veterans agency and the specific home for admission rules. Spouses may be eligible in some homes, so ask.

VA community care

Under the VA MISSION Act, eligible veterans can receive care in the community, including nursing home and other long-term care, when certain criteria are met, such as the VA not being able to provide the care or the veteran meeting distance or wait-time rules. Authorization is required before care is received, so do not sign a private-pay contract assuming the VA will reimburse it. Work with the VA care team to get approval first. See VA Community Care.

Aid and Attendance and Housebound

Aid and Attendance is an enhanced VA pension benefit for veterans, and in some cases surviving spouses, who need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating, or who are bedridden or in a nursing home for reasons beyond their control. Housebound is a related benefit for those who are substantially confined to home. Both require eligibility for VA pension, which generally involves wartime service and income and asset limits, and they are not automatic. Apply through the VA. These benefits can help offset care costs but are not full nursing home coverage. See VA Aid and Attendance.

Other VA supports

The VA also offers home-based primary care, respite care, caregiver support, and Veteran-Directed Care, which lets a veteran hire their own workers, sometimes including family, with a budget. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers provides support to certain post-9/11 caregivers. Ask the VA about all of these before assuming a facility is the only option.

Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; VA Community Care; VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound; VA Geriatrics and Extended Care.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Can a surviving spouse get Aid and Attendance?
In some cases, yes. A surviving spouse who is eligible for VA survivors pension and who needs help with daily activities may qualify. A veteran's dependent child may also qualify. Check with the VA.
Does the VA pay for assisted living?
Sometimes, through community care or a Veteran-Directed Care budget, if the veteran meets eligibility criteria. The VA does not pay for assisted living room and board in the same way Medicaid might. Get authorization before signing.
Can VA benefits be combined with Medicare and Medicaid?
Often yes, because the programs have different rules. A VA payment may affect Medicaid income calculations in some states. Report all benefits when applying and ask how they interact.
What is the difference between a VA nursing home and a state veterans home?
Community Living Centers are VA-operated. State veterans homes are operated by states, often with VA financial support, and their eligibility and cost rules vary by state. Ask each facility directly.
Where do I start?
Contact your local VA medical center or a VA social worker, and your state veterans agency. They can screen eligibility and start the necessary applications.

Data sources

CMS Provider Data Catalog · CMS Care Compare. This guide is informational and is not medical advice. Processing date: 2026-10-05.

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