How the Aid and Attendance benefit helps veterans in Delaware

Receiving aid with daily tasks can make a significant improvement in the quality of life for Delaware seniors. For those who served the country bravely, the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Pension program is available to help make this level of improvement a little more attainable. Eligible Delaware vets and their surviving spouses can qualify should they need aid in various activities for daily living (also known as ADLs). These tasks could include rudimentary functions like dressing, bathing, eating, transportation for errands and appointments, and medication management, although it should be noted that eligible applicants don’t need to require aid with everything in order to qualify. A&A recipients can also utilize these funds to help pay for costs associated with home care, skilled nursing home care, or assisted living.

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The application process for A&A Benefits is one that is long, as it can take several months from beginning to end. However, applicants that get approved receive retroactive benefits that can be traced back to the original application date. If you find yourself in need of help with the process, there are several resources offered by the state that can help you. Specifically, Delaware’s Commission of Veteran Affairs offers the state’s vets a full complement of services that include assisted living homes, legal aid, help with VA claims, and more. The organization works with various outreach services such as LP Lo-Del to provide vets and their families with guidance with benefits, referrals, and advocacy. To get connected with these services, visit www.veteransaffairs.delaware.gov.

What is assisted living like?

There is some variance in assisted living facilities. The facilities that are located in larger cities like Wilmington will be ideal for those that still want to be close to metropolitan perks such as restaurants, shops, and cultural activities. On the flip side, those who prefer the quiet nature of suburbia may gravitate toward an assisted living community in a bedroom community, where parks and familiar chain retailers rule the day.

The facilities also have variances based on interests. Some places are run by religious organizations and feature various activities and observances that are in line with the particular faith’s belief system. There are also homes that are wholly dedicated to serving veterans, which may be of interest to vets that want to spend their days enjoying the inimitable spark of camaraderie amongst those that have proudly served their country.

Each assisted living facility is home to various services that are contained within the monthly room and board fee. Basic services typically include key elements for proper senior care-fueled living, such as private living spaces, 24-hour security and nurse access, call buttons in the rooms in case of a sudden emergency, meals, housekeeping, utilities, and laundry. These essential services can be augmented for an extra fee. Extra services that could be added include salon care, massage therapy, and personalized laundry and transportation service. Because these latter services vary from venue to venue, it is always a wise idea to research to see what is included and what is constituted as an add-on perk at every assisted living facility considered. It is also prudent to ask if the facility also offers continuum of care, in which a resident can stay on the campus should their assisted living needs change over time.

What does assisted living cost in Delaware?

According to data culled from Genworth’s 2016 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living in Delaware is $64,416 per year, which is far above the average nationwide cost of $43,539. This price tag translates to a monthly cost of $5,368 and a daily cost of $176. Precise costs will vary based on the city and the region that the facility is located in. The state’s annual home health care costs check in at $50,336 for homemaker services and $53,768 for home health aide services. It also represents a substantial savings in comparison to Delaware’s nursing home care costs, which can break down to an annual cost of $114,975 for a semi-private room and $118,808 for a private room.

Veterans and their spouses that do qualify for the A&A Pension Benefit can utilize the benefits they receive to help cover the assisted living costs. The benefit can provide upwards of $1,794 per month to a vet, $1,153 per month to a surviving spouse, or $2,127 per month to a couple. A veteran that files with a sick spouse can be eligible for as much as $1,4010 per month.

Resources and recreation for veterans in Delaware

Delaware’s Commission of Veteran Affairs runs a wide variety of programs to support and serve the state’s numerous vets. These programs include housing services, e-mail notifications on local services and events, specialized support programs, and more. What’s more, Delaware is also home to a great deal of military-themed points of interest that may make for great day excursions, a terrific assisted living field trip, or even an outing when the family comes into town. A lot of these destinations also welcome veterans to volunteer, so they can share their insight and experiences with visitors, especially young people.

Perhaps the most famous of these points of interest is Fort Delaware. This harbor defense structure was a key military prison for the Union during the Civil War and as a garrison during both World War I and World War II. Today, tourists can see the fort come to life through costumed performers re-creating what life would have been like there during the Civil War.

Another popular military-themed venue is the Air Mobility Command Museum. Also known as the AMCM and located less than a mile from Dover Air Force Base, this venue is devoted to sharing the story of military airlift and air refueling aircraft, along with the brave men and women who flew these important craft. Guests here can expect to see several massive, well-kept aircraft on display, including several vintage Air Force and Army aircraft that had been used as early as World War II.