How the Aid and Attendance benefit helps veterans in New Hampshire

Receiving aid with daily tasks can make a significant improvement in the quality of life for New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 to receive A&A benefits could take several months to complete. However, when approved applicants receive their benefits, they will do so retroactive to the original application date. And New Hampshire has a wealth of valuable resources that can help veterans navigate this process or any other veteran benefit related process. he Bureau of New Hampshire Veterans’ Service provides the state’s veterans a wide array of services that include assistance with VA claims, assisted living homes, legal representation, and more. The organization also works in tandem with various County Veterans’ Services Offices (CVSOs) to help vets and their families with benefits, referrals, and various forms of advocacy. To find the CVSO nearest you, visit www.New Hampshire.gov/dvem/bvs/offices.

What is assisted living like?

There is some variance in assisted living facilities. The facilities that are located in larger cities like Manchester 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 New Hampshire?

According to data culled from Genworth’s 2016 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living in New Hampshire is $57,600 per year, which is above the average nationwide cost of $43,539. This price tag translates to a monthly cost of $4,800 and a daily cost of $158. 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 $54,912 for homemaker services and $57,200 for home health aide services. It also represents a substantial savings in comparison to New Hampshire’s nursing home care costs, which can break down to an annual cost of $116,800 for a semi-private room and $123,370 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 $1,410 per month.

Resources and recreation for veterans in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Veterans Home at Tilton makes an effort to provide a living environment that is as homelike as possible to those that need to live at a facility. Musical acts perform regularly for residents, and a variety of social events encourage healthy social activity and companionship. Nurses routinely receive extra training to make sure they are always on top of their game when attending to those that served. The veterans’ home offers many escorted trips to zoos and other fun places to encourage veterans to live life to the fullest.

The New Hampshire State Office Of Veterans Services can help connect veterans with different programs available to them as well as social and networking activities such as sports clubs. VeteranAid.org and the office of veterans services can help take the confusion out of how to plan for care and get the benefits you and your family have available to you.

Tilton is home to many different green spaces. Riverfront Park offers a pavilion that can be reserved for private functions. Buffalo Run Park and Conservation Area are a great place to observe wildlife while taking a hike or enjoying a picnic. With a size of 55 acres, it is easy to get some privacy and enjoy the outdoors just minutes from the town center.