VA respite care for veterans and their caregivers
Short-term care at home, at an adult day health program or in a nursing home so a veteran's caregiver can take a break.
A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.
UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.
What to know
- Why it may fit
- Your circumstances can be checked against the program’s published guidelines.
- What to do next
- Short breaks for a veteran's family caregiver, called respite. VA arranges care at home, at an adult day program, or during a short nursing home stay. There is no application form. You ask your VA care team.
- Who runs it
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Geriatrics and Extended Care and the Caregiver Support Program
What the program may consider
- You are enrolled in VA health care
- You meet VA's clinical rules for respite (you need care or supervision)
- Respite available at the VA facility or through community care
How to get it
Short breaks for a veteran's family caregiver, called respite. VA arranges care at home, at an adult day program, or during a short nursing home stay. There is no application form. You ask your VA care team.
Before you start
- You need this first VA health care (with County Office of Veterans Services help). The veteran must be enrolled in VA health care first.
How to apply
- ReferralYour VA social worker or primary care teamThere is no form to apply. You ask your VA care team.
- PhoneVA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274Questions about VA help for family caregivers.
- PhoneVA Palo Alto Caregiver Support Program: 650-614-8419Talk with a caregiver support coordinator.
- PhoneCounty of Santa Clara Office of Veterans Services: (408) 918-4980Free help from accredited staff with VA applications, appeals and other veterans' benefits, like the veterans' property tax exemption.
Getting help
You start this yourself
The veteran or the family caregiver asks the VA care team. If VA needs an income form, the veteran signs it. Someone else can sign only with legal authority, like a power of attorney or guardianship. Accredited veterans representatives help for free.
Only you, or someone with legal authority for you, can sign.
What happens after you apply
If the veteran is not in VA health care yet, apply for that first.
Only if the veteran is not enrolled yet
The VAA helper can help with this
Ask the VA social worker or primary care team for respite. The family caregiver can ask too.
YouA helper can help with this
VA checks the veteran's needs. This includes help with daily tasks, memory problems, and how the caregiver is coping.
The VAOnly you can do this
VA may ask the veteran to fill out form 10-10EC about income. It decides if there is a copay. A copay is your share of the cost.
If VA needs it to set a copay
The VAOnly you can do this
VA approves respite and sets it up. It may be a home health aide, an adult day health program, or a nursing home stay. Care from a provider outside VA also needs VA's approval for community care.
The VA
Respite care starts. Book nursing home stays early.
The program or providerOnly you can do this
What only you can do
- Be enrolled in VA health care.
- Ask the VA care team for respite, and take part in VA's check of the veteran's needs.
- Sign form 10-10EC if VA asks, and pay any copay.
- Agree to and schedule each respite visit or stay.
- How long it takes
- VA does not publish how long this takes. Ask the VA social worker.
- You are enrolled when
- You are enrolled when VA has approved respite and the first day of respite care has happened.
- To keep it
- Stay in VA health care. VA decides how many respite days you get, based on your needs and what is available. Is the veteran in VA home care, like a home health aide or Veteran-Directed Care? Then a caregiver who lives with them can get at least 30 days a year. Pay any copays. Ask VA each time you need a break.