Mother-in-law aged 92 is increasingly having trouble living alone. Will VA increase benefits as need increases?

IMPinky; I am 72, widowed for 10 years. Late hubby was the veteran, U.S.A.F. At age 61, 3 years widowed, a piece of grass flew up & hit my left eye. Three days later, I was totally blind in left eye, & 20% vision left in my right eye. All due to infection caught from a single blade of grass. I was desperate for help, from anyone. I was blessed-GOD sent my step-brother to me. He needed a home - his was badly broken. Financially strapped already, I checked into VA Aid & Attendance. My step-brother is also a Veteran, Navy, Vietnam, so he had some knowledge about what to do, where to go, to start the process. Within two months of applying, my A&A benefits started. My step-brother is my caregiver, my best friend, my "partner-in-crime." He literally saved my life. The VA check deposits into my checking account, he has total access to that. From this, all household bills are paid, and the "extra" goes to savings- once a year, we use it for a vacation to Tennessee - his "pay" for being my caregiver, plus a stable home environment for both of us. (bless him, he'd never taken a vacation in his entire life!!) A&A benefits have greatly improved my life. We're not "gettin' rich" from the VA benefits, but it has made me secure in my mind. Just hang in there about the VA, okay? They have other benefits available that will increase the A&A she is already receiving. DO NOT GIVE UP!!, YOU GOT THIS.!!

Now I've got a few follow-up questions based on where we are in this process. First, we had found a local young woman who wanted to take the caregiving job, we all like her very much, so put her in touch with the agency. This was in mid-December. The agency had not been able to find anyone either local or who was willing to drive a ways for so few hours of work. The agency has been extremely lacking in communication - with us and with our prospective employee. She, in turn, does not keep me updated on her progress with training and certification unless I contact her. So here we are at the end of January, VA has paid all the retroactive benefits and has three months of care payments on account, and care still hasn't started. I'm afraid we're going to have trouble due to non-compliance. I'm thinking if we can't get this gal started in the coming week, I may have to take over as the paid caregiver. Been trying to research how that works, not having much luck. Has anyone been a paid caregiver for a family member on Aid & Attendance? Please share what you know.

Also, I'm still wanting to look into facilities, and I know there are some small ones with only a few residents. I don't know how to find them, especially close to our area. Is there a registry or something I can search? Thanks!

Is your mother the veteran? If so there might be assistance with nursing home placement.

Of course, she wants nothing more than to stay in her home, but she also doesn't want to be alone, and we are so worried for her, but we just don't have the time to be full-time caregivers. And not because we are busy enjoying life! Have not shopped for a facility, and not sure when to begin in this time of COVID. Any pointers?

The VA won’t increase her aid & attendance as her needs increase.
The amount she receives is based on her income not her needs. Her income is what determines her A&A pension. The maximum A&A pension is just under $22k a year, nowhere near enough to pay for the care your mother needs. Anyway what amount she gets now is all she is eligible for unless for some reason she loses some of her income. And yes it sounds like a caregiver coming in for 7 hours a week is too little too late.

I agree with other posters that she needs to be transitioned into a care facility. It will be inevitable anyway by what you are describing. She is too remote to make in-home care workable on any level. If you are concerned regarding finances, first locate a reputable facility, determine that she is a candidate for MC. Then you or someone can fill out the Medicaid app for her. If she doesn't have much more than a home, car, checking account and SS then it's pretty easy. I hope helping her goes well!

Elderly people living in the middle of nowhere seems to be a pretty common thing on this forum. I wonder why that is? People starting building and moving into cities 6000 years ago.

Did they not get the memo?

No, VA benefit is a set amount. Have you shopped for a facility? Sounds like it is time. Start the Medicaid process now if she has assets. And she should not be alone in what sounds like a remote location.