How to receive help for my brother and sister-in-law that receive their medical attention from the VA in San Antonio?

Hello,

I have set up the Home and Attendant Care through the VA here in Wisconsin through the VA in the county my mother lives in. It will pay for documented ongoing monthly services to take care of their health, and may pay toward assisted living/nursing home care, etc. My mother is going to a memory care unit within the next few months and the max. allowed for my mother per month (approx. 1200 here in WI as she was a wife of a veteran) will go directly to help pay for costs. It is a little tedious... I have had to go 7 times to the veteran's admin. office (although it is about 2 miles from my house) and I am still waiting for a home visit... but the checks started coming on a monthly basis, plus they will pay the back checks from the first day that the VA received the completed application materials, etc. after the home check. So she will be getting several more checks. I have read some of the people's responses to you and they have been helpful. Believe me, I did not give aging that much thought until my mother (my father, the veteran, died in his early 40s) is not experiencing dementia/paranoia, etc. Good luck to you. My most important comment is that your brother and sister-in-law need someone like you to navigate the system to help them get the help they need. It takes a lot of time and effort and it won't just happen. But in the end you have done a good thing and they need you.

Since they are both getting care from the VA, that is the best place to look for help. I was stationed in San Antonio 2 times when I was in the WACs and once when my first husband was stationed there. I love that place. San Antonio is listed as one of the best places for vets to retire. I hope they find what they need there.

AACOG's Bexar Area Agency on Aging (BAAA) serves the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. Ph: (800) 960-5201 Call and ask them to check on the couple.

Maybe assisted living care is something for them later on. Right now, it sounds like they need help with housework, showers, meals, and also would they be willing to accept help in certain areas. I set up all those things for MIL some years ago, and now it has been extended to dressing, undressing as well. All the best.

You can try this website. It's the VA department that's responsible for aiding and attending housebound veterans. http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm#7
Also, if you contact one of the agencies in San Antonio for home assistance and tell them that your brother is a veteran, they should be knowledgeable about the VA benefits and get them signed up for it.
Here's the website for that page noted above:
newoldage.blogs.nytimes/2012/09/19/few-know-of-benefit-to-help-aging-veterans/?_r=0

In addition to the VA, see if they have a senior citizens group in their area -- they may be able to help. They should have a social worker assigned to them to help deal with their various issues. You might also try APS -- Adult Protective Services.

The above is good advice. The VA also has a home and attendant program that provides for in home help. There Area Agency on Aging can also discuss options for other in home programs.

It sounds like they are eligible for a VA medical supplement. My mother gets this. Check into it. It pays 1200 per month for her, but it will pay up to $1800 for the vet. Requirements are house-bound etc and in need of personal care. It's great. I pay her caregiver with the money she gets from my dad's VA.
Also, their doctors can request home health care. It covers a limited time of nursing and CNA care (bathing, dressing, laundry light housekeeping) and she has 3 different therapist come out. She has a swallow therapist because she is having trouble swallowing, an occupational therapist to help her learn to do day to day things like dial the phone and a physical therapist who gives her exercise.There are some pretty good programs in place.

lworden, the area between San Antonio and Austin is one of the best areas for seniors. There are many assisted living facilities in the large and small cities in the area. Many of them are out of reach for those with modest incomes. They will generally run $4-5K for a couple. However, there are some facilities that are less expensive and some that offer subsidized care. Something you can do is have someone come in to do an assessment of your brother & SIL's circumstances and locate a place that suits their needs. A good social worker will also guide them in applying for VA money that is available to help them. With all the resources that are available for seniors in the area, they should be able to find something that is right for them if they should opt for assisted living.