VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care
A trained aide who comes to your home to help with bathing, dressing and errands, so you can stay home longer.
What it is
VA describes it as a trained person who comes to your home and helps you take care of yourself and your daily activities. The aides are supervised by registered nurses. VA lists help with eating, dressing, grooming, bathing, using the bathroom, getting around and grocery shopping, for as long as you need it.
Who qualifies
All enrolled Veterans may qualify if they meet clinical criteria and the service is available where they live. Services vary by location.
What it costs
VA says a copay may be charged based on your service-connected disability status. VA does not print the amount on that page. Your social worker completes VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services with you to work it out. VA also lists an extended care copay schedule: none for the first 21 days in a 12-month period, then up to $15 a day for outpatient-type care (2026); see the VA health care copay rates page for whether it applies to your service.
What it costs
How to get it, step by step
- Enroll in VA health care if you are not already: How to apply for VA health care.
- Contact your VA social worker: Find the social work contact at your VA health care system.
- Tell the social worker what daily tasks you need help with. They assess your needs and arrange the service.
- Complete VA Form 10-10EC with them.
Not the same as
If you want to choose and hire your own worker, including a family member, with a VA budget, that is a different program: Veteran Directed Care. For the full list of care settings, see VA long-term care options.
Where to call and where to go
Phone
- VA health benefits hotline: 877-222-8387 (877-222-VETS), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Source: va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply
- VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Source: caregiver.va.gov
- VA main information line (MyVA411), open 24/7. VA prints the number on its contact page: va.gov/contact-us
- Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7: 988, then press 1. Source: Helpful VA phone numbers
Official pages
- VA: Homemaker and Home Health Aide care
- Find the social work contact at your VA health care system
- VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services
- How to apply for VA health care
- VA Geriatrics: making decisions about care (decision aids and caregiver self-assessment)
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