Nursing-Home Alternative for Veterans: Medical Foster Homes
Certified nursing assistant Paulia Bastia and her husband care for two veterans in their home. But they’re not related to them. The vets are there thanks to a VA program called medical foster care.
In the program, carefully screened homeowners train to be caregivers for veterans who need 24-hour care. The homeowners are paid $1,800 to $3,000 a month for their services, the blog The New Old Age reports. The post describes a bit of what life is like in the Bastia home:
Paulia and Bienne Bastia set two dinner tables in their house in Mount Airy, Pa., each night, one for their three children, and another for themselves and the two older men the children call “Grampa.” …
Mrs. Bastia, 36, a certified nursing assistant, and Mr. Bastia, 45, owner of a tax preparation business, drive the men to appointments, serve meals tailored to their dietary needs and administer medications. The Bastias can communicate with a nurse through a V.A.-provided telehealth monitor equipped with a video camera, blood pressure cuff and other equipment.
VA medical foster homes are available in 36 states now but should expand to 46 in the next two years, according to The New Old Age.
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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.
