If you’re a Veteran or surviving spouse who needs home care assistance with everyday tasks to maintain your quality of life, you should consider applying for a VA pension with Aid and Attendance benefits. When you apply to the Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) for pension benefits, they have to assess your ability and functional statuses. They assess these statuses by examining two main criteria: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). To qualify for Aid and Attendance, applicants must need assistance with ADLs. Let’s look at these criteria, how they differ from each other, and how they affect your ability to receive pension benefits and access home care services.
ADLs vs. IADLs
What’s the difference between ADLs and IADLs? ADLs are tasks that Veterans perform individually to take care of themselves, such as:
- Eating
- Bathing/Showering
- Dressing
- Transferring (ex.: from a chair to a standing position)
- Toileting/Continence
IADLs, on the other hand, are also tasks that Veterans perform individually, but they relate to managing a household, rather than just taking care of themselves. IADLs include the following:
- Shopping
- Food Preparation
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Medication Handling
- Telephone Usage
- Transporation (ex.: getting to doctors’ appointments)
The VA uses ADLs and IADLs to determine how well Veterans can care for themselves. Then they determine which benefits you qualify for and whether you can use them for medical expenses based on these criteria.
Which ADLs or IADLs Qualify You for Aid and Attendance?
The VA considers you eligible for the Aid and Attendance pension benefit if you need assistance with two or more of the ADLs listed above. IADLs don’t figure as much into Aid and Attendance eligibility as ADLs do, but they can help you give the VA a fuller picture of your abilities and your limitations.
How Can You Find Out What Your ADLs and IADLs Are?
If you want to know what your ADLs and IADLs are, AVCC can help you figure that out. We screen Veterans for their Aid and Attendance eligibility, so we see what their ADLs and IADLs are. We can let you know which ADLs and IADLs apply to your situation. Then we complete the application process. We work with you through every step of the process so you can receive the pension benefits you’ve earned.
How Can Home Care Services Help With Your ADLs and IADLs?
Home care services are specifically designed to assist you with your ADLs and IADLs. When home care providers work with you, they help you bathe, eat, dress, and transfer yourself as much as you need and want. They can also help you with your IADLs by grocery shopping for you and providing medication reminders, among other tasks. AVCC pairs Veterans across the country with local home care providers who can meet all their needs and help them maintain a good quality of life.
If you want to know what your ADLs and IADLs, AVCC can help you figure that out. We screen Veterans for their Aid and Attendance eligibility, so we see what their ADLs and IADLs are. We can let you know which ADLs and IADLs apply to your situation.
Learn About Your ADL and IADL With AVCC
If you want to learn about your ADL and IADL needs and find out if you’re eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit, connect with AVCC today. We understand that nursing homes and assisted living communities aren’t for everybody. That’s why we help Veterans access home care—we know you want to stay in your home, and we will do everything we can to help you do that. We want you to have the long-term care you need to live independently as an older adult.
