VA Home Care Benefits in San Diego: Homemaker/Home Health Aide and Aid & Attendance

Veterans and their families may have more than one way to obtain or help pay for assistance at home. Two options that are often confused are the Department of Veterans Affairs Homemaker and Home Health Aide program and the Aid and Attendance pension benefit.

The Homemaker and Home Health Aide program is a VA health care service arranged for eligible Veterans. Aid and Attendance is an additional monthly pension payment that qualified Veterans or surviving spouses may use toward care expenses. The eligibility rules, application processes and payment arrangements are different.

Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley provides private-pay, non-medical home care to Veterans and military families throughout central San Diego. Families seeking VA-authorized care should first confirm eligibility and provider authorization directly with the VA before assuming that services will be covered or reimbursed.

Understanding the Two Types of VA Support

VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide care: An eligible Veteran may receive personal care assistance through an organization working under an appropriate VA arrangement. The VA evaluates the Veteran’s clinical needs, eligibility and local service availability.

Aid and Attendance: Qualified Veterans and survivors who receive a VA pension may receive an additional monthly payment when they need help with certain daily activities, are housebound or meet other VA criteria. The payment is made as part of the person’s pension rather than as direct payment to a home care agency.

A Veteran may potentially qualify for one of these programs, both programs or neither program. The VA makes all benefit and service eligibility decisions.

What Is the VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Program?

The VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide program helps eligible Veterans who need assistance with personal care and daily activities in their homes. Despite the program’s name, a home health aide is not a nurse. The aide provides supportive personal care under the oversight established by the participating home care organization and the Veteran’s VA care team.

Depending on the Veteran’s authorized care plan, assistance may include:

Bathing, grooming and dressing

Toileting and other personal care

Walking, transferring and mobility support

Meal preparation

Light housekeeping related to the Veteran’s care

Support with daily routines

Companionship and supervision

Respite for a family caregiver

The precise services and number of authorized hours depend on the Veteran’s assessed needs and the VA-approved plan of care.

Who May Qualify for VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care?

According to the VA, a Veteran generally must be enrolled in VA health care, be eligible for community care, meet the clinical criteria for the service and have the service available in the local area. A copayment may apply in some situations.

This program may be appropriate when a Veteran needs personal assistance, is experiencing social isolation or has a family caregiver who is carrying a significant care burden. Eligibility is not based solely on age or Veteran status.

Because every situation is different, Veterans and their families should speak with the Veteran’s VA physician, social worker or care team for an individual assessment.

How to Request Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care in San Diego

Confirm VA health care enrollment. Veterans who are not enrolled can review the application process on the official VA health care application page or call the VA health benefits hotline at 877-222-8387.

Contact the Veteran’s VA care team. Ask the VA physician, nurse or social worker whether Homemaker and Home Health Aide services may be appropriate.

Request an assessment. The VA will determine whether the Veteran meets the clinical and program requirements.

Discuss available providers. If care is authorized, ask which participating home care organizations are currently available in the Veteran’s area.

Confirm authorization before services begin. Families should not assume that independently arranged private-pay care will be reimbursed by the VA.

Veterans receiving care through the VA San Diego Healthcare System may contact Home and Community Based Care and Social Work at 858-642-3671. The VA San Diego main number is 858-552-8585.

Can a Veteran Request Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley?

A Veteran or family member may tell the VA that they prefer a particular home care organization. However, expressing a preference does not guarantee that the VA can authorize that organization. The VA determines eligibility, service authorization and which participating providers are available.

Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley currently serves Veterans and military families through private-pay home care arrangements. Before expecting VA payment, the Veteran should confirm directly with the VA that the requested services, hours and provider have been authorized.

If a Veteran would like to request our agency, the family may provide our business information to the Veteran’s VA social worker or care coordinator. We can answer questions about our private-pay services while the family independently confirms any VA eligibility or authorization.

What Is the Aid and Attendance Benefit?

Aid and Attendance is an additional monthly payment for certain Veterans and surviving spouses who already qualify for a VA pension and need additional assistance. It is not a separate home care program and does not automatically provide a caregiver.

A qualified recipient may use pension funds, including an Aid and Attendance increase, to help pay eligible living and care expenses. This can include privately arranged assistance at home. The recipient hires and pays the selected provider rather than having the home care agency bill the Aid and Attendance program directly.

Who May Qualify for Aid and Attendance?

The applicant must first qualify for a VA pension. The VA may then approve Aid and Attendance when at least one qualifying condition applies, such as:

Needing another person’s help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or eating

Spending a substantial portion of the day in bed because of illness

Living in a nursing home because of a disability

Meeting the VA’s specified vision limitations

Income, net worth, military service, discharge status and medical needs can all affect pension eligibility. Benefit limits and pension rates may change, so families should use the current VA pension rates rather than relying on older dollar amounts found online.

How to Apply for Aid and Attendance

Veterans and survivors can review the requirements and application options on the official VA Aid and Attendance page.

The application may require medical evidence describing the applicant’s need for help with daily activities. The VA identifies VA Form 21-2680, Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance, as one form that may support the claim.

Applicants can seek free assistance from a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representative. The VA provides an online tool for finding an accredited representative.

Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley does not determine eligibility, prepare VA claims or guarantee approval. We can provide information about requested home care services and private-pay rates when a family is planning its care budget.

Can Aid and Attendance Be Used With a Provider Chosen by the Family?

Aid and Attendance is generally paid to the eligible Veteran or surviving spouse as part of the monthly pension. It is different from a VA-authorized home care service in which the VA arranges care with a participating provider.

Because the pension recipient ordinarily manages the pension funds, the family can generally select a private-pay home care provider that meets its needs. However, the family should consult the VA or an accredited benefits representative about documentation, qualifying expenses and the rules applicable to the individual claim.

Families should not describe a home care organization as “VA approved” merely because a Veteran uses pension funds to pay for its services.

Starting Private-Pay Home Care While a VA Decision Is Pending

Some families choose to begin private-pay home care while applying for benefits or waiting for a VA assessment. This can provide timely support when a Veteran needs help immediately.

Beginning care privately does not guarantee that the VA will reimburse prior services. Before relying on possible reimbursement, ask the VA whether retroactive payment is available in the Veteran’s circumstances.

For an overview of other funding sources, visit our guide to paying for home care in San Diego.

Private-Pay Home Care for San Diego Veterans

Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley is a California-licensed non-medical home care organization serving Veterans, older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers in central San Diego.

Our services may include:

Personal care and assistance with daily activities

Companion care

Meal planning and preparation

Light housekeeping and laundry

Mobility and transfer assistance

Medication reminders

Transportation and accompaniment

Dementia care

Respite care for family caregivers

Customized schedules ranging from short visits to ongoing support

Our caregivers are W-2 employees and are selected, screened and supported according to California home care requirements and our agency standards. We develop each care plan around the client’s routines, preferences, safety needs and family situation.

To discuss private-pay care for a Veteran or military family member, call Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley at 619-292-8001 or schedule a free in-home care assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the VA pay Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley directly?

Families should not assume that the VA will pay our agency directly. We currently provide care to Veterans through private-pay arrangements. VA payment under an authorized health care program requires confirmation from the VA regarding the Veteran, approved services and participating provider.

Is Aid and Attendance the same as free VA home care?

No. Aid and Attendance is an additional pension payment for qualified Veterans and survivors. The recipient may use the funds toward care expenses. The Homemaker and Home Health Aide program is a separate VA health care service that must be assessed and authorized by the VA.

Can Home Helpers help complete an Aid and Attendance application?

We can provide information about our services and private-pay rates, but we do not determine eligibility or prepare benefit claims. A VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representative can provide qualified application assistance, often at no cost.

Can a Veteran choose a private home care provider?

A Veteran using personal funds or pension income, including Aid and Attendance payments, can generally choose a private-pay provider. For VA-authorized Homemaker and Home Health Aide services, the VA determines which participating providers are available and authorized.

Can private-pay care begin before VA benefits are approved?

Yes. A family may arrange and pay for private care while an application or assessment is pending. However, VA reimbursement should not be assumed unless the VA has confirmed it.

Where should a San Diego Veteran begin?

A Veteran already enrolled in VA health care should contact the VA care team or VA San Diego Home and Community Based Care and Social Work at 858-642-3671. Someone applying for Aid and Attendance can review the official VA eligibility page or contact a VA-accredited representative.

Speak With Our San Diego Home Care Team

If your family needs non-medical assistance now, we can discuss your Veteran’s routines, care needs, preferred schedule and private-pay options. Call 619-292-8001 or request a free assessment.

You can also read what local families say about our care.

Reviewed and updated August 2026 by Quyen On, Owner and Administrator of Home Helpers Home Care of Mission Valley.

This article provides general educational information and is not legal, financial or benefits advice. The Department of Veterans Affairs makes all eligibility, authorization and payment decisions. Program requirements and benefit amounts may change.

Official VA Resources

VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care

VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

Apply for VA Health Care

Find a VA-Accredited Representative

VA San Diego Healthcare System Contacts

Call 619-292-8001 | Schedule a Free In-Home Assessment | Read What Families Say