You served your country with courage and discipline. Now, as your needs change, you deserve care that respects the independence you have always valued. For many veterans, the best place to receive that care is at home, surrounded by familiar routines, cherished memories and the people you love.

In-home care gives you the support you need on your terms. Whether you need a few hours of help each week or 24-hour home care, the right caregiver helps you stay in control of your daily life.

What Independence at Home Means for Veterans?

Independence looks different for every veteran. For some, it means making your own breakfast and keeping up with your garden. For others, it means getting to medical appointments, attending your local VFW or American Legion meetings or simply choosing when to wake up and go to bed.

In-home care protects those choices. Instead of adjusting to a facility’s schedule, you receive support built around your routines, your preferences and your goals.

How In-Home Care Supports Daily Independence

A trained caregiver helps with the tasks that have become harder, so you can keep doing the things that matter most to you. Common services include:

• Personal care: Help with bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting, provided with dignity and respect.
• Mobility and fall prevention: Support moving safely around your home, plus fall risk checks through our Gaitway Fall Prevention program.
• Meal preparation: Nutritious meals that fit your dietary needs and personal tastes through our Care Kitchen program.
• Medication reminders: Help staying on schedule with your prescriptions.
• Light housekeeping: Laundry, dishes and tidying so your home stays clean and safe. See light housekeeping.
• Transportation: Rides to VA medical centers, clinics, errands and social events.
• Companionship: Conversation, shared hobbies and meaningful activities that keep you engaged.

Explore our full range of personal in-home care services.

Care for Service-Related and Age-Related Health Needs

Many veterans live with conditions connected to their service or to aging, such as limited mobility, hearing loss, chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease or memory changes. Some Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange also live with Parkinson’s disease, which the VA recognizes as a presumptive condition.

At Your Side caregivers receive specialized training to support these needs. Our DementiaWise® program provides person-centered care if you live with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, and our Parkinson’s Pathway program helps you maintain function and comfort at home. If you are coming home after a hospital stay, our transition of care support helps you recover safely and lowers the chance of readmission.

Home Health Care vs. In-Home Care for Veterans: What Is the Difference?

Veterans often hear both terms, but they describe different types of support.

	Home health care	In-home care
What it is	Skilled medical care ordered by a doctor	Nonmedical help with everyday living
Who provides it	Licensed nurses or therapists	Trained professional caregivers
Common services	Wound care, injections, physical therapy, monitoring of a serious illness	Personal care, meals, housekeeping, transportation, companionship
How long it lasts	Usually short term and tied to a specific medical need	As long as you need it, from a few hours a week to 24-hour care

Many veterans benefit from both. Your in-home caregiver can support you between skilled visits and help you follow the care plan your medical team creates. At Your Side provides nonmedical in-home care and works alongside your doctors, nurses and VA care team.

VA Home Care Programs That May Help Pay for Care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers several programs that can help you receive care at home. Eligibility depends on your service history, health needs and financial situation.

VA program	Who it may help	How it helps
Homemaker and Home Health Aide	Veterans enrolled in VA health care who need help with daily activities	VA connects you with an approved local agency; your VA care team sets your hours
Veteran Directed Care	Eligible veterans who want to choose their own caregivers	A flexible budget to hire and manage caregivers, including family or friends
Aid and Attendance / Housebound	Veterans and surviving spouses who receive a VA pension	An added monthly payment you can put toward in-home care
VA Respite Care	Family caregivers of eligible veterans	Up to 30 days of respite care per year

Homemaker and Home Health Aide Program

This VA home care program connects eligible veterans enrolled in VA health care with approved local agencies that provide help with daily activities. Your VA care team decides whether you qualify and how many hours of care you receive.

Veteran-Directed Care

This program gives eligible veterans a flexible budget to hire and manage their own caregivers, which can include family members or friends.

Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

If you or your surviving spouse receive a VA pension, you may qualify for an additional monthly payment when you need help with daily activities or are largely confined to your home. You can use these funds toward in-home care.

VA Respite Care

Family caregivers of eligible veterans can receive up to 30 days of respite care per year, giving them time to rest while you continue to receive support. Learn more about our respite and short-term care.

How the Elizabeth Dole Act Expanded VA Home Care Funding?

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law on Jan. 2, 2025, raised the limit on what the VA may spend on home-based alternatives to nursing home care. The VA may now spend up to 100% of what VA nursing home care would cost, up from a previous limit of 65%. The VA began applying this change through guidance that took effect Sept. 11, 2025, and it can approve higher amounts case by case.

For veterans with higher care needs, this can make staying at home a more realistic option.

Health Coverage Options for Veterans and Their Families

Understanding your coverage helps you plan for care. Here are the most common options for you and your loved ones:

• VA health care: Covers eligible veterans for medical services and serves as the gateway to VA home and community-based programs.
• TRICARE: Covers military retirees and their families. TRICARE For Life works alongside Medicare for retirees age 65 and older.
• CHAMPVA: Provides health coverage for spouses and children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition and for surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected condition.
• Medicare: Covers many veterans age 65 and older and pays for short-term skilled home health care when medically necessary.
• Long-term care insurance: Private policies often reimburse the cost of in-home help with daily activities. Learn how we work with long-term care insurance.

Keep in mind that Medicare and TRICARE generally do not pay for ongoing nonmedical help with daily living. VA programs, veterans pension benefits, long-term care insurance and private pay often fill that gap.

How Do You Get Started With In-Home Care Through the VA?

1. Enroll in VA health care. If you have not already, apply online at VA.gov, by phone or at your local VA medical center.
2. Talk with your VA primary care team. Share your daily needs and ask whether you qualify for home and community-based services.
3. Review your benefits. Check your pension, Aid and Attendance, TRICARE or long-term care insurance.
4. Request an in-home consultation. A care professional assesses your home safety and builds a plan around your goals.

In-Home Care for Veterans in The Woodlands, TX

At Your Side Home Care in The Woodlands proudly supports veterans and their families with personalized care that honors your service and your independence. Owned and operated by Tamara and Shawn Franks, our office at 10200 Grogan’s Mill Rd. serves The Woodlands and surrounding Montgomery County communities. Texas Home Care License #18165.

For your VA care team, our National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1013452705. The VA uses this number to recognize our agency, so keep it handy when you speak with your VA care team.

During a free in-home consultation, our team reviews your needs, checks your home for fall risks and helps you understand your care options. Visit our In-Home Care for Veterans page to learn more.

Call (281) 719-5221 or contact us to schedule your personalized home care consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the VA pay for in-home care for veterans?

Yes. Eligible veterans enrolled in VA health care may receive in-home help through the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program or Veteran Directed Care. Veterans who receive a VA pension may also qualify for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits to help pay for care.

How much will the VA pay for home care now?

Under the Elizabeth Dole Act, the VA may spend up to 100% of what VA nursing home care would cost on home-based care, up from 65%. The VA applied this change starting Sept. 11, 2025, and may approve higher amounts case by case.

What is the difference between home health care and in-home care for veterans?

Home health care is skilled medical care, such as nursing or therapy, ordered by a doctor. In-home care provides nonmedical help with daily activities such as bathing, meals, housekeeping, transportation and companionship.

Who qualifies for the VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide program?

Veterans enrolled in VA health care who need help with daily activities may qualify. Your VA care team determines clinical need and the number of care hours you receive.

What health insurance is available for veterans and their families?

Options include VA health care for veterans, TRICARE and TRICARE For Life for military retirees and families, CHAMPVA for certain spouses and children of disabled or deceased veterans and Medicare for those 65 and older.

Can a surviving spouse of a veteran get help paying for home care?

Surviving spouses who qualify for a VA survivors pension may be eligible for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, which can help cover in-home care costs.

What NPI number should I give my VA care team for At Your Side in The Woodlands?

At Your Side Home Care in The Woodlands uses National Provider Identifier (NPI) 1013452705. Share this number with your VA care team when you ask about home care.

Contact your local At Your Side Home Care office in The Woodlands to talk through overnight and in-home care options.

Each office is independently owned and operated and is an equal opportunity employer. At Your Side operates as At Your Side in the Houston area.