Serving Oakland · Macomb · Wayne counties
FAQ
Questions families ask us
Straight answers about VA home care, our caregivers and what things cost. If your question isn't here, call 248-794-9292.
Getting started
How do we get VA home care started?
You don't need anything in hand to call us. It helps to know the veteran's city, whether they use VA health care, and the name of their VA social worker if you have one.
Start with the veteran's VA care team. Tell the VA primary care provider or social worker that the veteran needs help at home, and describe what is hard right now. VA will assess the need and decide on hours. When they do, ask for VETTED by name. Our eligibility and cost page walks through each step.
Can we choose VETTED as the home care provider?
You can ask for us. Tell the VA social worker, "We'd like VETTED." The provider has to be one VA can use in your area, and the social worker will tell you what is possible. Asking by name is the simplest way to get the provider you want. If a referral has already gone to another agency, you can still ask the social worker about changing providers.
What if the veteran isn't enrolled in VA health care?
Enrollment comes first, because home care is a VA health care benefit. You can apply on va.gov, by phone or at a VA medical center. Your county veterans services office can help you apply for free.
How quickly can care start?
It depends on when VA sends the referral and on caregiver availability near the veteran. Once we receive a referral, we respond promptly and then call you to set up a first home visit. We'll give you an honest start date rather than a hopeful one. If we can't staff the hours VA authorized, we'll tell you and the social worker right away so no time is lost.
Is VA home care becoming more widely available?
Yes. The Dole Act, signed on January 2, 2025, requires VA to make Homemaker/Home Health Aide care and Veteran-Directed Care available at every VA medical center by early 2027. For families, that means home care should become easier to ask for across the country. Here in Southeast Michigan, you can ask your VA social worker about it today.
Care and caregivers
What do your caregivers help with?
Everyday tasks that let a veteran stay safely at home:
- Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
- Moving around the house and getting in and out of bed or a chair
- Meals, light housekeeping and laundry
- Medication reminders
- Errands, rides and companionship
- Dementia-aware care and respite for family caregivers
Do you provide medical or nursing care?
No. Our care is non-medical. Our caregivers are not nurses.
- We do not give medications or injections. We remind.
- We do not do wound care.
- We do not do medical assessments.
If the veteran needs skilled care, talk with the VA care team. If our caregivers notice a change in health, such as new confusion, trouble walking or a poor appetite, we tell you and the VA social worker promptly.
How do you choose and train caregivers?
We look for people who are patient, dependable and respectful of the veterans they serve. Our standard is the same for every caregiver: a background check, including federal exclusion list screening; training before the first unsupervised visit; a hands-on competency check; and ongoing supervision by a care coordinator. Read the details on our compliance page.
Will we have the same caregiver each visit?
That is our goal. Consistency matters, especially for veterans living with memory loss. We assign a primary caregiver and a backup the veteran has met whenever we can. If a caregiver change is needed, we tell you ahead of time.
Can you care for a veteran with dementia?
Yes. Our caregivers are trained in dementia-aware care: calm routines, simple choices, patience with repeated questions, and watching for signs of distress. Family caregivers of veterans with dementia may also qualify for respite. See our respite care page.
Cost and VA benefits
Who pays for care, and will we owe a copay?
VA pays us directly for the hours it authorizes. You won't get a bill from VETTED for those hours.
You may owe VA a copay. Some veterans owe a VA copay for extended care, depending on their priority group and income. Many owe nothing. VA sets the copay, not us. Ask the VA social worker, or see VA health care copay rates.
Can you help us apply for Aid and Attendance?
We can explain what it is. Aid and Attendance is an added monthly payment on a VA pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. But we never prepare, file or charge for benefit claims. Accredited Veterans Service Officers help for free. Start with your county veterans services office or VA's list of accredited representatives.
What if VA authorizes fewer hours than we need, or none?
Start by asking the VA social worker what would change the decision and whether hours can be reviewed later. Needs change, and VA can reassess. Keep a simple log of what's hard each day; it helps when you talk to VA. In the meantime, ask us about private-pay hours to fill the gap. Some families want a longer visit on a hard day, or help on a day VA doesn't cover. We'll talk through availability and cost before anything is scheduled, and you'll never be charged for private-pay hours you didn't agree to in advance.
What is Veteran-Directed Care, and do you take part?
In Veteran-Directed Care, the veteran gets a flexible budget and hires their own caregivers, often family or friends. The veteran decides who helps and when. In Southeast Michigan, AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services manages the program for many veterans; your VA social worker will confirm who handles it where you live. Where the program allows, we can provide backup or short-term care when the veteran's own caregiver is unavailable. Learn more on our Veteran-Directed Care page.
For families
I live out of state. Can I still arrange care for my dad?
Yes. Plenty of families arrange care from a distance. Start by finding out who the VA social worker is; the veteran's primary care clinic can tell you. With the veteran's permission, you can join calls and help plan care. We'll keep you in the loop on scheduling and any changes.
My mom is caring for my dad and she's exhausted. What can help?
You're not alone in feeling that way, and asking for help is the right call. Respite care gives the family caregiver a planned break while a trained caregiver stays with the veteran. It can be a few hours for errands and appointments, or longer so she can truly rest. Many families wait too long to ask. Ask the VA social worker about respite, and read our respite care page.
What makes VETTED different?
VETTED is a service-disabled veteran-owned business founded by Evan Shelline, a Navy veteran. His co-owner, Chris Warburton, has run healthcare operations for more than 15 years. We understand military service from the inside, and we understand what it takes to run home care that shows up on schedule. We serve veterans in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. Read more about us.
What if the veteran needs hospice?
Our veteran-led hospice partnership is still in development and is not yet accepting patients. If you need hospice now, call Lily Hospice directly at (248) 955-5100. Learn more about the hospice partnership.
Independent and veteran-owned. VETTED is not part of, and does not speak for, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA alone decides eligibility and authorized hours. Information on this site is general and is not a benefit determination.