Aging vets seek aid for assisted living program

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Advocates are calling on Congress to do more for the millions of aging veterans who can no longer live independently.

Two Senate committees held a rare joint hearing Wednesday to, in part, debate legislation that would create a pilot program to offer assisted living care in state veterans homes.

“To ensure that our veterans have greater access to a full spectrum of long-term care options,” Fred Sganga, the legislative director for the National Association of State Veterans Homes, told lawmakers. “State veterans homes can and must play a greater role in meeting the needs of aging veterans and their caregivers.”

Sganga says the country’s 165 state veterans’ homes currently provide two levels of residential care, at-home or nursing home services. He argues assisted living services would be the perfect middle point: greater support at a lesser cost.

The same legislation would also expand access to home and community-based services for veterans and their caregivers.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that we hear from veterans and caregivers every day who are desperate for the support provided in the provisions of this bill,” said Meredith Beck, the national policy director for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Beck said the legislation should be an easy pass, but it “has seemingly fallen victim to the politics of the day and has been plagued by mischaracterization of its provisions.”

The House could take up the measure as soon as next week.

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