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Veteran-Directed Care Program

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In 2008, ACL, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began a partnership with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to serve veterans of all ages at risk of nursing home placement through the Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) program. Until 2018, this program was known as Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services (VD-HCBS).

The Purpose of the Program and How it Works

The vision is to have a long-term service and supports (LTSS) system that is person-centered and participant-directed, and that helps people at risk of institutionalization to continue to live at home and engage in community life. The VHA will increase access to HCBS to serve the growing demand of veterans who prefer independence at home over living in a nursing facility.

The VDC program provides veterans with opportunities to self-direct their LTSS and continue living independently at home. Eligible veterans manage their own flexible budgets, decide what mix of goods and services best meet their needs, and hire and supervise their own workers. Through an options counselor, the Aging and Disability Network Agency provides facilitated assessment and care/service planning, arranges fiscal management services, and provides ongoing counseling and support to veterans, their families, and caregivers.

Find additional VDC information and resources for Aging & Disability network agencies, VA Medical Centers, and other program stakeholders.

VDC Fact Sheets:

Report by AARP, Commonwealth Fund, and SCAN Foundation on promising practices to support community living for veterans

VDC Resources and Useful Links

If you are a veteran:

If you work for a State Unit on Aging (SUA), Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), Area Agency on Aging (AAA), or Center for Independent Living (CIL):

If you are interested in participant-directed services:

Current Programs

Currently, 72 VA Medical Centers (VAMC) have made at least one veteran referral to the Veteran Directed Care Program (VDC). There are 28 VAMCs who have not yet referred veterans to VDC and are denoted by an asterisk (*) below.

The Aging and Disability Network Agencies (ADNAs) listed below completed VA Readiness Reviews and have been approved as qualified providers for VDC.  ADNAs that subcontract to deliver components of VDC are listed as a sub-bullet under the ADNA who holds the Veteran Care Agreement. As new Readiness Reviews are approved, new VAMCs and ADNAs will be added to the list.

For more information on availability of VDC locally and for questions regarding eligibility, please contact your local VAMC. You can find your nearest VA location.

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Last modified on 02/26/2024


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