I think I'm going to apply. Is there any way to find out the questions they ask ahead of time so my wife can be prepared?
I know there is some sort of "assessment" with a scoring system but I do not have the questions they will ask.
Good deal, in retrospect, a military veteran is eligible for a Primary or Secondary Family Caregiver under 38 CFR Parts 17 and 71, Section 71.20 if she or he meets all of the following requirements:
a. Did the Veteran or Servicemember (undergoing medical discharge) incur or aggravate a serious injury including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder, in the line of duty, on or after September 11, 2001?
YES
b. Due to the serious injury(ies) sustained by the Veteran or Servicemember, is another person (Caregiver) required to assist with the management of personal care functions required in everyday living?
YES
c. Based on this serious injury, will the Veteran or Servicemember require the assistance of another person (Caregiver) to be able to manage personal care functions required in everyday living for a continuous period of a minimum of six months?
YES
d. Is it clinically in the best interest of the Veteran or Servicemember to participate in the Family Caregiver Program?
YES
e. Will the Veteran or Servicemember receive care at home from the Family Caregiver upon admission into the Family Caregiver Program?
YES
f. Will the Veteran or Servicemember receive ongoing health care from a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) or other VA health care team? (This does not preclude co-management with a community provider).
YES
g. Will the Family Caregiver be providing personal care services without another individual entity, or program providing the same services concurrently?
YES
Indeed, there are four distinct steps with the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers application process are listed below as follows:
Step One: Veteran Assessment - A team from VA will coordinate arrangements to complete a clinical eligibility assessment. This will include evaluating what assistance the Veteran needs with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, grooming, and/or need for supervision or protection.
Step Two: Caregiver Assessment - The CSC will complete a Primary Family Caregiver assessment to review the care giving role and responsibilities as well as certifying the Caregiver's ability to provide personal care services and/or supervision or protection. A Release of Information and Caregiver certification will be required.
Step Three: Caregiver Training - Training is completed by the Primary and Secondary Family Caregiver once it is determined the Veteran meets clinical eligibility criteria. Training can be completed in one of three ways:
1) Attending the Family Caregiver classroom training (we highly recommend this option, though locations and availability may vary);
2) Completing the training online (this is a quick and interactive way to complete the training); or
3) Self-study using a workbook and DVD that will be mailed to you.
Step Four: In-Home Visit - Once the Primary Family Caregiver has completed training, a DoVA clinician will conduct a home visit. The purpose of this visit is to make sure that the Primary Family Caregiver and Veteran has everything they need to be safe and successful in the home setting.
After the In-Home Visit is completed and the DoVA Caregiver Support application is reviewed and approved, the Primary Family Caregiver will begin receiving a monthly stipend based on the Veteran's level of need and required assistance.
Basically, the assessment called "Caregiver Program Veteran Eligibility Assessment" shall include the following areas:
In reference to Activities of Daily Living (ADL) areas, the veteran needs assistance to perform
one or more of the following:
- Dressing and undressing self
- Personal hygiene
- Grooming
- Toileting
- Feeding self
- Device
- Mobility
In reference to Supervision, Protection, Assistance area; the veteran needs supervision, protection, or assistance based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury (including Traumatic Brain Injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorders) due to any
ONE of the following:
- Seizures
- Difficulty with planning and organizing
- Safety risks
- Difficulty with sleep regulation
- Delusions/hallucinations
- Difficulty with recent memory
- Self-regulation
The ADL and Supervision/protection scales are scored as follows:
High Dependence: 28-21
Moderate Dependence: 20-13
Low Dependence: 12-1
As such, the scoring guide is as follows:
4 = TOTAL ASSISTANCE (Veteran completes < 25% of task/activity or is unable to do task without assistance)
3 = MAXIMAL ASSISTANCE (Veteran completes 25-49% of task/activity with some hands on help)
2 = MODERATE ASSISTANCE (Veteran completes 50-75% of task/activity with some hands on help)
1 = MINIMAL ASSISTANCE (Veteran completes 75% or more of task/activity with supervision coaching assistance)
0 = COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE (Veteran completes task/activity without help)
Hope this helps, and take care brother!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!