Veterans resources
The Caregiver Support Program VA Offers, Plus Dementia Resources for Veterans
Caring for a Veteran living with dementia and not sure where to start? The Caregiver Support Program VA offers through every VA medical center includes training, support and, for some families, a monthly stipend. This page explains, in plain language, the VA programs that may help and where to find them in Central Florida.
What is the VA Caregiver Support Program?
The VA Caregiver Support Program helps family members and friends who care for a Veteran. It offers education, peer support, coaching and help finding services, and every VA medical center has a Caregiver Support team.
The program has two parts. One is open to caregivers of Veterans of any era who are enrolled in VA health care. The other is a more intensive program with extra benefits for caregivers of Veterans who meet stricter rules.
ADRC is not part of the VA. The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC), (407) 436-7750, serving Orange and Seminole counties, is a local nonprofit that helps people caring for someone living with dementia, and we can help you think through your next steps.
The two parts of the VA Caregiver Support Program
Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS)
Learn about PGCSSFor caregivers of Veterans enrolled in VA health care who need help with personal care. It includes caregiver training, education, peer support, self-care courses and referrals to VA and community services. You don't need to apply, just contact your local Caregiver Support team.
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
Learn about PCAFCFor family caregivers of eligible Veterans with a serious service-connected injury or illness. Approved primary caregivers may receive a monthly stipend, training, mental health counseling, respite care and, in some cases, health insurance through CHAMPVA. You apply with VA Form 10-10CG.
Who qualifies for the VA caregiver program? Eligibility for the VA Caregiver Support Program
For general caregiver support (PGCSS), the Veteran must be enrolled in VA health care and need help from a caregiver.
For the comprehensive program (PCAFC), the Veteran generally must have a VA service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher and need in-person personal care for at least six continuous months. The VA decides eligibility case by case.
Rules can change, so check the latest on caregiver.va.gov or call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274.
My parent or spouse is a Veteran with dementia. Where do I start?
Call the VA Caregiver Support Line
Call 855-260-3274 to ask questions and be connected with your local Caregiver Support team.
Contact your local VA Caregiver Support team
In Central Florida, start with the Orlando VA Healthcare System.
Make sure the Veteran is enrolled in VA health care
Most VA caregiver and dementia services require it. You can apply for VA health care online.
Apply for the comprehensive program if it fits
Use VA Form 10-10CG. You can complete the VA caregiver application online or on paper. Find the form with the VA forms search.
Get free help with benefits
Your county Veterans service office can help you file claims at no cost. See the list below, and our elder services helplines page for more Florida numbers.
Does the VA pay for dementia care?
It can. The VA offers several kinds of help for Veterans living with dementia, depending on eligibility, need and income. Ask your VA care team which ones fit.
Care at home
VA geriatrics and extended careHome-based primary care, homemaker and home health aide services, and Veteran-Directed Care, which lets eligible Veterans hire their own helpers.
Adult day health care
VA geriatrics and extended careDaytime programs where Veterans can socialize and get care while the caregiver works or rests.
Respite care
VA geriatrics and extended careShort breaks for caregivers, at home or in a VA or community setting.
Nursing home and long-term care
VA geriatrics and extended careVA community living centers, community nursing homes and State Veterans Homes for eligible Veterans.
Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits
Aid and Attendance on va.govExtra monthly payments added to a VA pension for Veterans or surviving spouses who need help with daily activities or are mostly housebound.
TRICARE
Visit TRICAREHealth coverage for eligible military retirees and their families.
VA and dementia: common questions
What is the VA Caregiver Support Program phone number?
The VA Caregiver Support Line is 855-260-3274. Staff can answer questions and connect you with the Caregiver Support team at your local VA medical center.
Does the VA Caregiver Support Program pay a stipend?
Only the comprehensive program (PCAFC) includes a monthly stipend, and only for approved primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans. General caregiver support does not include a stipend.
Can I get paid by the VA to care for my parent or spouse with dementia?
Possibly, through the comprehensive program (PCAFC). Approved primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans may receive a monthly stipend. The Veteran generally needs a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher and at least six continuous months of in-person personal care. You apply with VA Form 10-10CG.
Is there a VA caregiver pay chart or stipend calculator by zip code?
The monthly stipend is only for approved primary family caregivers in the comprehensive program (PCAFC). The VA bases the amount on a federal pay rate for the area where the Veteran lives and on the level of care the Veteran needs, which is why it differs by zip code. Check the current rates on caregiver.va.gov or ask your local Caregiver Support team. Calculators on private websites are estimates only.
Can the VA give me a break from caregiving?
Yes, if the Veteran is eligible. VA respite care offers short breaks for caregivers, at home or in a VA or community setting, and adult day health care gives you time to work or rest. Ask your local VA Caregiver Support team or call 855-260-3274.
Does the VA have dementia care?
Yes. For eligible Veterans enrolled in VA health care, the VA offers care at home, adult day health care, respite care for caregivers, and nursing home and long-term care. Your local VA care team can tell you which services fit your Veteran. See va.gov/geriatrics.
Does the VA pay for dementia care?
It can. Depending on eligibility, need and income, the VA may cover home care, adult day health care, respite and nursing home care, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask your VA care team which benefits apply.
Is dementia considered a VA disability?
It can be. If a Veteran's dementia is linked to military service, for example through a service-connected brain injury, the VA may rate it as service connected. The VA decides each claim individually. A county Veterans service officer can help you file.
Does the VA pay for memory care?
Sometimes. The VA may cover nursing home care for eligible Veterans and offers home and community care. It generally does not pay room and board in assisted living or memory care, but Aid and Attendance payments can help with those costs. Ask your VA care team or a Veterans service officer.
What is Aid and Attendance?
It's an extra monthly amount added to a VA pension for Veterans or surviving spouses who need another person's help with daily activities like bathing, dressing or eating. Learn more at va.gov.
Are there support groups for families of Veterans with dementia?
Yes. The VA Caregiver Support Program offers peer support, and ADRC's free caregiver support groups are open to Veterans' families in person and online.
I never planned to be the caregiver. Is it normal to feel this way?
Yes. Many people become the default caregiver for a parent, spouse or in-law without ever choosing it, and it's normal to feel resentful, guilty, scared or simply unsure you can do it. Not everyone can be the full-time caregiver, and that's okay. VA respite care, adult day health care and home care may share the load, and a caregiver support group is a place to say how you really feel. ADRC's free Care Navigation can help you work out what you can realistically take on.
What do caregivers wish they had done sooner?
Caregivers often say they wish they had started planning earlier. Gather the Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214) and VA documents in one place. Talk about wishes for care and end of life while your Veteran can still tell you. Start VA health care and benefit applications early, because they take time. And ask an elder law attorney or a county Veterans service officer about legal and financial planning.
Can ADRC help me with VA benefits?
ADRC doesn't process VA claims, but our free Care Navigation can help. Think of it like the GPS on your phone: you bring us the problem, and we help you problem-solve, understand your options, plan care and connect with local services. Call (407) 436-7750 or contact us online.
Where can Veterans' families in Central Florida get help with dementia?
Start with the VA Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274 and the Orlando VA Healthcare System. For free local help with dementia caregiving, call the Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) at (407) 436-7750, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. ADRC is a nonprofit serving caregivers in Orange and Seminole counties and across Central Florida, with Care Navigation, support groups, education and referrals.
Veterans resources in Florida and Central Florida
VA and federal
Aid and Attendance
Florida and county Veterans services
Seminole County Veterans Services
Brevard County Veterans Services
Other and special interest
SAVA (in Spanish)
You don't have to figure this out alone
Caring for a Veteran living with dementia is a lot to carry. Roles shift, and the person who once looked after you may now need you for everyday things. Mixed feelings are normal, and the paperwork can feel like one more job. Talk with an ADRC Care Navigator about your situation, free of charge. Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC), (407) 436-7750, serving Orange and Seminole counties.
Related help from ADRC
More ways we can help: