Military Retirement - Military Times

Retirement Homes

Numerous retirement and long-term care facilities are available to veterans. These include 134 VA nursing homes and 2,500 contracts with community nursing homes. In addition, 47 states operate a total of 120 veterans’ home programs, 51 state home domiciliaries, five state home hospitals and two state home adult day health care programs. Many impose no charges or reduced fees. Priority goes to those who face the greatest financial hardship.

Armed Forces Retirement Homes. A facility with a special relationship to the military is the Armed Forces Retirement Home Washington.

Contact: Admissions Office, Armed Forces Retirement Home Washington, 3700 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20317-0001; (800) 422-9988 or (202) 722-3336.

A second home, the Armed Forces Retirement Home Gulfport, Miss., was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Congress is debating various proposals for rebuilding the home.

VA domiciliaries. VA domiciliaries operate in 43 VA facilities and provide institutional care to veterans who are not acutely ill and do not need hospital care. They offer short-term rehabilitation and long-term health maintenance to veterans who require minimal medical care. Patients typically return to their communities.

VA domiciliaries provide special programs for homeless veterans and those with chronic mental illness.

VA nursing homes. VA operates nursing home care units supported by the clinical specialties of a hospital, for veterans requiring more-intensive care. Certain veterans with service-connected disabilities or low income are eligible for free nursing home care, if space and resources are available.

Other veterans can be considered for nursing home care, but space is limited.

Contact: For general information about enrolling in VA health care benefits, visit www.va.gov/healtheligibility or call (877) 222-8387.