![Elders socializing](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20080917213013im_/http://www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg/images/nhcu.jpg) |
VA NURSING HOME CARE
|
|
Mission
The mission of the VA Nursing Home Care Program is to provide compassionate care in an interdisciplinary environment to eligible veterans with sufficient functional impairment to require the level of service an skill available in VA nursing homes. Veterans with chronic stable conditions including dementia, those requiring rehabilitation or short term specialized services such as respite or intravenous therapy, or those who need comfort and care at the end of life are served in the VA Nursing Home Care Units.
Goal of Care
The goal of care in nursing home care units is to restore the resident to maximum function, prevent further decline, maximize independence, and/or provide comfort when dying. Most VA nursing home care units are well suited to providing short-term, restorative and rehabilitative care up to 100 days, and longer term care for veterans who meet eligibility criteria and/or require end of life care, prolonged active rehabilitation, are unable to sustain a placement in a community nursing home, or lack clinically appropriate community alternative.
Location
The majority of VA Nursing Home Care Units are located on the campus of VA Medical Centers throughout the United States. Facility Directory.
Admission Criteria
To qualify for VA nursing home care unit care the following must be met:
a. The veteran must be medically and psychiatrically stable,
b. The primary type of service needed must be documented according to paragraph 3
of the Directive,
c. The anticipated length of stay is documented,
d. The anticipated discharge disposition from the Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU)
is documented, and
e. Priority for the NHCU is established and documented. NOTE: Special populations
for whom community placement is difficult will receive special consideration.
f. The veteran must be enrolled in the VA for health care.
For more information: VHA Directive 2005-061
|