About the Program
Medical Foster Home (MFH) is a type of Community Residential Care (CRC) home chosen by the veteran who is unable to live independently, as a preferred means to receive family-style living with room, board and personal care. The MFH is matched with the veteran's physical, social, and emotional needs, including supervision and protection. The MFH is appropriate for certain veterans who meet a nursing home level of care and prefer a non-institutional setting for their long-term care.
The MFH coordinator finds a caregiver in the greater Boston area who is willing to take a veteran into their home and provide 24-hour supervision as well as personal assistance. The expectation is that this is a long-term commitment, where the veteran may live a for a few years, often for the remainder of his or her life. The veteran pays the caregiver approximately $1,500 to $3,000 per month, depending on their care needs and the situation.
MFHs are generally distinguished from other CRC homes in that,
the home is generally owned or rented by the caregiver; the MFH caregiver lives in the MFH and provides personal care and supervision; there are not more than three residents receiving care in the MFH, including both veterans and non-veterans; and MFH residents are enrolled in a VA interdisciplinary home care program.
These factors facilitate matching suitable MFH with the greater complexity of this subset of veterans.
Some of these veterans are eligible for fully VA-paid nursing home care, yet they choose to spend their personal funds for MFH because they greatly prefer this type of care. MFH is a welcome alternative to nursing home placement that is safe, favorable to veterans, economically advantageous to the VA facility, and contributes to the community development.
MFH began as a pilot program in Little Rock, Arkansas, with two more programs in Tampa, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a result of its impressive success and potential as a long-term care option for veterans of all ages, MFH has expanded to a growing number of VA facilities through the "Support at Home - Where Heroes Meet Angels" initiative. Veterans with disabling polytrauma are already receiving care through MFH.
If you are interested in learning more about the Medical Foster Home option, please contact the Medical Foster Home Office at 1-800-865-3384 ext. 35681 (or direct line 857-203-5681).
Individuals interested in becoming a caregiver for a veteran are also encouraged to call.
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