What is a VA Medical Foster Home?

• A VA Medical Foster Home (MFH) provides a safe, supportive, long-term care option for Veterans in a comfortable home environment.

• MFHs can serve as an alternative to a nursing home for Veterans. It may be appropriate for those who require nursing home care but prefer a non-institutional setting with fewer residents.

• MFHs are private residences where the caregiver and relief caregivers provide care and supervision 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This caregiver can help the Veteran carry out activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed. VA ensures that the caregiver is well trained to provide  VA planned care. While living in a MFH, Veterans receive Home Based Primary Care.

• Home Based Primary Care is defined as health care services provided to Veterans in their home. A VA physician supervises the health care team

who provides the services. Home Based Primary Care is for Veterans who have complex health care needs for whom routine clinic-based care is

not effective.

• MFH caregivers and relief caregivers are thoroughly vetted and receive VA background checks. The VA inspects and approves all MFH. Additionally, these homes are continually inspected to ensure compliance.

• While VA helps coordinate care, VA MFHs are not provided or paid for by VA. To be eligible for a MFH, Veterans need to be enrolled in Home Based Primary Care, and a home needs to be available. 

• Veterans will have to pay for the MFH directly. The charge for a MFH varies based on income and the level of care needed. The specific cost is  agreed upon by the Veteran and the MFH caregiver ahead of time.