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1. What services are available from the VA Health Care Upstate New York Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Care Line?
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The Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Care Line offers a wide range of programs to help elderly veterans at home, at VA Medical Centers, and at our other Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. Our services such as Home-Based Primary Care, Respite Care, and the Homemaker/Home Health Aide Program are designed to assist those living at home be able to stay there as long as possible.
However, when a veteran is no longer able to live at home, we help to find an appropriate long-term living solution. More information about available services can be found at the Geriatrics & Extended Care Home page.
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2. Does the VA Health Care Upstate New York still offer traditional community living center care to eligible veterans?
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Community living center care is provided to veterans who do not need to be in the hospital but do need full-time nursing care and related medical or psychosocial services. However, our focus is on "transitional care" that leads to the patient's planned return to a community setting. This might include returning home (possibly with some home services), moving to an adult care home, or going to a community living center. This approach allows us to help veterans and their families, thoroughly plan for their long-term living arrangements. . Also, whether veterans are residing in a community living center, a residential care facility, or in their own home, our acute health care services remain available should their needs change.
If you have medical or eligibility questions, you can call the VA Health Care Upstate New York TelCare number 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-888-838-7890.
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3. What is "VA eligibility" and am I eligible for VA Geriatrics & Extended Care services?
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Eligibility for VA healthcare is evolving as a result of a law passed by Congress in 1996. After September 30, 1998, veterans must be "enrolled" with the VA to receive medical care. Through this enrollment process, eligibility for healthcare services is established. For a complete guide to VA Enrollment including how to enroll, visit the VISN 2 Enrollment Guide.
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4. If I need to come to the VA community living center, can I stay there always?
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Our community living centers are designed to be temporary transitional care facilities. However, when it's clear that a return home is not possible, we work with facilities in the community to help plan long-term living arrangements for the veteran. Our staff work very closely with our patients, their families, and our community partners to ensure the most appropriate planning is completed. This approach allows us to help more veterans receive the care they need.
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5. If my insurance company is paying the VA for my community living center stay, why can't I just stay?
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Our goal is to assist as many veterans as possible get the help they need. If veterans remained in our community living centers indefinitely, our beds would quickly fill to capacity and we would not be able to help other veterans who need this level of care. The number of elderly veterans requiring skilled nursing care will increase rapidly during the next five years. Therefore, it is critical that we take appropriate steps to ensure that we will be able to continue to effectively meet their needs. Finally, it is important to note that most insurance companies do not provide coverage for extended community living center stays.
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6. What is respite care?
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Respite care is a program that provides the person caring for a sick or disabled veteran with a break from caregiving duties. The veteran is typically admitted to the Medical Center for a brief stay of one to two weeks. Respite care can be used for a variety of reasons. Examples include: if the caregiver becomes sick; needs to go out of town; or simply needs a break from the stress of providing "around-the-clock" care. Respite care can be a key element in being able to help the veteran live at home for as long as possible. Respite care is available for up to four weeks per calendar year and is planned in advance.
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7. Can I keep my personal doctor if I'm using GEC services?
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When you are enrolled in the VA healthcare system and receive GEC services, you are assigned a VA provider (physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner). We encourage you to use this healthcare provider so we can ensure that your care is consistent, thorough, and well coordinated. We refer to this as "continuity of care" and it helps us guarantee that you get the help you need, when you need it.
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8. Would a terminally ill patient be discharged to a community facility?
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Within our community living centers we offer a service called palliative care. This service is for terminally ill patients who are not receiving treatment to cure their illness, but still need supportive care and help as they near the end of their lives. Generally, these patients are not discharged unless they choose to return home or to be placed in a facility closer to their families. Those returning home are usually referred to our Home Based Primary Care program or to a community-based hospice program.
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9. What is Advanced Illness and Palliative Care Consultation?
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The Advanced Illness Coordinated Care and Palliative Care Consult Programs provide care to veterans with advancing or terminal illness. The specially trained staff from both programs provide guidance and support to and their families during the advancement of a disease or terminal illness.
The Advanced illness Coordinated Care Program provides patients and their families’ access to a registered nurse or social worker who can assist them in getting information on their illness and types oft treatment available. Working with patients, their families and the patient’s healthcare team they also provide guidance on treatment, and counseling to patients and their families in coping with advance illness.
The Palliative Care Consult Teams includes, physicians, and medical care provider, symptom and pain management specialists, nurses, pharmacists and social workers who can help veterans their families and the patient’s healthcare team with managing pain, assisting with referrals to needed services, plan for future care and ensure your wishes are carried out.
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10. What Hospice Care is available through the VA?
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Hospice care is a benefit available to all enrolled veterans. Hospice services, are provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers, emphasize relief of suffering and maintenance of functional capacity as long as possible through comprehensive management of the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the patient. These programs also provide support for the patients’ families or other caregivers, including bereavement support following the death of the patient. Hospice services may be provided in the home or in an inpatient setting. Generally inpatient hospice is provided in a VA facility. Community hospice care can also be arranged for through certified community hospice agencies. Typically Medicare pays for hospice care delivered in the community. VA may also purchase community hospice care for veterans at locally negotiated rates.
Your local VA Medical Centers also are actively involved in local Hospice/VA partnerships as we share the same goals to honor veterans’ preferences for their care and work to increase access to quality care at end of life.
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