Veterans' Home Care
The Veterans' Home Care Program (VHC) provides in-home care and support services to assist DVA clients to maintain their independence to live at home. The VHC Program also assist carers in recognition of the vital role they play in the veteran and defence community.
VHC is not designed to meet complex or high-level personal care needs. These services may be more appropriately provided through the Community Nursing Program.
The following clients are eligible to request an assessment for VHC services:
- Veteran Gold Card holders; or
- Veteran White Card (Specific conditions and/or Non-liability Health Care) holders; and
- living at home; and
- having difficulty performing activities of daily living without help due to Functional Limitations.
VHC Services include:
- Personal Care - includes bathing/showering, toileting, dressing/grooming and eating.
- Respite Care - includes In-home respite (allows a carer to have a break while another carer comes into the home to take over the caring role), Residential respite (short-term care, usually in an Australian Government-subsidised aged care facility), or Emergency short-term home relief (short-term care in the home when the carer is suddenly unable to provide care).
The VHC program also provides Domestic Assistance and Home and Garden Maintenance. Information about these VHC services can be found in section 1.5 of this Manual.
Service limits and co-payments apply to VHC services.
Duplicate benefits
Veterans with conditions accepted under the MRCA or DRCA may choose to access assistance with personal care tasks through either VHC or through the attendant care provisions in the MRCA or DRCA.
The MRCA Treatment Principles prevent veterans accessing Personal Care services from VHC if they are receiving Attendant Care services through the MRCA provisions.
While there is no equivalent legislative impact for veterans with conditions accepted under DRCA, they cannot access duplicate services under VHC and the attendant care provisions.
This approach does not apply to Respite Care services which can only be accessed through the VHC program.
Referrals to VHC
If, after considering a claim, a delegate considers there is no reasonable requirement for attendant care services, veterans may seek an assessment for VHC services.
The VHC assessment agency can be contacted by calling 1300 550 450.
More information about the VHC Program is available from the DVA website.