Understanding VA Community Care: How Veterans Can Access Contracted Home Care Services

August 6, 2026

For many veterans, receiving high-quality care close to home is not always possible through a VA facility alone. To address this, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established the Community Care program, which enables eligible veterans to receive services from approved providers in their local community when the VA is unable to deliver the care needed. This article outlines how the program works, who qualifies, and how contracted home care providers, such as Nova Leap Health, support veterans through Homemaker and Home Health Aide services.

What Is VA Community Care?

The VA provides care to veterans through community providers when the VA itself is unable to deliver the care needed. Access to community care is determined by specific eligibility requirements, the availability of VA care, and the needs and circumstances of the individual veteran. Importantly, this care is authorized and paid for on the veteran's behalf by the VA, meaning services delivered through a community provider are formally connected to the veteran's existing VA health benefits rather than operating as a separate, out-of-pocket arrangement.

Who Is Eligible for Community Care?

To qualify for community care, a veteran generally must satisfy two core requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or eligible for, VA health care, and
• Obtain approval from a VA health care team prior to receiving care from a community provider, with limited exceptions for urgent or emergency situations.

In addition, at least one of the following conditions must apply:

• The required service is not offered at any VA health facility.
• The veteran resides in a state or territory without a full-service VA health facility.
• The veteran resides in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wyoming.
• The veteran met the 40-mile distance requirement as of June 6, 2018, and continues to meet that standard.
• The VA cannot meet its own standards for drive time or wait time.
• The veteran and their VA provider agree that a community provider is in the veteran's best medical interest.
• The VA cannot provide the needed service in a manner that meets its quality standards.

Veterans interested in applying may do so online through the VA's health care benefits application, by phone through the VA's toll-free hotline, or by mail using VA Form 10-10EZ.

Homemaker and Home Health Aide Services: A Closer Look

One of the most valuable services available under the Community Care program is Homemaker and Home Health Aide care, which allows veterans of any age to remain safely in their own homes. While these aides are not licensed nurses, their work is overseen by a care manager who evaluates each veteran's daily living needs and develops an appropriate plan of care.

This service is particularly well suited to veterans who require assistance with activities of daily living, who may be experiencing social isolation, or whose family caregivers are facing burnout. Homemaker and Home Health Aide services can also be integrated with other Home and Community Based Services, and may serve as an alternative to nursing home placement or as a source of respite care for both veterans and their family caregivers.

Organizations that provide these services do so under a formal contract with the VA. Nova Leap Health is one such organization, offering Veteran Care as part of its broader home care services portfolio to help veterans "remain living in their own home" with dignity and consistent support.

Examples of Covered Daily Activities

Depending on an individual veteran's assessed needs, covered services may include assistance with:

• Eating
• Getting dressed
• Personal grooming
• Bathing
• Using the bathroom
• Moving from one place to another
• Grocery shopping

Veterans may continue to receive these services for as long as ongoing assistance is required.

Making an Informed Decision

The VA offers several tools to help veterans and their families evaluate whether Homemaker and Home Health Aide services are the right fit. The Veteran Decision Aid for Care at Home or in the Community helps veterans weigh their options for long-term and in-home care, while the Caregiver Self-Assessment allows family caregivers to evaluate their own capacity to provide support. Both resources are available through a VA social worker or the VA's Geriatrics program, and are designed to support informed, collaborative decision-making between veterans, their caregivers, and their VA care team.

Why This Matters

The Community Care contract framework reflects a broader recognition that quality care is not always confined to VA facilities. By partnering with established home care providers, the VA extends its reach into communities nationwide, ensuring that veterans facing mobility challenges, chronic conditions, or caregiver burnout have a dependable path to receiving compassionate, professional support at home.

For veterans and families considering these services, the recommended first step is a conversation with a VA social worker or health care team to determine eligibility and identify the most appropriate care option.

Find an office near you to learn more about veteran care services available in your area.

Sources:

• Nova Leap Home Health, "Veteran Care"
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "Community Care"