At Autumn Leaves, we look for ways to assist families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. We have established relationships with several organizations that offer programs to assist with financial aid and other service needs.

Elderlife Financial Services

Elderlife Financial Services (www.elderlifefinancial.com or 888-228-4500) helps families with financing options for memory care assisted living. The company provides bridge loans to help seniors move into the senior living community of their choice, or to supplement their move while waiting for the sale of a home or payment of other benefits.

LifeCare Funding

LifeCare Funding (www.lifecarefunding.com or 888-670-7773 ) helps families explore the option of liquidating a life insurance policy in order to pay for care.

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit

Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a benefit paid by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to veterans or surviving spouses who require the “aid and assistance” of another person for daily care. The benefit is paid in addition to pension, and the benefit may be available not only to veterans, but also to a veteran’s surviving spouse or a spouse who is also a veteran.

To qualify, the veteran must have served at least 90 days, including 1 day during a wartime, e.g., World War I, World War II, Korean conflict, Vietnam era, Gulf War, the Mexican Border Period, or any other war recognized by the U.S. government. Additional income and eligibility requirements apply. To learn more, visit www.benefits.va.gov/pension or ask your Autumn Leaves team for more information.

Families may also want to consider working with an organization experienced in applying for Aid and Attendance benefits,  like Patriot Angels (www.patriotangels.com or 844-432-4040). This organization helps families determine if their loved one is a good candidate for Aid and Attendance before recommending the services of a VA-accredited attorney. There is a fee to cover the services of the specialized attorney, who prepares and submits the application to the VA on the veteran’s behalf and can be instrumental in expediting the application and resulting benefits.

Luke’s Wings

Luke’s Wings (www.lukeswings.org or 866-834-1682) is an organization that provides transportation and other travel assistance to allow a veteran to be with family during a major life event. It also works with veterans in hospice care by helping transport loved ones at the end stage of life.