The Veteran Directed Care (VDC) Program is one of several Personal Care Services (PCS) providing supportive care to Veterans, allowing them to age safely and independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible. In VDC, Veterans manage a Veteran-specific monthly budget to purchase goods and services to best meet their needs. This includes directly hiring employees, including family members and friends, to provide personal care services.

Since Veteran-Directed Care is part of the VHA Standard Medical Benefits Package, all enrolled Veterans are eligible IF they meet the clinical need for the service.

Veteran Directed Care gives Veterans of all ages the opportunity to receive the Home and Community Based Services they need. The program provides services to Veterans to help them remain in their home or the home of a loved one, with the support of paid caregivers and purchased services such as: help with personal care, medications and meals, rides, errands, housekeeping and maintaining your home. The program also provides memory care support, caregiver education, coaching and relief care.

Veterans in this program are given a budget for services that is managed by the Veteran or the Veteran’s representative. With the help of a VA counselor, Veterans hire their own workers to meet their daily needs to help them live at home or in their community With Veteran-directed the veteran is in control of their life and how they live it. You can get support with what you need in the way you need it and make choices about your services and support by hiring the people you want to provide your services. Money gets approved for you to use to hire workers and buy support and goods. You will work with Sioux Falls VA staff to create a spending plan for that money.

You are responsible for following the VDC rules and to use your budget wisely. You will need to make sure your workers are doing their job to your satisfaction.

For more information, contact Charles Mix County Veterans Service Officer Jerry Seiner at 605-4877691 (office) or 605-481-1338 (cell).