Families in Washington often don’t know where to start when an older veteran needs care. This guide sets out the main benefits in the order most people need them.
(“Call MOVA’s District Veteran Service Officer.”, ‘MOVA, at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street NW, handles pension claims for District residents; call 202-724-5454 to set up help12.’)
VA benefits
- Health care. The Washington DC VA Medical Center at 50 Irving Street NW is the main VA site, with District clinics at 820 Chesapeake Street SE and a Community Resource and Referral Center at 1500 Franklin Street NE, plus clinics in nearby Maryland and Virginia3. If getting to Irving Street has become hard, ask VA about travel pay and about care closer to home.
- Pension and Aid and Attendance. Tax-free monthly money for wartime veterans and survivors with limited income who need care; see Aid and Attendance in DC4.
- Caregiver support. VA's Caregiver Support Program helps family caregivers5.
District programs
- DC Medicaid long-term care. Income up to $2,982 a month in 2026 and $4,000 in resources for one person6.
- EPD Waiver. Home and community services, including Services My Way; call 202-724-562678.
- Department of Aging and Community Living. Information and help for older residents, people with disabilities and caregivers9.
- Property tax. See the disabled veteran deduction.
Where to live
DC has no state veterans home. The Armed Forces Retirement Home on North Capitol Street accepts eligible veterans and their spouses who can live independently when they arrive, and charges a fee based on income1011. See veterans home options. For care settings, compare assisted living, home care, memory care and nursing home care.
A sensible order
Getting care through VA in the city
Washington’s veterans have the unusual advantage of a full VA medical center inside the city limits on Irving Street NW, with a community clinic at 820 Chesapeake Street SE and a Community Resource and Referral Center at 1500 Franklin Street NE for veterans who are homeless or at risk of losing housing3. If an older veteran isn’t enrolled yet, enrollment is the first step; it unlocks primary care, Home Based Primary Care, homemaker and home health aide help, and respite for family caregivers when the veteran qualifies131415.
For families who want control over who comes into the home, ask about Veteran-Directed Care, which gives eligible veterans a flexible budget to hire their own helpers16.
Money for care costs
The VA pension with Aid and Attendance is tax-free and can be paid to a wartime veteran or a surviving spouse whose care costs leave little income417. Because paid care counts as a medical expense, a family paying an aide or an assisted living residence may qualify even with a moderate pension or Social Security check18.
On the District side, long-term care Medicaid has a spend-down for people whose income is over the limit, reviewed every six months6. A nursing home resident on Medicaid keeps a $109 personal needs allowance in 202619.
Help for family caregivers
Caring for a parent in a rowhouse with steep stairs is hard work. DACL can point families to caregiver support, adult day programs and respite in each ward9. VA’s Caregiver Support Program offers training, peer support and, for veterans who qualify, more structured help5. The EPD Waiver covers adult day health and respite as well7.
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for a crisis. Medicaid and VA applications take time; start early.
- Paying for claim help. MOVA's District Veteran Service Officers help without charge2.
- Overlooking property tax. A veteran rated 100% P&T may cut the tax bill sharply20.
- Assuming AFRH can take someone who needs care now. Admission requires independent living10.
Help close to home
The District is divided into eight wards, and much of the help older residents use, from senior wellness centers to meal programs and transportation, is organized locally through DACL’s network9. Ask DACL which lead agency serves your ward, and whether it can send someone to help with a home assessment.
For veterans east of the Anacostia River, the VA clinic on Chesapeake Street SE can save a long trip to Irving Street for routine visits3. Veterans without stable housing can walk into the Community Resource and Referral Center on Franklin Street NE3.
If a parent lives in DC and you live in Maryland or Virginia, keep in mind that Medicaid and the property tax deduction are District programs tied to where your parent lives, while VA benefits follow the veteran wherever they are.