The Problem You See Every Day
A patient is ready for discharge. They need home care. But the family says they can't afford $40-55/hour. So they go home without help, or you scramble for alternatives. The referral never happens because everyone assumes there's no way to pay.
What If They Could Afford It?
Most families don't know they qualify for funding that can cover home care. VA Aid & Attendance pays up to $3,740/month. Long-term care insurance policies sit unused. Life insurance can be converted to care funding. The WA Cares Fund launches July 2026. We screen families for all of it, for free, in 2 minutes.
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Funding Sources
We Check
We Check
2 min
Screening
Time
Time
$0
Cost to
Family
Family
How It Works
1
Share the Discharge Guide with families
One link covers everything: discharge gaps, home care services, and a free funding screener.
View Discharge Guide →2
Family answers 8 simple questions
Veteran status, insurance policies, income range, zip code. Takes 2 minutes. No medical info needed.
3
They see what they qualify for
Instant results showing matched funding sources with dollar amounts and next steps.
4
We do the heavy lifting
Families who want help can book a free assessment call. We produce a complete Benefits Profile report covering every funding source available to them.
What We Screen For
$3,740/mo
VA Aid & Attendance
Tax-free for veterans & surviving spouses
$500+/day
LTC Insurance
Most families don't know they have it
25-90%
Life Insurance
Convert to care funding, often tax-free
$36,500
WA Cares Fund
New state benefit, July 2026
$830/mo
TSOA
Middle-class families, no Medicaid needed
$2,500
GUIDE Program
Free dementia care coordination
Discharge Funding Quick Reference
Use this during discharge planning. Tap a patient situation to see which funding sources to check.
Patient is a veteran or spouse of veteran
+
| VA Aid & Attendance | $2,358-3,740/mo | Cash to family. Wartime service + ADL needs. 3-6 months. |
| VA Homemaker/HHA | VA pays agency | VA refers directly. No cost to veteran. Weeks. |
| VA Respite Care | 30 days/year | In-home, adult day, or facility. Caregiver relief. |
| Veteran Directed Care | Flexible budget | Western WA only. Spouses CAN be paid. |
Ask: "Did you or your spouse serve in the military?" Call VA: 1-800-827-1000
Patient may have LTC insurance
+
| Private LTCI Policy | $50-500+/day | Needs 2+ ADL deficits. 30-90 day elimination period. |
| Federal LTCIP (FLTCIP) | $183-244/day | Federal employees/retirees. Call 1-800-LTC-FEDS. |
| Hybrid Life/LTC | Varies | Growing in popularity. Check life insurance policies too. |
Ask: "Do you have any long-term care insurance, possibly through a past employer?" Most claims are delayed by documentation, not real ineligibility.
Patient has dementia or Alzheimer's
+
| GUIDE Program | Free + $2,500 respite | Medicare A&B (not MA). No referral needed. Through 2032. |
| Viatical Settlement | 25-90% of life ins. | Chronic illness qualifies. Often 100% tax-free. |
| SDCP | Full coverage | Medicaid. Dementia-specific memory care in ALF setting. |
GUIDE is the biggest benefit most families never heard of. No cost-sharing. 8-year pilot. Runs through Rippl Care in WA.
Patient can't afford care but earns too much for Medicaid
+
| TSOA | Up to $830/mo | 55+, income up to $3,868/mo. No Medicaid. No estate recovery. |
| WA Cares Fund | $36,500 lifetime | WA workers who paid payroll tax. Benefits start July 2026. |
| Medicare Savings | Saves $2,220+/yr | WA pays Part B premium. No asset test. Frees cash for care. |
| Property Tax Exemption | Saves $500-3K/yr | Homeowner 61+, income under $58K. Frees cash. |
TSOA is the middle-class gap filler. Call Area Agency on Aging: 1-855-567-0252
Patient has life insurance
+
| Policy Loan | Up to cash value | Permanent life insurance. Low interest. Policy stays active. |
| Life Settlement | 20-40% face value | 65+, policy $100K+. Lump sum. 2-6 weeks. |
| Viatical Settlement | 25-90% face value | Terminal/chronic illness. Often tax-free. 2-8 weeks. |
Ask: "Do you have any life insurance policies?" Biggest hidden gem for families with chronic illness.
Patient needs care NOW but funding takes months
+
| Bridge Loan | $5K-$500K | 24-72 hours. ElderLife/Second Act wire to agency. 6-12% APR. |
| HELOC | Up to 85% equity | 2-4 weeks. Better for short-term needs under 5 years. |
| Reverse Mortgage | Varies by equity | 62+, homeowner. 30-60 days. No monthly payments. |
Bridge loans solve the waiting gap. Family starts care immediately, benefits reimburse later. Never accept family cash directly — it may count as Medicaid/VA income.
Patient qualifies for Medicaid
+
| COPES Waiver | Full care covered | Income under $2,901/mo. Nursing facility level. Waitlist possible. |
| CFCO | Full care covered | Entitlement — no waitlist. Family can be paid (~$15.50/hr). |
| MPC | Full care covered | Income under $994/mo. No 60-month look-back. No waitlist. |
| PACE | All-inclusive | Dual eligible. 9 WA centers: Seattle, Kent, Redmond, Spokane, etc. |
Call DSHS: 1-877-501-2233. CFCO is an entitlement (no waitlist) — start there if nursing facility level of care.
Bookmark this page. It's updated as programs change. You'll always have the current rates, thresholds, and phone numbers at your fingertips.
Key Phone Numbers
VA Benefits
1-800-827-1000
LTCFEDS (Federal LTC)
1-800-582-3337
DSHS Aging Support
1-877-501-2233
WA Cares Fund
855-600-5286
Area Agency on Aging
1-855-567-0252
SHIBA (Free Medicare Help)
1-800-562-6900
Medicare
1-800-633-4227
A Place At Home — Kirkland
(425) 553-3775
Or scan this QR code
Print this and keep it at your desk. Families scan with their phone camera. Goes to the Discharge Guide with funding screener built in.
Questions? Partner With Us
Stella & Andrew, PhD — Care Navigators
A Place At Home, Kirkland
(425) 553-3775