Disabled veterans would have more access to the adult day medical care model under legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
The Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act, S. 324, would enable veterans with 70 percent or more service-connected disabilities to access adult day medical care up to eight hours per day, which would help them remain in their homes and communities.
“Our Utah veterans deserve our utmost care and respect,” Hatch said. “This legislation will give veterans the opportunity to live and spend more time at home with their families while still receiving daily medical care and attention. If signed into law, it would allow state veterans homes — such as those in Ivins, Ogden, Payson and Salt Lake City — to enter into agreements with the VA to provide adult day health care.”
In addition, veterans would receive the same care as living in a veterans’ home, while allowing them to reside at home and stay connected with their families. S. 324 also would provide relief for the families of veterans who regularly provide care.
Kim Wixon, the director of the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home in Ogden, Utah, said Hatch’s bill would help the veterans homes provide adult day health care to “the most fragile and deserving of our veterans.”
“The bill will provide these services to the service-connected veterans at no cost,” Wixon said. “We thank Sen. Hatch for sponsoring this very important and beneficial veterans bill.”
Fred Spanga, the legislative officer at the National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH), said the group strongly supports S. 324.
“Sen. Hatch’s legislation would allow our most disabled veterans to receive the comprehensive medical services available at a state veterans home while returning to the comfort of their own home,” Spanga said. “His bill would also provide tremendous relief to family members, who in most cases are the primary caregivers to these severely disabled veterans. NASVH is grateful to Sen. Hatch for his continued leadership on behalf of America’s heroes.”