THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS
WHO'S ELIGIBLE
Patients with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia covered by Medicare Part B.
WHAT YOU GET
Specialized services including outpatient physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
HOW IT WORKS
For those dealing with memory loss, occupational therapy and physical therapy can be key to coping with the tasks of daily living. To qualify, you just need your doctor to prescribe the treatment, and then use a Medicare-certified therapist. Although Medicare doesn't usually cover psychological services by nonphysicians, there's an exception for Alzheimer's care. (Coverage extends to clinical psychologists or medical social workers who are Alzheimer's care specialists, as long as they're Medicare-certified).
TIP
If you have Medicare Part C coverage, also called Medicare Advantage, you may be entitled to even more counseling or to additional services.
HELP WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES
WHO'S ELIGIBLE
Those over 60 or disabled.
WHAT YOU GET
Free or low-cost home and yard maintenance and moving help.
HOW IT WORKS
If you're struggling to maintain your home, it may be possible to obtain help with all those household tasks that have become difficult or impossible to cope with. Under the auspices of the Older Americans Act, many Area Agencies on Aging offer help with household chores as part of the umbrella of services they offer to help people live independently in their homes. Area Agencies on Aging can cover a wide array of household chores including seasonal cleaning, yard work, and household repairs that don't require a specialized license. They'll sometimes even cover pest control if it's part of overall house maintenance. They'll also send someone out to help with lifting and moving furniture, appliances, and other heavy objects.
In some areas, the Area Agency on Aging charges a fee for these services, but it's typically much less than you'd normally pay. Some programs are free but require participants to pay for the services upfront, and then apply for grants for reimbursement. In many cases, the minimum age to qualify is 60.
For more information contact your local Area Agency on Aging.
FREE TRANSPORTATION
WHO'S ELIGIBLE
People with mobility problems and seniors.
WHAT YOU GET
Transportation to and from your home to appointments and activities.
HOW IT WORKS
Paratransit is the official term for transportation provided by local communities for those who can't drive or comfortably use regular public transportation. These services vary by community, but typically it's a door-to-door van service that's available by appointment. The services are provided by local government agencies, but they receive federal funds intended to guarantee access for the disabled and elderly.
To find out more about the federally funded transportation options in your area, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.
BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS
WHO'S ELIGIBLE
Veterans approved for eligibility with the Veteran's Administration.
WHAT YOU GET
A grave site and headstone and, for some, a burial allowance for funeral expenses.
HOW IT WORKS
If you're a veteran, you're eligible to be buried in any of the 131 national cemeteries, or in the state cemetery in the state you're living in at the time of death. Your spouse and children are eligible for the same benefit. The choice to be buried in a particular cemetery depends on whether there are grave sites available, and grave sites can't be reserved prior to death. There's no cost to your family for the grave site or for a government headstone or marker, which the cemetery provides. However, this benefit doesn't include the cost of either a funeral or cremation, which must be made privately.
For vets who prefer to be buried in a private cemetery, the government will still provide a government headstone or marker and burial flag. In addition, the Veteran's Administration offers a funeral and burial allowance to some veterans. If a veteran dies of a service-related disability, the V.A. pays up to $2,000 for burial expenses, plus the cost of transportation to a V.A. national cemetery. If the death isn't service-related but the veteran died while receiving care at a V.A. hospital or one under contract to the V.A., or the veteran is on a veteran's pension, the V.A. will pay up to $700 for funeral and burial expenses and another $700 for the cost of a burial plot or interment space.
To find out more about medical and death benefits for veterans, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs.