VAMedicalFosterHome_Maurer_Presentation_LVMAC_15May2024.pdf

Presentation by the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center's Medical Foster Home Coordinator, Margaret Maurer, at the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council meeting on 15 May 2024 on the subject of "Medical Foster Home: Why Now? What the Heck is It?”

1. 1
VA Medical Foster Home
Margaret Maurer, LCSW,
Medical Foster Home Coordinator VA Medical Foster Home 
Program

2. 1) Define and describe a Medical Foster Home for Veterans
2) Requirements of establishing a Medical Foster Home and serving as a caregiver
3) The role of the VA in supporting the Medical Foster Home Program/Caregiver.
4) The ‘Why’: Developing and implementing programs
5) The ‘Goals’ of the MFH Program
6) Contact Information
2
OBJECTIVES:

3. 3
Medical Foster Home Criteria
•Medical Foster Homes are an  alternative housing 
option for Senior Veterans
•Medical Foster Homes (MFH) are private homes in 
which a homeowner becomes a Caregiver for a 
Veteran
•The Caregiver must live in the home and either 
own or rent the home. 
•Spare room(s)
•Willing to give 24/7 supervision
•There
 can be up to 3 residents in each Medical 
Foster Home. 

4. •Have a nurturing disposition and a 
desire to care for Veterans in their home
•In order to successfully provide 24/7 
supervision and care, caregiver has a 
relief worker.
•Provide support with all Activities of 
Daily Living
•Provide three healthy meals per day as 
well as snacks.
•Provide and coordinate transportation
4
Caregivers in Medical Foster Home
JI0

5. Slide 4 JI0
Redundant?? Jensen, Inger, 2024-01-31T15:34:19.158
MK0 0
yep. i have some info from research articles about MFH caregivers that i can add to beef things up. Mazza, Kamie, 2024-01-31T16:31:41.663
JI0 1
cool Jensen, Inger, 2024-01-31T18:10:56.575

6. 5
RECRUITMENT

7. 6
Application Process
•Interested Medical Foster Home Caregivers choose to open their personal 
home to a Veteran and serve as the Veteran’s primary caregiver. 
–Phone screening and interview
–Application
–Provide three personal references
–Criminal history check
–Medical clearance
–CPR & First Aid certification
–Demonstrate financial stability
–Home inspection by VA multidisciplinary team
•Fire safety, dietician, rehab therapist, social work, nursing

8. Medical Foster Home Coordinator:
•Frequent contact with caregivers
•Understand family dynamics
•Assess for signs of burnout, fatigue, frustration
•Provide support and advocate for caregivers
•Unannounced visits are required
•Advocate for the veteran and Caregiver
•Working closely with the HBPC, CG and the
Veteran
7
Support, Education, and Oversight of Caregivers
MK0

9. Slide 7 MK0
Add info about 24/7 nurse triage & binder with emergency procedures . Possible list of emergency procedure Mazza, Kamie, 2024-02-05T19:17:37.821
JI0 0
Do u think slide #22 addresses this adequately? Jensen, Inger, 2024-02-09T14:04:39.478
MK0 1
yes, that's where i added the info. i just didn't remove this comment. thanks for checking with me Mazza, Kamie, 2024-02-09T15:18:37.740

10. VETERAN
Physician
APRN
RN
Social 
Worker
Psychology
OT/PT/RT
Dietician
Pharmacy
8
HBPC Model
Interdisciplinary team:Nurse, Social Worker, Dietitian,  
Pharmacist, Physical/Occupational Therapist, Mental 
Health Provider, Recreation Therapist
Medical Foster Home is Veteran centric, including medical and 
mental health care, food preparation, spirituality and recreation.
•Essential care for the Veteran 
•Support to the caregiver 
•Education and training 
•Additional oversight in the home 
•Part 
of the Inspection process 
•Work closely with MFH Coordinator 
•Help assess Veteran referrals to MFH
•Ongoing treatment planning 
•Open team communication 

11. 9
Home Inspection
Fireand Safety    Nursing         Social Work 
Nutrition 

12. Emergency preparedness
•Fire drills, smoke detector testing
•Emergency/disaster food plan
•Natural disaster plan
•Recognizing and planning for 
medical and mental health 
emergencies 
•24/7 nurse triage line
10
Support, Education, and Oversight of Caregivers
Presenter: Kamie Mazza

13. Trainings/Support
•Provision of personal care, specific to ADLs
•Crisis management and re‐hospitalization 
procedures
•Provisions of supportive and emotional care
•Nutrition and food preparation
•Applicable VA policies
•Privacy and confidentiality (HIPAA)
•End of Life topics
11
Support, Education, and Oversight of Caregivers
Presenter: Kamie Mazza

14. •Unable to safely live 
independently
•Veterans that prefer a non‐
institutional setting with fewer 
residents. 
•There is no other suitable 
caregiver
•Medical conditions 
•Has sufficient income for the 
program
•Willingness to be a resident 
•Willing to work with Home Based 
Primary Care (HBPC) for medical 
services
12
Veterans in the homes

15. •Allows Veteran Choices
•Cost Effective
•Improved quality of life
•Home‐Cooked Meals
•Fewer Residents
•Personalized Care
•Continued access to local community
•Safety
•Possibility of pets
•Dental Care
13
Benefits to the Veteran 

16. In a recent MFH satisfaction survey data, 94% of Veterans either agreed or strongly agreed that they are overall pleased 
with the Medical Foster Home and wish to remain in that setting.
14

17. 15
"I got that feeling of Family!"

18. •Medical Foster Home Caregivers are paid 
for their care, directly by the Veteran or 
the Veteran’s family.
•The monthly rate is negotiated between 
the Veteran and the caregiver and based 
upon the level of care needed.
•A Veteran and/or the Veteran’s family 
will operate from a signed agreement 
that will 
define the services to be 
provided.
16
Cost:
•Average monthly rate ranges from approx. $2,200 to $3,500+  and includes transportation, 
medication management, room, board, daily care and 24‐hour supervision
•HUD/VASH 

19. 17
THECONCERNS............
Presenter: Margaret Maurer
•Baby Boomers: Born between 1946 and 1964
•2011 Baby Boomers started to celebrate their 65th Birthday;
•Daily 10,000 more will cross that threshold, by 2029 all Baby
Boomers will be 65 or older
705 Licensed 
Nursing 
Homes
Over 88,000 beds
91% 
occupied
What do these numbers show:
There is a significant demand for an increase in services for the 
Aging Veteran, this includes personal and medical care, support 
services for mobility issues and transportation and most 
importantly, a choice of a place to age with grace and 
dignity. 

20. "As Veterans age, approximately 80% will develop the need for long‐term services and 
supports. Most of this support in the past has been provided by family members.” 
1
•VA Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) is working to:
•Identify current and future needs of Veterans for long‐term care based on demographic 
data and availability of services
•Identify current and future needs for both institutional and non‐institutional long‐term 
care
•Address new and different care delivery models
•Home and Community Based Care expansion (includes MFH)
18
Medical Foster Home Expansion
Presenter: Kamie Mazza
1. STATEMENT OF M. CHRISTOPHER SASLO, DNS, APRN‐BC, FAANP, ASSISTANT 
UNDER SECRETARY FOR PATIENT CARE SERVICES/CHIEF NURSING OFFICER 

21. 19
Veterans
65+ Veterans
55%
<64 Veterans
45%
Pennsylvania: Percentage of Veterans 
65+ (2020)
Pennyslvania USA
National Population of Veterans 65+

22. Discussion & Questions
20
Thank You
Margaret Maurer, LCSW 
WB VAMC 
1111 E. End Blvd.
Wilkes Barre, PA 18711
(570) 824‐3521   (570) 388‐
5050
[email protected]

23. 21
Medical Foster HomeExpansion

24. 22
FAQ?
•How does respite care work if the CG giver wants to take a vacation 
or have a day off.  
•Who chooses the relief and are they vetted like the CG 
•What are the trainings requirements ?  
•What is required for fire safety? 
•What is the Criteria for HBPC?    •How is the veteran protected from abuse?
•Explain the payment agreement and how the Veteran affords the 
MFH?  
•What does a MFH look like, does it need to be handicapped 
accessible?