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The Wilmington VA Medical Center and our VA Clinics in Delaware and southern NJ have changed from a four-digit extension to a five-digit extension. When dialing an extension it now requires a "3" to be dialed in front of the 4-digit ext.

When calling, dial: 1-800-461-8262 then your EXT 3-XXXX

Geriatrics and extended care

GEC's mission is to honor our Veterans’ preferences with respect to health, independence and well-being while meeting the challenges of aging, disability or illness.

VA Community Living Center

The Wilmington VA’s Community Living Center is located within the Wilmington, DE Campus. The mission of the Community Living Center is to provide compassionate care to eligible Veterans with sufficient functional impairment to require the level of service and skill available in the Community Living Center (CLC).  Veterans with chronic stable conditions included dementia, those requiring rehabilitation or short term specialized services, or those who need comfort and care at the end of life are served in the CLC.  The CLC works collaboratively with VA medical centers in VISN4 and across the nation, with community hospitals and agencies, and with the Veterans and their families.  Required length of stay may be for an extended, but limited period of time.

The CLC provides innovative, cost-effective and high-quality services that preserve or improve quality of life for Veterans.  As we provide these clinical services, we will emphasize the importance of educational opportunities for health professionals who are planning to care for Veterans with complex medical and psychosocial issues.

Home-Based Primary Care

Home-Based Primary Care provides primary health care to homebound to patients that live in the community. HPBC is designed to serve the chronically ill through the months and years before death, providing primary care, palliative care, rehabilitation, disease management and coordination or care services. 

Available at these locations

Outpatient Geriatrics

As you age, we offer a range of medical and support services to help you stay as healthy, active and independent as possible. We also offer help to family members and caregivers who may support you. Common conditions may include memory problems, sleep problems, falls, bone loss and weight loss.

Available at these locations

We assess your situation and condition to decide which outpatient geriatric services are right for you or a senior Veteran in your care, and coordinate that care. Our team of specialists provides geriatric services that include:

  • Functional status assessment
  • Cognitive impairment assessment
  • Medication review
  • Medicine and nursing
  • Psychology, psychiatry and social work
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Caregiver education and support

To access care, ask your primary care provider for a referral.

Please bring all medication bottles and pillboxes, a photo ID (such as your Veteran’s ID card or a driver’s license) and your health insurance information with you to your first Geriatrics appointment. We encourage you to bring a family member or caregiver, if applicable. If you are transferring from a health care provider outside the VA, it is helpful if you bring your medical records with you.

Contact: , ext. 34679.

Homemaker/home health aide

A homemaker or home health aide is a trained person who assists Veterans in their homes. VA Boston has agreements with community agencies to provide these services; they are not provided by VA employees.

The VA does not provide companionship services. Companionship offers company and friendship such as playing games and taking walks.

Services provided by homemakers/home health aides include...

Examples of homemaker services include:

  • Meal preparation
  • Light housekeeping
  • Light shopping
  • Laundry

Examples of home health aide services include:

  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Shaving/brushing teeth
  • Toileting
  • Walking
  • Eating
  • Verbal medication reminders
  • Light housekeeping

Admission criteria:

  • Enrolled in the VA Boston Healthcare System
  • Homemaker services may only be provided in conjunction with home health aide services
  • Clinical judgement from provider noting the Veteran would require nursing home care without home and community based services
    • Three or more activities of daily living (ADL) dependencies
      • Bathing 
      • Dressing
      • Grooming
      • Transferring
      • Walking
      • Toileting
      • Eating
    • Significant cognitive impairment
    • Requires H/HHA services as an adjunct care to community hospice services
    • Two ADL dependencies, and two or more of the following conditions:
      • Has dependency in three or more IADLs
      • Has been recently discharged from a nursing facility
      • Has an upcoming nursing home discharge plan contingent on receipt of home care services
      • Is seventy-five years old, or older
      • Has high use of medical services defined as three or more hospitalizations in the past year
      • Has high use of medical services defined as outpatient clinics or emergency evaluations 12 or more times in the past year
      • Has been diagnosed with clinical depression
      • Lives alone in the community
      • Maintains appointments with VA PCP on at least an annual basis

 Referral/consultation process:

  • A referral can be placed by a VA Primary Care social worker, or designee with documented approval of an attending physician or licensed practitioner
  • The person entering the consult is responsible to make a request for a specific number of homemaking and home health aide hours per week

Community Nursing Home Program 

The Community Nursing Home (CNH) program may authorize placement for eligible Veterans who require short-term rehabilitative services, long-term care or hospice services. VA has established agreements and care contracts with a myriad of community nursing homes in order to meet the clinical needs of Veterans who require 24-hour care as well as skilled services. Community nursing homes are private facilities that provide 24/7 care, assistance with ADL’s and various rehab services (PT, OT, ST) to Veterans. The Community Nursing Home Program has established agreements and care contracts with nursing homes in numerous geographic areas in order to better service our geriatric Veterans. Of note, Veterans are eligible for this program if they have a Service-Connected status of 70-100%, or 60% with a designation of unemployability, and require skilled care or are dependent upon others for their ADLs.

How services are being provided:

Community nursing homes are accepting patients for admission when the facility determines that they can meet the needs of the referred Veteran. The VA community nursing home team provides monthly oversight visits to monitor each Veteran and ensure their needs are being appropriately met.

Referral/consultation process:

  • A referral can be placed by a VA Primary Care social worker, or designee with documented approval of an attending physician or licensed practitioner

Palliative Care 

Palliative care is specialized care for patients living with serious or life-threatening illnesses. This care is delivered by a diverse team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, therapists of various disciplines, and others. The goal of palliative care is to provide quality of life and added support for patients and their loved ones.

For more information

If you are interested in a referral for you or your loved one, please ask your doctor, social worker, or another member of your medical team to contact our palliative care team. 

Medical Foster Home (MFH) 

VA Medical Foster Homes (MFH) are private homes in which a trained Caregiver provides care and services to Veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  A MFH can serve as an alternative to nursing home. It may be appropriate for Veterans who require nursing home level of care but prefer a non-institutional setting with fewer residents. Veterans in MFH will have a flexible daily routine, private room, assistance to take medications, transportation, all meals and snacks, recreation and  help with activities of daily living.  A VA interdisciplinary team inspects all Medical Foster Homes.  All Caregivers and alternate caregivers must complete an application with references and pass a criminal background check.  While living in an MFH, Veterans receive Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) services. HBPC includes a full interdisciplinary medical team that provides primary care in the MFH.  HBPC will work with the Caregiver, Veteran and Veteran’s family to establish the appropriate level of care. MFH provides peace of mind to family who cannot met Veteran’s needs at home.  MFH provides one-on-one attention and a safe healing environment in a family like setting. 

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