Personalized In-Home Support for Veterans Who Want Choice and Control
Age Central is proud to offer Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) in Central Illinois — a nationally recognized program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that gives eligible Veterans the ability to direct their own in-home care.
Through VDC, Veterans receive a flexible monthly budget and the support needed to hire, train, and manage their own caregivers — often a family member, friend, or trusted individual — so they can remain living safely and independently in their homes and communities.
What Is Veteran-Directed Care?
Veteran-Directed Care is part of the VA’s Home- and Community-Based Services portfolio and reflects a consumer-directed model long used by Area Agencies on Aging.
Instead of receiving services from assigned agencies on a fixed schedule, Veterans enrolled in VDC:
- Decide what supports they need
- Choose who provides their care
- Set schedules that fit their daily lives
- Direct how resources are used to support independence
Age Central serves as the local program administrator, helping Veterans design a person-centered plan and ensuring services are delivered safely, responsibly, and in accordance with VA guidelines.
How VDC Supports Veterans
Choice and Control
Veterans choose their own caregivers — including family members or friends — and determine how, when, and where care is provided.
Flexible Monthly Budget
Each Veteran receives an individualized services budget based on assessed needs. This budget can be used for personal care and supportive services that help maintain independence at home.
Person-Centered Planning
Veterans work one-on-one with an Age Central Options Counselor to create a care plan that reflects their goals, preferences, and daily routines.
Payroll and Administrative Support
Age Central partners with a contracted fiscal intermediary to handle payroll, taxes, and required documentation, so Veterans can focus on directing care without managing complex paperwork.
Support for Family Caregivers
By allowing trusted individuals to be compensated for care, VDC helps reduce caregiver strain while keeping support close to home.
What Services Can Be Covered?
Depending on individual needs and the approved care plan, VDC funds may be used for assistance with:
- Bathing, dressing, and personal care
- Meal preparation and nutrition support
- Transportation and errands
- Light housekeeping and household tasks
- Mobility support and daily living assistance
Services are tailored to each Veteran and reviewed regularly to ensure quality, safety, and alignment with VA requirements.
Who Is Eligible?
Veterans may be eligible for Veteran-Directed Care if they:
- Are enrolled in VA health care
- Are honorably discharged
- Require assistance with two or more activities of daily living, or
- Have a primary caregiver experiencing significant burden
- Prefer to remain living at home rather than in an institutional setting
Final eligibility is determined through the VA referral and assessment process.
How the Program Works
- Referral & Eligibility Screening
- Veterans are referred through the VA or a local partner and screened for eligibility.
- Person-Centered Planning
- An Age Central Options Counselor works with the Veteran (and caregiver, if applicable) to develop a personalized care plan and budget.
- Caregiver Selection & Setup
- The Veteran selects caregivers and sets schedules. Payroll and employer responsibilities are managed through the fiscal intermediary.
- Ongoing Support & Oversight
- Age Central provides ongoing monitoring, counseling, and coordination to ensure care remains effective and aligned with the Veteran’s goals.
Strong Local Partnerships
Age Central’s Veteran-Directed Care program is delivered in collaboration with:
- Danville VA Medical Center
- Bob Michel VA Outpatient Clinic
- Veterans Assistance Commissions across all six counties in Age Central’s service area, with active coordination underway with Peoria, Tazewell, and Fulton Counties
- Regional partner AgeGuide
These partnerships ensure smooth referrals, consistent communication, and high-quality oversight across the VDC program.
Why Veteran-Directed Care Matters
Veteran-Directed Care reflects a simple but powerful idea: Veterans know their own lives best.
By placing choice and control in the hands of those who served, VDC:
- Reduces reliance on institutional care
- Strengthens families and local caregiving networks
- Keeps resources in the community
- Honors service with dignity, respect, and autonomy
How to Apply or Learn More
Veterans, caregivers, and service providers can contact Age Central to begin the process or ask questions.
Phone: (309) 674-2071
Email: info@agecentral.org
Our team will help determine next steps and coordinate with VA partners.