Each year tens of thousands of the current 9.7 million senior citizen veterans and their spouses must postpone or even forego medical assistance, prescription drugs and veterans health benefits because they are simply unaware of the benefits currently afforded them as veterans under the Aid and Attendance provisions of the Veterans Health Administration.
The Veterans Aid and Attendance Council (VAAC) is an association of Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities and Personal Care providers working together to provide the best health care for our Veterans. The VAAC mission is to educate and make Veterans and healthcare providers aware of the benefits afforded veterans under the Improved Pension Benefits of the Veterans Health Administration.	The Aid and Attendance provisions of the Veterans Health Administration.Enhance Pension is the only program available to assist veterans and surviving spouses financially in an assisted living facility.  Less than 25% of veterans needing medical assistance and residing outside of the 163 VA hospitals and 130 VA-run nursing homes currently receives Aid and Attendance benefits for which they are eligible. Millions of dollars of benefits are never applied for by eligible veterans simply because veterans believe they are not eligible or veterans believe they must be totally disabled and reside in a VA-run facility in order to qualify. As of July 2003, there were, by the VA’s own estimates, a waiting list of 132,000 veterans waiting over six months for care. This includes over 110,000 who were waiting for their first primary care appointment and 22,000 who were waiting for their first specialty care appointment.With more than 15.5 million veterans under age 65, the problem will only grow in the future as the population ages and retires. With more than 15.5 million veterans under age 65, the problem will only grow in the future as the population ages and retires.
OBJECTIVES The principal objectives of the VAAC are to: Create and disseminate educational materials to increase awareness and educate Council members on the Aid and Attendance benefits currently available to United States War Veterans through the Veterans Health Administration Oversee competency and skill training for aid and attendance practitioners in order to equipment them to better educate the potential veteran clients to their rights and increase the likelihood that veterans will receive the maximum benefits allowed by law Establish and maintain standards for certification and accreditation of Council members to raise the professional standards within the industry Track and report performance metrics of accredited member practitioners/facilities performance in applying for and successfully attaining aid and attendance assistance for veterans, and Promote Aid and Attendance benefits awareness among members, veterans groups and other interested individuals Mission Statement: "The Veteran's Aid and Attendance Council provides education, outreach, training, practitioner certification, facility accreditation, awareness and other support services to: health caregivers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, public and private organizations, and other persons committed to assisting United States Veterans, their spouses and families in attaining the best quality health care available." The VAAC Mission to provide outreach, education and support to eligible veterans and their spouses, nursing home and assisted living facilities in seeking Aid and Attendance benefits from the Veterans Health Administration for the benefit of  US war veterans.