The call for greater choice in long-term care for veterans is gaining momentum—and it’s coming directly from Capitol Hill. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, recently sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to act swiftly to expand access to assisted living for veterans.
In the letter, Senator Banks cites the growing demand for long-term care as the veteran population ages. Veterans over age 85 now represent the fastest-growing segment of the veteran community, and the VA itself projects a 535% increase in the number of veterans requiring long-term care over the next two decades. Without intervention, the cost of care is expected to double by 2037.
Two Clear Paths Forward: Pilot Programs and Aid and Attendance Reform
To help address these urgent challenges, Senator Banks urges the VA to prioritize two important steps:
- Accelerate and expand the assisted living pilot program, authorized under the Expanding Veterans’ Options for Long-Term Care Act. According to VA data cited in the letter, allowing eligible veterans to choose assisted living could result in annual savings of nearly $70,000 per veteran compared to skilled nursing placement.
- Improve the Aid and Attendance benefit, a program that helps veterans receive care at home or in non-institutional settings. Many veterans are either unaware of this benefit or deterred by its confusing and burdensome application process. As a result, too many end up in costly institutional care, even when they don’t medically require it.
The letter references the VA’s own 2021 report to Congress, which found that at least 5% of veterans in skilled nursing facilities don’t require that level of care—a statistic that underscores the mismatch between available care options and actual veteran needs.
Why This Matters to Senior Living Providers
Senator Banks’ letter reflects growing bipartisan recognition of assisted living as a viable, cost-effective solution to America’s long-term care crisis—particularly for veterans. As more lawmakers call for flexible care options that match seniors’ true needs, the senior living industry’s voice is being heard.
This moment also builds on Argentum’s recent engagement with the VA, where association leaders highlighted how professionally managed assisted living communities can meet veterans’ needs while reducing public expenditures. If implemented, these policy changes could open up new care pathways for veterans and expand opportunities for providers across the country.
Take Action: Support Veterans’ Right to Choose Assisted Living
Argentum continues to advocate for policies that expand access to appropriate, affordable, and high-quality care. You can help move the needle by exploring and sharing the following tools:
- Value of Assisted Living Whitepaper: See how assisted living compares in terms of outcomes, cost, and care efficiency—and why it should be a central piece of our long-term care strategy. Download the white paper.
- Visit the Standing with Seniors Website: Learn how senior living is making a difference in your state and how you can advocate for solutions that work—for veterans, families, and providers. Learn more at StandingWithSeniors.com .
