VA Butler Healthcare is looking for a few good homes for a few good men and women.

It is seeking caregiver applicants for its new Medical Foster Home Program. Medical foster homes are private homes in which a trained caregiver provides services to one to three people. The program provides a choice for veterans who are unable to live independently and prefer a family setting.

“Caregivers work in their own home and earn an income by providing a home and family for veterans with health care needs,” program coordinator Inger Jensen said. “This type of environment really enhances the lives of the veterans, and the extraordinary caregivers who accept these veterans into their homes.”

MFH caregivers provide care and supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week. VA Butler Healthcare’s home-based primary care team provides in-home primary care services from an interdisciplinary team and educates the MFH caregiver about individual veteran care needs. The MFH coordinator also visits veterans to ensure their needs are being met, and that the veteran feels safe and comfortable in his or her home.

“At this point, we don’t have any active recruits,” Jensen said.

“The ideal candidate would be a veteran who lives alone without family or any support system, who needs help with bathing, dressing, grooming and other needs,” Jensen said.

The MFH coordinator screens and interviews all prospective caregivers and ensures that criminal background checks and health screenings are completed. The VA inspects and approves the homes annually or as needed. Homes must meet VA regulations, including fire and safety.

“Applicants must go through a vetting process. In addition to a criminal-background check, they must be examined to prove they are physically able to aid a veteran,” Jensen said.

Caregivers also would be trained in first aid, CPR, medication management and nutrition.

Caregivers and veterans would arrive at a private agreement to provide compensation for the homeowner, who in addition to other duties, would agree to provide three meals a day to the veteran. Jensen said average compensation is $2,700 per month in the 550 medical foster homes already in existence throughout the country.

“Medical foster homes are just one of the ways we are working to better support aging veterans. The program also provides a unique way for people to serve veterans who have served us,” Jensen said.

“The medical foster home is an option for long-term care. It’s a nursing home diversion,” she said.

Anyone interested in becoming a medical foster home caregiver or learning more about the program should contact the VA Butler Healthcare’s MFH coordinator at 878-271-6723.

“If one person comes along, I would be delighted,” Jensen said.

Information is available at: https://www.va.gov/butler-health-care/programs/medical-foster-home-program.