Most families discover $1,500–$3,000 a month they didn't know they had.
If you've started pricing senior homes, you've probably had the same thought every family has: how on earth do people pay for this? This page walks you through the four funding sources most families miss — in plain English, with no pressure.
We talk to families every week who tell us a senior home is "out of reach" — and then discover, after one conversation, that they qualify for benefits worth thousands of dollars a month. We're not financial advisors and we don't get paid by any of the programs below. We share this because it's the most useful thing we can do before you fill out a single application.
1 VA Aid & Attendance
Up to $2,727 / month (2026 rates)The single most overlooked benefit in senior care. If your loved one is a wartime veteran — or the surviving spouse of one — and needs help with daily activities, the VA pays a monthly cash benefit on top of any pension they already receive. The money goes to the family and can be used however they choose, including for a senior home like ours.
- Veteran: up to $2,358/month
- Veteran with spouse: up to $2,795/month
- Surviving spouse: up to $1,515/month
- Two veterans married: up to $3,740/month
Who qualifies (quick check):
- 90 days of active military service, at least 1 day during wartime (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War — most veterans 75+ qualify)
- Honorable or general discharge
- Needs help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals, mobility)
- Income and asset limits apply, but a senior home's monthly cost counts against income, which is what makes most families newly eligible
2 Long-Term Care Insurance
$2,000–$6,000 / month, depending on policyIf your loved one bought a long-term care policy 15–30 years ago, there's a real chance it's sitting forgotten in a filing cabinet. We've had families discover policies that cover the entire cost of our home. Today's policies are expensive and limited, but policies from the 1990s and 2000s often have generous daily-benefit amounts.
- Look through old insurance paperwork, especially anything from the 90s or early 2000s
- Check Genworth, John Hancock, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha, Northwestern Mutual, or TransAmerica statements
- Most policies have a 30–90 day "elimination period" before they start paying — start the claim early
- Policies usually require an "ADL trigger" (needing help with 2+ daily activities). Our residence qualifies as a covered setting for most policies that include residential care.
3 Life Insurance Conversion (Life Settlement)
20–60% of the death benefit, paid as cashLess well-known. If your loved one has a life insurance policy they no longer need — or one they were about to let lapse — it can sometimes be sold to a third party for cash that pays for care today. This is called a life settlement or, when the policyholder has a serious illness, a viatical settlement.
- Works best with policies of $100,000+ death benefit
- Policyholder is usually 70+ and has some health decline
- You receive a lump-sum payment instead of letting the policy lapse
- The buyer takes over the premiums and collects the death benefit later
4 Bridge Funding from Existing Assets
Highly variable, family-specificMany families bridge the gap between a fixed income and the monthly cost of care using assets they already own. Common sources:
- Home equity line of credit (HELOC): If your loved one's house is paid off, a HELOC can fund 12–24 months of care while the house is sold
- Reverse mortgage: Works only if one spouse is still living in the home. Complex — talk to a HUD-counselor before signing
- Selling the family home: Often the cleanest path. A real-estate agent who specializes in senior moves can manage the sale while your loved one is already settled with us
- Family contribution split: Many adult-child siblings split costs proportionally to income. We can write monthly invoices to multiple parties
What we can't help with — and what to do instead
We are a private-pay residence.
We do not accept Medicaid waivers (the Virginia CCC Plus or DD Waiver programs). If your loved one's only resource is Medicaid, our home will not be the right fit — and we would rather tell you that now than after a tour.
What to do instead:
- Contact Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services for a list of Medicaid-accepting homes
- Call 1-800-552-3402 (Virginia Senior Navigator) for free guidance on Medicaid-friendly options
- If your loved one is on a wait-list for Medicaid waiver but has 6–12 months of private funds, we can host them during the transition
Let's walk through your situation together
Every family's finances look different. A 15-minute call with Peter or Cleofe will tell you whether our home is realistic for your loved one — and which funding doors are worth knocking on first. No sales pressure, no obligation, and no cost.
Comfort Living Home Care is a private senior group home, not a financial advisor, insurance broker, or VA-accredited agent. The information on this page is offered to help families know what to ask their own professional advisors. Benefit amounts, eligibility rules, and program names change. Verify everything with the relevant agency or a licensed professional before making decisions.