The Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) Program is a VA program that empowers Veterans to direct their own long-term care services. It allows Veterans to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible by providing them with a budget to purchase goods and services they need to support their independence. This includes the ability to hire, train and supervise their own caregivers.​

Through an AIHS Options Counselor, the Veteran will receive facilitated assessment and care service planning, arrangements for fiscal management services and ongoing options counseling and support for themselves, their families and their caregivers.

Learn more and check your eligibility on our website!

Beginning the week of September 8th, AIHS is launching a Rural Respite Program with sites in Steuben and Whitley counties.

The program offers caregivers 3.5 hours of respite time each week and a chance to work with a Care Navigator for support in their caregiving role. The care recipient will participate in group activities under the care of dementia-certified staff.

Residents of Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley Counties may be eligible for this free rural respite program.

Interested individuals must complete the enrollment process to attend weekly sessions. Contact Denise Hughes, RN, BSN to check your eligibility and begin the enrollment process. Call 260-600-0844 or email DHughes@agingihs.org.

H2H Significant Impact on Hospital Readmission Rates:

National Average: 21.5%

H2H Average: 5%

From September 2021 - May 2025, AIHS operated the Hospital 2 Home program, a 30-day care transitions program providing assistance to bridge gaps in care, reduce caregiver burden and provide resources to keep the person with dementia at home and out of hospital settings funded through the Alzheimer's and Dementia Programs Initiative (ADPI) Grant.

Under the program, AIHS provided support to more than 750 people living with dementia and their caregivers in addition to 14 people living alone with dementia. More than 1200 individuals received education including caregivers, healthcare providers, community-service providers and community members at large about dementia and supporting caregivers.

The Hospital 2 Home program had a statistically significant impact on caregiver health status, caregiver burden and caregiver depression, as well as the health status and quality of life for people living with dementia. The 30-day hospital readmission rates for participants were well below the national average (21.5%) for this population at 5%.

Join our Research Study!

Are you experiencing memory loss OR providing support for a person with memory loss?

You may be eligible to participate in the Measuring Caregiver Networks of Older Adults research study.

Why Participate?

Participation in this research will involve an online survey and an interview. All study activities are expected to take 1.5 - 2 hours.

Participants will be compensated with a $100 Target gift card for their completed interview.

Interested or have questions?

Contact Denise Hughes, RN, BSN:

Call: 260-600-0844

Email: DHughes@northwestern.edu