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Help sustain regular visits and community support for veterans. Give once or choose recurring support on VHG’s donation page.
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Crisis: 988 (veterans: press 1). Immediate danger: 911.
Veteran housing help: 877-424-3838 · 24/7.
Your first local contact
Choose a county to find local contacts.
Help someone find support
Choose their state and county above, then answer two questions.
Questions to ask before making a referral
“Did you serve in the military, or was your late spouse a veteran? Would you like help finding support?”
Ask what matters most to them and whether they agree to the referral. Ask about phone appointments, facility visits, interpretation or other accommodations.
Follow-up
Contact made / date: ____________________________________
Requested documents: __________________________________
Who follows up / when: _________________________________
Keep personal notes in your usual care records. Nothing is entered or saved here.
What help do you need?
Filter by source review status
Support for seniors and people with disabilities
Start with the daily task or barrier you need help with. These resources do not require veteran status. Age, income, care needs, county coverage and program rules still vary; some also serve younger adults with disabilities.
For new or changing symptoms, contact a health professional as well as the support organization. Tell the agency about communication or mobility accommodations needed for an appointment.
Activities and community
Find senior centers, activities and veteran-post connections. Choose a county and confirm participation, current schedules and access needs before visiting.
County directory in progress: Individual post phones and emails have not yet been verified for this guide. Locator results are not endorsements or confirmation that a post offers benefits assistance, ramp funding or visits.
Find Ohio bingo and senior centers - find nearby senior centers, exercise, crafts, games, meals and bingo by ZIP code.
For posts and community groups
Share the guide with members, families and care facilities. Ask who coordinates community service, veteran visits or local partnerships. If your group wants to help VHG, discuss a community partnership at travis@vethomeguard.org.
To suggest a listing, email travis@vethomeguard.org and include the post name/number, county, town, official source and public contact. Do not submit member or resident information.
Plan a ramp or home modification
Start with the person’s access needs, then ask the appropriate agency to assess the project and funding. These questions suggest contacts to ask; they do not decide eligibility.
Before committing to work: Ask the funding agency what must be approved before a deposit, purchase or installation, which providers it accepts, and who pays any uncovered cost. Do not assume an application guarantees reimbursement.
HISA application checklist and first call
For medically necessary improvements to a primary home, ask the VA medical facility’s Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service about HISA. A county veterans office can help with the referral; the VA clinical/prosthetics team handles medical review.
- VA-written or approved prescription identifying the proposed change and medical justification.
- Completed and signed VA Form 10-0103. Ask about advance payment if needed.
- Owner authorization; a renter’s owner permission must be signed and notarized.
- Written estimate separating labor, materials, permits and inspections.
- Color photograph of the area before modification.
- Confirm whether VA needs a site inspection and how to submit the complete package.
Permanent access ramps can be covered when medically justified. HISA excludes portable ramps, stair glides, routine repairs and new construction. Ask Prosthetics about a separate equipment route for removable equipment.
What to say
“I need help entering my home or using the bathroom safely. Who can assess the medical need and help me apply for HISA? What benefit remains, what must be approved before work, and how should I submit the estimate?”
VA HISA requirements and exclusions · Reviewed October 8, 2026.
Prepare an estimate that the funding agency can review
Ask for a written scope, drawing where appropriate, materials and labor breakdown, permits, inspections, completion schedule and warranty. Confirm owner consent and the agency’s provider requirements before choosing a builder. Ohio’s waiver rule specifies proposal and approval requirements; VA and other funders have their own processes.
Tell the agency about other funding or donations and ask how to coordinate them. Have each funder identify the costs it will cover and the remaining gap.
Project and follow-up tracker
Printable project and follow-up tracker
Use this on paper or in your own records. No names, diagnoses or application documents are entered here. These routing choices are not saved or included in shared links.
| Step | Contact / date / next action |
|---|---|
| Access barrier and needed assessment | |
| Agency / case manager and owner permission | |
| Application, prescription, photos and estimate | |
| Submitted / missing items / follow-up date | |
| Written approval / covered costs / funding gap | |
| Installation / inspection / acceptance / warranty |
Program sources and application links appear below. Annual grant maximums should be confirmed with the agency for the current fiscal year.
Browse county contacts
Source links and review dates are shown. Confirm hours and intake with the agency.
Support Veteran Home Guardians
Help us keep showing up for veterans
A useful referral can open a door. A regular visit can remind someone they haven’t been forgotten. VHG visits isolated veterans in nursing homes and helps families and care teams find practical support.
Your support helps sustain that work and reach more veterans and communities.
This guide is free to use. Donations are optional.
Sponsor the work
Businesses, community groups and individuals can help sustain visits at a facility or discuss support for a local community. Tell us where you’d like to help.
Discuss a sponsorshiptravis@vethomeguard.org
A simple handoff for staff and families
- Ask about military service. Was the resident a veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran?
- Offer a county office referral. With the resident’s or authorized representative’s agreement, help them contact the appropriate office.
- Explain the need. Ask for a benefits screening; mention nursing home care, existing benefits and any difficulty traveling. Ask about phone appointments or facility visits.
- Agree on follow-up. Identify who will call back and when. Keep notes in the facility’s usual system.
A useful opening for the call
“I’m helping a veteran or surviving spouse who lives in a care facility in [county]. They’d like help reviewing possible benefits. What is the intake process, what documents are needed, and what options are there if they cannot travel?”
Ask about discharge records, current VA benefit letters, care expenses and payer information. Missing records? Use the National Archives resource or ask the county office for help. Discuss private documents directly with the office.