Here’s a reminder of a benefit, called the Aid and Attendance, which can cover nearly $2,000 a month of such costs for qualifying veterans, depending on the situation.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site, the benefit is paid in addition to monthly pension benefits. To qualify for the aid benefit, the veteran must generally be 65 or older (if not permanently disabled), have served during wartime and meet certain other income and asset requirements and medical requirements.

In particular, annual income for the veteran and his or her spouse — not counting unreimbursed medical expenses — must be below a certain level. As for medical requirements, the veteran must require the aid of someone else to perform everyday “personal functions,” be bedridden, live in a nursing home because of a mental or physical incapacity or be blind. The need for assistance must also be certified by a physician.

The benefits are paid directly to the recipient. While married veterans may qualify for a nearly $2,000 monthly benefit, single veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for less, states The New York Times