Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Honors Veterans with Empowering Care Program

Nelson Hoverson has been a resident of Lakewood, Ohio, for 22 years. He has a daughter, a son and two grandchildren. He is a U.S. veteran, an Army corporal, who also did a four-year stint in the Air Force. Hoverson served in Germany for five years, Korea for a year and participated in Operation Desert Storm.

“It was my privilege to serve,” he says. “I was happy to do it.”

Today, Hoverson, 64, is a disabled veteran, injured during his service. He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, diabetes, and has survived a stroke. Tasks like getting out of bed, dressing himself, eating and traveling to and from appointments eventually became insurmountable. His wife and daughter proved helpful, but the amount of assistance he needed was a strain.

“Getting people to take care of you is difficult,” he says. With his daughter employed, she could only assist for two to three hours a day. And the medical costs were overwhelming.

“There were times in my life when I thought it was the end,” he recalls. Hoverson reached a turning point when his local VA office informed him about a veterans program offered through Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA). The Veteran Directed Care (VDC) Program, among other things, enabled his daughter to become his full-time caregiver, accompanying him to appointments, preparing meals, and performing household chores. She lives with him and receives pay for her duties.

“It was life-altering,” Hoverson says. “I never knew it would make this much of a difference in my life.”

 

What is Veteran-Directed Care?

As the nation pauses to honor its veterans this November, WRAAA proudly emphasizes its dedication to those who have served through the VDC program — an innovative initiative designed to give veterans more control over their care and daily lives.

Launched in September 2023, the VDC program has already assisted more than 200 veterans across five counties. The program emphasizes dignity, independence, and choice, according to Tommy York, Director of Business Development at WRAAA. “Veterans deserve the ability to decide how they live and who helps them.”

Program Flexibility and Budget Management

The VDC program allows eligible veterans to manage their own care by hiring trusted individuals — including family members or neighbors — to assist with daily activities like eating, bathing, dressing, personal grooming, mobility, and grocery shopping. There are no financial eligibility requirements, so even those on Medicaid Waivers can participate. Veterans must also meet community care criteria, satisfy clinical requirements, and be evaluated by a Veterans Administration (VA) physician.

Each participant receives a personalized budget based on the VA’s Case Mix Rate, which is reviewed monthly to stay relevant and effective. Financial Management Service Agencies (FMS) handle payroll, tax filings, and IRS paperwork, while WRAAA’s Person-Centered Counselors support veterans in managing their services. Funds are not directly transferred to the veteran.

 

Engaging With the Program

WRAAA CEO E. Douglas Beach, who championed the program’s launch, reflects on its impact: “What we found is that we were absolutely right in our assessment of the program’s benefits. Because of the dedicated staff we have here, we were able to make it one of the best programs of its type in the U.S.”

The agency is actively seeking referrals in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties, with a particular focus on increasing awareness beyond Cuyahoga, according to York. “We want every veteran in our region to know this resource is available,” he says.

Hoverson agrees: “I wish more people would take advantage of the program. It’s so important.”

For more information or to make a referral, contact WRAAA at 216-727-2852 or email VeteranDirectedCare@areaagingsolutions.org.

About WRAAA

Building upon four decades of experience in providing services and support to individuals in need, WRAAA is designated by the State of Ohio to plan, coordinate, and administer federal and state aging programs across five counties. WRAAA, the largest of Ohio’s AAAs, is committed to enhancing the lives of more than 440,000 older adults and veterans in our service area through innovative, person-centered services.