December 7, 2004 Ottawa - The Honourable Albina Guarnieri, Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced today a proposal that will extend Veterans Independence Program (VIP) housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services for life to approximately 4,000 additional primary caregivers of veterans. This announcement benefits primary caregivers, including eligible spouses and common law partners, of all veterans who were in receipt of these VIP services in the years since the program began in 1981. "The Veterans Independence Program has been delivering VIP service to Canada's veterans for over two decades," said Minister Guarnieri. "The extension of VIP benefits to primary caregivers is the government's way of caring for those who gave so much to our veterans." VIP is Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) national home care program designed to assist veterans in remaining healthy and independent in their own homes and communities. Under the program, eligible primary caregivers can receive housekeeping services, such as laundry, house cleaning or meal preparation, and/or grounds maintenance services, such as grass cutting or snow shovelling. For the primary caregiver to be eligible under these proposed changes, the veteran must have been in receipt of VIP housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services at the time of his/her death or admission to a long-term care facility. Qualified primary caregivers will be reimbursed for VIP services performed after the new Regulations are approved. These changes will address the needs of primary caregivers who indirectly benefited from, came to rely upon and have a continuing health need for these VIP services. The changes will also ensure that these deserving individuals are not cut off from the services when a veteran is admitted to a long-term care facility. Canada's three major veterans organizations support these changes. Kenneth Henderson, Dominion President of the Army Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada said, "This is a beautiful Christmas gift for these people who were not included in the last VIP announcement." Mary Ann Burdett, Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion, "I am pleased that Veterans Affairs has adopted a policy which is more consistent with their traditional client-centred approach to service delivery." She adds: "The enlargement of eligibility back to 1981 is in line with Legion recommendations for a more comprehensive adaptation of the VIP program for the benefit of all Canadian seniors." Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations, said, "We have been advocating for some time that this legislated benefit be extended to this larger group of primary caregivers, mostly women who had provided care for their disabled veteran husbands." Primary caregivers who feel they may qualify are asked to call a special information line at 1-800-443-0382 (toll-free) for information on how to apply for reinstatement of housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services. Forecasted costs for this enhancement of VIP services is $31.7 million over the next five years, funds which have been identified from within the fiscal framework. Backgrounder Questions and Answers - 30 - Media Enquiries: Janice Summerby Media Relations Advisor Veterans Affairs Canada (613) 992-7468 Mike Scandiffio Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs (613) 996-4649 All Other Enquiries:information@vac-acc.gc.ca
