VA Medical Foster Home Care in Cheyenne, WY for Veterans

Essential Living Support, LLC operates a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved Medical Foster Home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The home is integrated with the Cheyenne VA Medical Center service area and coordinates directly with VA Home Based Primary Care for medical management, clinical oversight, and continuity of care. Husband and wife owned. Veteran owned. The first VA Medical Foster Home approved in the Cheyenne service area.

VA Medical Foster Home Care at Essential Living Support is offered through a Clinical Alignment Review to confirm the Veteran’s medical needs match the specialized home based environment we provide. The Clinical Alignment Review is a structured intake conversation between the VA case manager, the Veteran’s family, and Essential Living Support, where care needs, ADL requirements, and the home setting are evaluated together before placement is proposed.

Refer a Veteran or talk to ELS:

• Call: (307) 369-1030
• Email: rbrown@essentiallivingsupport.com
• Or use our case manager and VA referral form

Who This Page Is For

This page is written for the people who place Veterans into VA Medical Foster Home care, not for general consumer search. If you are one of the audiences below, the rest of this page maps to the language and structure you use day to day:

• VA case managers and social workers searching for an approved Medical Foster Home in the Cheyenne VA service area
• Home Based Primary Care team members coordinating placement for a Veteran transitioning out of the hospital or out of an unsafe living situation
• Discharge planners preparing post-hospital care for Veterans who meet nursing home level of care but want a real home environment
• Veteran families and spouses considering Medical Foster Home as an alternative to nursing home placement, often for a Veteran with advanced chronic illness, dementia, or service-connected disability
• Guardians and family caregivers carrying a daily care load who can no longer safely provide 24-hour supervision
• Plan of care teams managing complex situations where the Veteran’s needs cross VA Home Based Primary Care and Wyoming Home and Community Based Services pathways at the same time

Essential Living Support is a husband and wife, family owned provider headquartered in Cheyenne. Veteran owned. Black owned. Operates a VA approved Medical Foster Home, an active Wyoming DD Waiver provider certification, an active Friend of The Arc of Laramie County designation, an active membership in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming, and a 5.0 star Google Business Profile rating from referring families and partners. Founder Richard Brown Jr. is a member of VFW Warren F. E. Post 1881 in Cheyenne.

What This Service Provides

What does VA Medical Foster Home care cover?

VA Medical Foster Home care is round the clock care and supervision in a private residence for Veterans who meet nursing home level of care but prefer a non-institutional environment. The host home provides room, board, personal care, medication assistance, and supervision. Medical management is delivered separately by a VA Home Based Primary Care team that visits the Veteran in the residence.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs defines a Medical Foster Home as a private residence in which a trained caregiver provides care and supervision for a small number of residents, typically no more than three, who often meet nursing home level of care but prefer a home environment. The caregiver lives in the home and either owns or rents it. Veterans receive help with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and eating, and continue to receive VA Home Based Primary Care for management of complex medical needs (source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Foster Home program).

VA Medical Foster Home is a federal VA program. It is not a Wyoming Medicaid waiver service. Veterans with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are also enrolled on the Wyoming DD Waiver may receive coordinated supports across both pathways at Essential Living Support, but the funding streams remain separate and are billed separately.

Who Is Eligible

Who qualifies for VA Medical Foster Home care at ELS?

VA Medical Foster Home care is for Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care, eligible for VA Home Based Primary Care, and meet nursing home level of care because of complex medical or functional needs. Eligibility is determined by the VA, not by the host home. The Veteran’s VA primary care team and social worker confirm program enrollment, level of care, and Home Based Primary Care assignment before placement.

Common situations where VA Medical Foster Home is the right fit:

• A Veteran with advanced chronic illness such as heart failure, COPD, or diabetes who needs close monitoring and help with daily tasks
• A Veteran living with dementia who benefits from consistent routines, familiar faces, and a quieter environment than a large facility
• A Veteran with service-connected injuries or disabilities who needs full assistance with mobility, transfers, and personal care
• A spouse or family caregiver who can no longer safely provide 24-hour supervision and is considering nursing home placement
• A Veteran with both medical and intellectual or developmental disability needs whose plan of care benefits from a provider that operates across VA Home Based Primary Care and Wyoming Home and Community Based Services

What Essential Living Support, LLC Specifically Provides

What does ELS specifically provide for VA Medical Foster Home placements?

• Consistent family style support. As a husband and wife, family owned provider, Essential Living Support, LLC delivers a more personal and consistent approach than larger facility settings where Veterans may experience rotating shifts or less individualized attention. The same caregivers are present day and night.
• A supportive home and community environment. The home is in a newer residential area in Cheyenne with access to a neighborhood park, tennis court, basketball court, and walking trail. Outdoor space and walkable amenities create real opportunities for safe movement, light exercise, and social engagement.
• Coordinated care across VA and Wyoming systems. Essential Living Support holds active certifications as a VA approved Medical Foster Home provider and as a Wyoming DD Waiver provider. For Veterans with both medical complexity and intellectual or developmental disability needs, that coordination is built into the same household, reducing handoff risk between systems.
• Healthcare administration credentialed leadership. Founder Richard Brown Jr. is MBA-HCM, BS-HCA, and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration Candidate at Capella University. Documentation, communication with the Home Based Primary Care team, and incident response are managed with that operating standard.
• Locally engaged and community connected. Essential Living Support is an active Friend of The Arc of Laramie County and an active member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming. Community involvement reflects a commitment to Veterans and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities beyond service delivery.

Care Environment

What does daily life in the ELS Medical Foster Home look like?

The home is a single residence in a newer Cheyenne neighborhood. Bedrooms are private or semi-private as appropriate to the Veteran’s level of care. Common areas are designed for shared meals, conversation, light recreation, and visits from family or VA Home Based Primary Care staff. The kitchen, dining area, and living spaces are organized around routine rather than around shift change.

A typical day pattern includes:

• Unhurried morning wake up with assistance for transfers, toileting, bathing, and dressing as needed
• Meals prepared in the home, tailored to medical and personal preferences, with attention to hydration and dietary requirements documented in the VA care plan
• Medication assistance per the Veteran’s VA care plan, with documentation supporting Home Based Primary Care visits
• Home Based Primary Care visits on scheduled days for medical evaluation, lab work, and clinical management
• Light community participation when appropriate to the care plan, including walks in the neighborhood, attendance at Veteran community events, or visits to local resources
• Quiet evening routines, personal hygiene support, and overnight supervision per the Veteran’s assessed level of need

The caregiver lives in the home full time. Staffing is consistent rather than rotating, which matters most for Veterans with dementia, behavioral health needs, or anxiety in unfamiliar settings.

How is VA Medical Foster Home Care priced?

VA Medical Foster Home rates are individually negotiated between Essential Living Support and the VA case manager based on the Veteran’s level of care, ADL needs, and current VA per diem guidelines. Essential Living Support coordinates this conversation directly with the VA case manager and the Veteran’s family to align the home environment, clinical needs, and care plan before placement.

The Veteran or family typically pays the host home directly using a combination of income, VA benefits such as Aid and Attendance, savings, and in some cases long term care insurance. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not pay the host home directly. VA social workers and case managers can help families review which benefit pathways apply to the Veteran’s situation.

This is a different funding pathway from Wyoming DD Waiver services. For Veterans who also qualify for Wyoming DD Waiver supports, the two pathways operate separately and are coordinated by Essential Living Support across the household.

Why Case Managers and VA Officers Refer to ELS

What makes ELS the right Medical Foster Home in Cheyenne?

VA case managers and social workers refer Veterans to host homes they trust to follow the care plan, communicate clearly with the Home Based Primary Care team, and deliver consistently. Essential Living Support is built for that.

• VA approved Medical Foster Home in the Cheyenne VA service area, the first such home approved in this service area, run by Richard and Nahomy Brown
• Veteran owned. Black owned. Husband and wife, family owned. Healthcare administration credentialed. Founder is a member of VFW Warren F. E. Post 1881 in Cheyenne
• Active Wyoming DD Waiver provider certification, which matters for Veterans whose plan of care also touches Wyoming Home and Community Based Services
• Active Friend of The Arc of Laramie County and active member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming
• 5.0 star Google Business Profile rating from referring families, case managers, and partners
• Husband and wife owned operations, which means consistent caregiving rather than rotating shift workers
• Real time communication with VA case managers and the Home Based Primary Care team during placement, including status updates, documentation, and any incident reporting required by the VA Medical Foster Home program

Scope and Limitations

What are the official scope and limitations on VA Medical Foster Home care?

The VA Medical Foster Home program has clear federal scope. Essential Living Support summarizes the relevant boundaries here so case managers and families have a single reference; for the authoritative version, refer to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Foster Home program guidance and 38 CFR Part 17.

• VA Medical Foster Homes are private residences. The VA does not own them. The VA inspects, approves, and monitors them for safety, quality of care, and program standards before referrals are made
• Residents typically number no more than three at a time in a single home, which allows for highly individualized attention
• Caregivers go through background checks, training, and ongoing oversight from the VA Medical Foster Home program
• The Veteran continues to receive VA Home Based Primary Care in the residence. The host home does not replace that medical management
• The VA Medical Foster Home program is for Veterans enrolled in VA health care and eligible for Home Based Primary Care. Non-Veterans cannot be placed under this program
• Payment for room, board, and personal care is the responsibility of the Veteran or family. The VA does not pay the host home directly

How to Refer a Veteran

Ready to refer a Veteran or talk to ELS about a Medical Foster Home placement?

If you are a VA case manager, Home Based Primary Care team member, discharge planner, social worker, family member, or Veteran considering placement, the fastest way to start is to call (307) 369-1030 or email rbrown@essentiallivingsupport.com. You can also use our case manager and VA referral form.

What to expect on the first call:

• A short conversation about the Veteran, the VA Home Based Primary Care assignment, the placement trigger, the timeline, and the funding pathway
• A Clinical Alignment Review to confirm the Veteran’s care needs, the requested setting, and the existing VA care plan align before placement
• A brief overview of how Essential Living Support would deliver Medical Foster Home care in the residence, including caregiver staffing, daily routine, and Home Based Primary Care coordination
• Confirmation of next steps with the VA case manager, the Home Based Primary Care team, and the Veteran’s family

For urgent placement situations, call (307) 369-1030 directly. Urgent placements still require the Clinical Alignment Review and VA program eligibility confirmation, but Essential Living Support works with the VA team to move on the timeline the situation needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Clinical Alignment Review?

A Clinical Alignment Review is the structured intake conversation Essential Living Support completes before every VA Medical Foster Home placement. The VA case manager, the Home Based Primary Care team, the Veteran’s family, and Essential Living Support confirm together that the Veteran’s medical needs, ADL requirements, and the home setting align before the placement is proposed. The Clinical Alignment Review is a process step, not a separate billable service.

How is VA Medical Foster Home different from a nursing home?

A VA Medical Foster Home is a private residence with no more than three residents, where a trained caregiver lives in the home full time. A nursing home is a licensed facility with many residents, shift-based staffing, and on-site nursing services. Both can serve Veterans who meet nursing home level of care, but the foster home model is built around family-style routines, consistent caregivers, and VA Home Based Primary Care visiting the residence.

How is VA Medical Foster Home different from VA assisted living?

Assisted living typically provides help with meals, medications, and personal care in a licensed multi-resident facility, but is generally not designed to manage complex, unstable medical conditions on a 24-hour basis. VA Medical Foster Homes are specifically integrated with VA Home Based Primary Care and serve Veterans who meet nursing home level of care.

Does the VA pay the Medical Foster Home directly?

No. The Veteran or family typically pays the host home directly using a combination of income, VA benefits such as Aid and Attendance, savings, and in some cases long term care insurance. VA social workers and case managers can help families review which benefit pathways apply.

Can a Veteran with intellectual or developmental disabilities receive both VA Medical Foster Home care and Wyoming DD Waiver services at ELS?

Yes. Essential Living Support holds an active VA approved Medical Foster Home certification and an active Wyoming DD Waiver provider certification. For Veterans whose needs cross both systems, services from each pathway can be coordinated within the same household. The funding streams remain separate, billed separately, and are documented separately.

How many Veterans can ELS support in the home at the same time?

Per the VA Medical Foster Home program, no more than three residents typically receive care in a single home, which allows for highly individualized attention.

What kind of medical management does the home provide?

The host home provides personal care, medication assistance, and supervision. Medical management, including diagnosis, prescribing, lab work, and clinical decisions, is delivered by the VA Home Based Primary Care team that visits the home. This separation of roles is part of the VA Medical Foster Home model.

Can a family member visit?

Yes. Family visits are encouraged and coordinated around the Veteran’s routine and care plan. Veterans living in a Medical Foster Home maintain their family relationships, community connections, and personal preferences. Maintaining those connections is part of the care plan.

Is the Medical Foster Home program available to non-Veterans?

No. The VA Medical Foster Home program is for Veterans enrolled in VA health care and eligible for Home Based Primary Care. For non-Veterans seeking similar home based supports, Essential Living Support also operates Wyoming DD Waiver services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Call (307) 369-1030 to discuss the right pathway.

How quickly can ELS take a planned VA Medical Foster Home placement?

Most planned placements can be confirmed once the VA case manager, the Home Based Primary Care team, and the family are aligned on the Clinical Alignment Review and the move-in date. Urgent placements move faster. Call (307) 369-1030 for the realistic timeline on a specific case.

Refer a Veteran

Phone: (307) 369-1030
Email: rbrown@essentiallivingsupport.com
Online referral form: essentiallivingsupport.com/refer-a-veteran/

Service area: Cheyenne (primary), Laramie County (secondary), Wyoming statewide (tertiary). Cheyenne VA Medical Center service area for the VA Home Based Primary Care relationship.

Authored by Richard Brown Jr., MBA-HCM, BS-HCA, Doctor of Healthcare Administration Candidate at Capella University. Veteran owned. Wyoming DD Waiver provider. VA approved Medical Foster Home provider. Member of VFW Warren F. E. Post 1881 in Cheyenne.

Richard’s published work on community-based care and case manager workflow appears in:

• Medical Economics: Why Physicians Need Stronger Community-Based Care Partners to Bridge Medical Care and Daily Living
• Healthcare Business Today: What Case Managers and Discharge Planners Need from Community-Based Providers
• Healthcare Guys: Improving Care Transitions: The Role of Community-Based Providers in Reducing Readmissions and Enhancing Patient Outcomes

Transparency and scope: This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects Richard’s professional experience along with publicly available U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wyoming Home and Community Based Services guidance. It does not create a provider-patient relationship and is not medical, legal, or clinical advice. For guidance specific to your situation, contact your VA care team, primary care provider, case manager, or an appropriate licensed professional.

Dignity. Respect. Independence. Always.