Choose Home: Veteran and Caregiver Perspectives on the Acceptability of a Novel Short-Term Home Care Program

Older adults desire to age in place, but many with chronic health conditions struggle to achieve this goal due to fragmented care and lack of home supports. Choose Home is an interdisciplinary, short-term home-care program designed to support Veterans at imminent risk of losing independence. We conducted a program evaluation to assess the acceptability and perceived impact of Choose Home among Veterans and caregivers.

We conducted a multiple-methods evaluation of Choose Home at two Veterans Administration medical centers in Massachusetts from 2024 to 2025. Veterans and caregivers who were recently or nearing discharge from Choose Home completed a brief survey assessing stability at home, ability to manage VA care, and satisfaction with Choose Home. Open-ended survey items and semi-structured interviews explored experiences, perceived benefits, and suggestions for improvement. Quantitative data were summarized descriptively; qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings were triangulated to develop themes.

Seventy-three participants (37 Veterans, 36 caregivers) completed surveys. Most reported positive outcomes since participating in Choose Home: 85% felt they were doing better at home, 90% felt more able to manage VA care, and 89% were satisfied with Choose Home. Open-ended survey responses and 12 interviews (including eight dyads) yielded three themes characterizing the program's role in participants' trajectories: (1) Promoting independence/aging in place-through supports fostering autonomy and dignity, (2) Holistic care during health crises-through coordinated support to navigate overwhelming medical events, and (3) Caregiver empowerment-through education, respite, and practical assistance to mitigate burnout.

Choose Home was highly acceptable to Veterans and caregivers, who perceived improvements in health, self-management, and caregiving self-efficacy. By filling a gap between acute and longitudinal services, Choose Home may strengthen efforts to deliver whole-person, home-based care. Continued implementation and rigorous evaluation are warranted to assess long-term outcomes and scalability within VA and beyond.