The Armed Forces Retirement Home
The Armed Forces Retirement Home is the only federal retirement community which was established by the executive branch back in 1811 as a promise from our nation to provide care for its retired and disabled military members who made sacrifices to protect and serve our country. The AFRH provides eligible enlisted and non-commissioned veterans with supportive care and shared camaraderie – just like you experienced in your service days! Back then, you invested in the AFRH via small payroll deductions. Now it’s time for you to get back what you deserve from the country you served: an affordable, comfortable, and secure retirement.
Members of the AFRH have the benefit of three prepared meals a day, onsite medical facilities, rehabilitative therapy, recreation services, organized trips, transportation services, entertainment, activities, luxurious amenities, as well as many other privileges for veterans. All of the amenities and services are included with your reasonable monthly resident fee which is calculated as a percentage of your income with no deposits, maintenance charges, HOA fees, or long-term contracts. You will experience freedom from overwhelming living expenses, home maintenance, and other worries about the future knowing that AFRH will provide a home for you that will always remain within your means regardless of the needs that may develop as you age.
General Admission Requirements
All potential residents – including spouses – must be capable of independent living upon admission, have acceptable insurance coverage, meet legal requirements, and be approved by the AFRH medical and admissions review boards to be accepted as a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. In order to become a resident of AFRH, you must be able to live independently when initially admitted. This means you must be able to care for your daily personal needs, attend a dining facility for meals, navigate the community, handle emergency situations, deal with personal finances, and be self-sufficient when coping with healthcare by keeping appointments, making decisions, managing medications, following treatment plans, etc. Persons who require regular professional assistance with daily tasks, decision making, managing unstable heath conditions, or otherwise will not be admitted unless or until such a time as they are capable of managing without assistance.
AFRH is a continuing care facility and offers additional support services to the members of AFRH should the need eventually arise including assisted living, memory support, and long-term care. You must be an existing resident to transfer into an advanced level of care at AFRH – direct admission into healthcare levels is not available for non-members. Once you have become a member, residents enjoy the benefit of knowing they will always have access to an affordable community where they will be safe, well cared-for, and worry-free among a group of fellow veterans who share a common bond of self-sacrifice, patriotism, and fraternity.
Eligibility - Military Qualifications
AFRH determines eligibility and grants admission according to the law that established the Armed Forces Retirement Home [chapter 10 of title 24 section 412, USC]. To qualify for residency, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Persons who served in the Armed Forces – Regular Military, Reserve Forces, or National Guard – who spent more than half of their time in the service as an enlisted member, warrant officer, or limited-duty officer are eligible to become residents of the AFRH if they meet at least ONE of the following criteria:
- were discharged or released from the Armed Forces after 20 or more years of active service
are determined under rules prescribed by the Chief Operating Officer to be suffering from a service-connected disability incurred in the line of duty in the Armed Forces.
- served in a war theater during a time of war declared by Congress or were eligible for hostile fire pay and who are determined under rules prescribed by the Chief Operating Officer to be suffering from injuries, disease, or disability.
- served in a women's component of the Armed Forces before June 12, 1948, and are determined under rules prescribed by the Chief Operating Officer to be eligible for admission because of compelling personal circumstances.
- served in the Armed Forces (Regular, Reserve, or National Guard) and are eligible for retired pay according to Ch. 1223 of Title 10, USC, including those individuals who have either completed sufficient service in a non-regular component or qualify for an early retirement (TERA/DISABILTY) and are now receiving retired pay and benefits from the Department of Defense.
