Would the Army cover lodging costs when I travel to be my daughter's caretaker after her surgery?

2021-07-11T03:05:34-04:00

My daughter is in the Army and is having surgery on her knee. She is stationed in Germany and Im going to go there to help her after surgery until she can be up and walking. I will be staying on base and I was curious if the army helps with lodging costs since I will be her caretaker. Her barracks is up 5 flights of stairs which would be tough immediately following knee surgery. I have taken it upon myself to offer to go and her command gave us the okay.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2021 3:32 AM

2021-07-11T03:32:45-04:00

The Army doesn't cover the cost for you to fly or for lodging, in general. However, the unit can choose to pay for you as part of medical TDY, if the unit chooses to fund the travel and lodging. If the unit is not willing or able to pay you might also be able to stay at the local Fisher House. The Fisher House is a house located close to major Army hospitals that provides free lodging to family members who have hospitalized service members

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Jul 11 at 2021 2:58 PM

2021-07-11T14:58:49-04:00

Best to your daughter and may she have a quick recovery. After a rehab session, the five flights of stairs may be the easiest part of the day [Ha! Ha!] Be sure to enjoy Germany.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2021 4:13 PM

2021-07-11T16:13:47-04:00

You can try to stay at the Fischer House. They may have one near by. It is for cases like this where family can stay with a service member while they heal. I don't know if may help but there is a chance.

https://fisherhouse.org/

Home - Fisher House Foundation

In a letter to Fisher House, Tara McLaughlin reflects on her journey to the Dover Fisher House with her children after her husband Army Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin was killed.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jul 11 at 2021 7:55 PM

2021-07-11T19:55:50-04:00

It's actually up to the base hospital for funding for a non-medical attendant. Not the unit. I had to deal with this when my daughter was an infant. Her PCM (Army MAJ at the time) told me about non-medical attendant after her second hospital stay was a month long. It took me a few months dealing with G8 but the money was paid out by IACH at Riley - not my old unit when I was stationed there. I had PCSed on a compassionate a month after I had started the process. I got reimbursed for that month but I think I just got per diem. I stayed in the hospital room with her so no lodging could be refunded. Per diem and maybe travel is what I got and I just had to go Ft Riley, KS to Omaha, NE at that time before I got the compassionate to Omaha to the AFB there.

I think it depends on the base hospital - when I even Googled non-medical attendant Army, the IACH website came up which lays out what they cover for NMA for Army dependents or if an active duty member needs NMA. Lodging is covered by them if it's done right.

Your daughter needs to talk to her PCM about the non medical attendant (NMA) policy for the base hospital. If she doesn't get a straight answer, there should be patient advocacy who can help out on what they cover for NMAs for active duty.