VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Caregivers, want to learn more about PIRATE? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about participating in the program. 
Contact us if you have additional questions.

Application and Evaluation

How do I know if my loved one qualifies for PIRATE? 

How do we apply? 

What happens after we send in the application? 

What is involved in the evaluation process? 

Housing

Where do participants stay during the program?

Will I be able to stay with my loved one? 

Do you allow visitors in the residential villas?

Can participants leave campus on weekends?

Travel

Do you fund travel to Pittsburgh for Veterans and family members?

What transportation is available from the airport to VAPHS?

Where can we stay when we come for an evaluation? 

Therapy

What is a typical day in the program like?

Can I participate in any of the therapy sessions?

Do you follow up with Veterans after they complete their PIRATE session? 

Program Costs

How much does PIRATE cost?

Do participants need spending money? 

Application and Evaluation

How do I know if my loved one qualifies for PIRATE?

Your loved one may be a candidate for PIRATE if he or she:

• requires little to no assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating
• is highly motivated and able to tolerate several hours of therapy at a time
• has a strong social network and family support

Your loved one may not be a candidate for PIRATE if he or she:

• requires assistance with daily living activities
• is not a Veteran
• actively uses alcohol or drugs
• has a psychiatric history or unmanaged depression
• has significant vision and/or hearing loss

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How do we apply?

Download the application, or if you are unable to do so, contact us to have one mailed to you. You must fill out a general and medical application. Once you complete the two applications, mail, email or fax them to us.

The Veteran’s primary care provider also must send a consult requesting an evaluation for PIRATE candidacy to our speech pathology service.

What happens after we send in the application? 

We use a combination of criteria to evaluate applicants, including their motivation, family support, behavioral appropriateness, physical independence and potential for improvement. We will contact potential participants if questions arise during the review process.

We may contact applicants’ former or current speech-language pathologists, as well as family members, to respond to questions or concerns we may have. If considered a strong candidate for the program, prospective participants must travel to our Pittsburgh location for a thorough evaluation. Coming for an evaluation does not guarantee acceptance into PIRATE, as we need to further assess Veterans’ level of motivation and stamina during the evaluation process.

What is involved in the evaluation process? 

If your loved one is offered a PIRATE evaluation you have two choices:

1. You can travel to the Pittsburgh VAMC and participate in a two day in-person evaluation. Over two days, we will do a thorough speech and language assessment, a medical evaluation to ensure the Veteran is stable enough to participate and an occupational therapy evaluation to verify whether the Veteran can live independently in a residential setting — or determine what level of assistance he or she may need.
2. Your loved one can participate in a telehealth evaluation at your local VA. This evaluation is typically two consecutive days for 2 hours each day and supplemental testing as needed. You will be required to travel to your local VA for this assessment. Our program also requires medical clearance and occupational therapy clearance. The medical evaluation will be completed by our team physician via e-consult. She will review the Veteran’s medical record and determine if they are medically cleared for our program. If there is not enough medical information in the VA CPRS record we ask that you please obtain outside medical records. The occupational therapy evaluation must take place at your local VA to evaluate for your loved ones’ safety and independent living skills while in our PIRATE residential environment.

Where can we stay when we come for an evaluation?

Links to accomodations can be found here.

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Housing

Where do the participants stay during the program? 

During treatment, Veterans will stay in VA Pittsburgh’s state-of-the art residential living villas, similar to apartments, at the H.J. Heinz division in Aspinwall. No more than three Veterans share a villa during a session. Each villa has:

• one private bedroom with a handicap-accessible bathroom
• two semi-private rooms that share a bathroom
• a private phone for each participant
• a kitchen with a dishwasher, silverware, dishes, pots, pans and a coffeemaker
• a laundry room with washer and dryer (soap provided)
• direct contact with emergency medical staff
• a secure locker and medication safe for each Veteran
• flat-screen TV with cable
• bed sheets, pillows and towels
• wireless internet access

Will I be able to stay with my loved one?

Family members cannot stay with Veterans at the residential villas. For more information on hotels, non-profit accommodations and transportation, click here.

Do you allow visitors in the residential villas?

Yes. Visitors must identify themselves and sign in and out at the main office of the Veterans Recovery Center, which is where the villas are located. Visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Visitors must abide by villa rules.

Can participants leave campus on weekends?

Yes. Once Veterans complete their Saturday morning session (9 a.m.-12 p.m.), they may leave to go home or visit with family or friends until Sunday at 11 p.m.

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Travel

Do you fund travel to Pittsburgh for Veterans and family members?

No. We encourage Veterans to contact their local VA travel agency. Some past participants have received financial assistance (i.e., a flight ticket) for their trip.

What transportation is available from the airport to VAPHS?

There are taxis (about $75) or one of many shuttle services to and from VA Pittsburgh. We do not provide transportation from the airport.

Where can we stay when we come for an evaluation?

Links to accommodations can be found here.

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Therapy

What is a typical day in the program like?

Our typical schedule:

Can I participate in any of the therapy sessions?

Yes. We encourage family involvement during therapy sessions. While participants need to have one-on-one sessions with their Speech-Language Pathologist, family members will have the opportunity to participate in selected educational and therapy sessions to enhance therapeutic gains and maximize outcomes.

Do you follow up with Veterans after they complete their PIRATE session?

Yes. A speech-language pathologist will review the individualized treatment program used in the Veterans’ sessions and, if applicable, make recommendations to their local speech pathologist for future therapy sessions.

Our speech-language pathologists also will give family members information about the Veteran's treatment, results and progress throughout the program. They may develop an individualized home program for the participant to use to continue practicing communication skills learned during PIRATE.

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Program Costs

How much does PIRATE cost?

For veterans who are service-connected 50% or more, service-connected for stroke or aphasia, or co-payment exempt, there are no out-of-pocket costs.  For all other Veterans, there is a co-payment of $50 per day.

Although we may bill insurance providers for program-related costs for participants with private insurance, we will not hold Veterans responsible for any program costs above the applicable co-payments.

Participants are responsible for travel costs to and from Pittsburgh.

Do participants need spending money?

Participants will receive three free meals per day in the dining hall. They may want to bring spending money for shopping, eating out or exploring Pittsburgh during their time off.

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