Veteran’s Day coincides with Family Caregiver Month. Let’s acknowledge servicemembers in our community who need care, alongside the caregivers who look out for them.
Veterans who need care represent people of all ages. Some suffer injuries or illnesses from their time in the service, while others need care due to the effects of age-related injuries and illnesses. Some need care temporarily as they recover from an illness, injury, or procedure, while others require long-term care.
Statistics About Caregivers of Veterans
According to the Family Caregiver Alliance,
- 96% of caregivers of veterans are women, a number that may change as the proportion of women joining the armed services and experiencing combat increases.
- 70% of veterans’ caregivers are providing care to their spouse or partner.
- 30% of caregivers of veterans provide long-term care (defined as a duration of 10 years or more) – twice the percentage of caregivers who care for non-veterans.
Of course, statistics never tell the whole story. If you are caring for a loved one, reach out. If the services you need aren’t available or accessible, tell us what you need.
Help for Caregivers of Veterans
For caregivers of veterans of any era, you can call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-(855-260-3274) to connect with a VA support coordinator in your area. The VA is responsible for providing, funding, or referring services for veterans, from caregiver training to transportation to appointments and more.
Caregivers of veterans involved in post-9/11 service may be eligible to receive a stipend to help cover the costs of caregiving. Unfortunately, pre-9/11 veteran caregivers are not eligible for the program at this time. For more information, visit the Family Caregiver Alliance website.
If you live in the Phoenix or Scottsdale area, feel free to join us at the Joan S. Roth Caregiver Training Lab or at any of our support groups.
