Military Care

From the Stars and Stripes:

"More support needed for caregivers of military wounded, study finds"

The nation needs to better acknowledge and support the efforts of the “hidden heroes” from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: the estimated 1.1 million civilian, volunteer caregivers tending to the needs of wounded and disabled veterans, according to recommendations contained in a RAND Corp. study released Monday. While family members and others have long cared for veterans, the veterans from two recent wars are more likely to have mental health and substance problems, making the task of providing care even more difficult, according to the study, which was funded by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. A common task for caregivers is helping the veteran “in coping with stressful situations or other emotional and behavioral challenges,” the study found. Other tasks include housework, meals, transportation and overall “health management and maintenance.” “Caring for a loved one is a demanding and difficult task,” the researchers concluded, “often doubly so for caregivers who are juggling care duties with family life and work. The result is often that caregivers pay a price for their devotion.” The price often involves workplace problems caused by absenteeism, strain on other family relationships and health problems. Many caregivers suffer depression, the report said. Former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, whose husband, former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, was severely wounded during World War II, said she hopes the study serves as “a call to action” to help military caregivers. “The findings confirm this is an urgent societal crisis,” Dole said. More than 40 percent of caregivers are between 18 and 30 years old, often spouses in young marriages that may not survive the stress. A quarter of caregivers are aging parents, a fact that suggests that soon there may be a “need to find alternative care for the veteran. Both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense try to include caregivers in their treatment of veterans, the study found. The VA has also begun a study of the effectiveness of caregivers in hopes of compiling “best practices.” Still, much more needs to be done to help caregivers shoulder the burden of a spouse or family member with PTSD or traumatic brain injury or other condition, the study concludes. “We found that 53 percent of post-9/11 caregivers have no caregiving network — an individual or group that regularly provides help with caregiving — to support them,” the RAND study concluded.

^ Since both the Federal Government and the US Military do not seem to care about helping the men and women they sent to the different wars to protect the country it has fallen to the soldiers' friends and family to pick up the pieces. It is a disgrace to have a "use them and then loose them" attitude. Once they were wounded or their job finished they were cast out like garbage. Many people believe the VA (Veteran's Affairs) Department cares for the veterans, but the VA is so disorganized and useless that it takes years to get any information or help from them. The Government and the Military need to do a whole lot more to help the veterans (disabled or not.) The public also needs to get involved and do what they can. It doesn't matter if you agree with whatever war or operation the soldiers were in - the soldiers don't create the wars - politicians do and now the politicians have all the power to help the veterans and yet they do not. ^

http://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/wounded-warriors/more-support-needed-for-caregivers-of-military-wounded-study-finds-1.275563#.UzrqnemPKM9