Help for Caregivers of Veterans Advances in House

Wednesday, July 15 2009 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud’s bill, the Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act (CARE Act), advanced through the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The bill would establish a caregiver program to help family and non-family members who provide care for disabled, ill, or injured veterans. The bill is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives soon. “Family caregivers of our veterans have made great sacrifices,” said Michaud, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee. “I have heard from family members who gave up their jobs, delayed their schooling, or made other significant life-changing sacrifices in order to be by their loved one’s side. This raises questions about the VA’s current efforts to help caregivers and whether there are sufficient supportive services in place. Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of coordination of caregiver benefits when the service member transitions to veteran status. Supportive services that family caregivers may have depended on during military service are suddenly discontinued when the wounded warrior transitions to the VA system. The CARE Act will help address these shortcomings and provide veterans’ caregivers with some much needed support.” VA does not collect data on caregivers of veterans. As such, the number of family members who provide care for veterans is unknown. However, a July 2007 report released by the Dole-Shalala Commission found that of the 1,730 injured OEF/OIF veterans surveyed, about 21 percent of active duty, 15 percent of the reserve, and 24 percent of retired/separated servicemembers had friends or family who gave up a job to be the caregiver. The caregiver program provides education sessions for improved care giving, counseling, and respite care to the family caregiver, or another individual designated by the veteran. The measure also provides a financial stipend and medical care to eligible primary family caregivers of certain veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom/ Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF), and reimburses the caregiver for travel, lodging, and per diem expenses for accompanying the veteran to medical appointments. In addition to providing direct support to the caregivers, the CARE Act calls for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to develop a plan for providing enduring support services for caregivers. It also mandates that the VA conduct a survey on caregivers at least once every three years so that collected information will help identify gaps and potential ways to further improve support services and benefits for caregivers.