03/31/2019
https://www.metooo.io/e/veteran-warriors-inc-presents-opera…
I can still use some help for my trip to D.C. to advocate for our Wounded Warriors and Caregivers. Please Read below to understand why.
Wounded Veterans sometimes get a Caregiver who gets paid. Wounded Veterans get removed from the caregiver programs because it is decided they are better, due to being able to dress them selves. Wounded veterans’ wives are told they no longer qualify as a caregiver because it is now their wifely duties.
The caregiver program is an amazing program designed to assist our wounded veterans of post 9-11 and soon pre-9-11. However, like all new programs, there are area’s that need improvements, adjustments or maybe an educational component for those who are administering the policies. After years of looking into the program, being part of the caregiver program and now joining with a larger organization that has uncovered more area’s to advocate for below is why I am going to D.C.
Caring for a loved one is a demanding task. More than 2.5 million U.S. service members have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. Their wartime experiences have led to a sharp increase in the number of veterans living with disabilities. Many veterans of these and earlier conflicts rely for their day-to-day needs on care provided by family or friends. These informal caregivers, whom we term military caregivers, provide a range of indispensable services, saving the nation millions of dollars Caring for a loved one is a demanding task. More than 2.5 million U.S. service members have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. Their wartime experiences have led to a sharp increase in the number of veterans living with disabilities. Many veterans of these and earlier conflicts rely for their day-to-day needs on care provided by family or friends. These informal caregivers, whom we term military caregivers, provide a range of indispensable services, saving the nation millions of dollars in health and long-term care costs in health and long-term care costs.
1. Pre 9/11 caregivers resemble civilian caregivers: They are typically older adults caring for an aging parent or spouse caring for an aging partner. By contrast, post9/11 military caregivers present a different type of profile. They are younger, are most likely the spouse or parent of the military member and may even be a friend who is performing different caregiving duties. These Post 9/11 caregivers are most likely juggling work, caregiving, their family, civilian doctors, VA doctors for the veteran, and then their own doctors, life events for the veteran, and then their own plus if there are children involved all that goes with there lively hood. A lot of the time, there is not a lot of experience in caregiving or navigating the VA system or the care of what is needed and for the quiet person, they have to step out of their shell and become more outspoken for their veteran’s needs. (http://w ww.farmer veteran.com/resources)
2. 33 percent of post 9/11 military caregivers lack healthcare coverage because they do not know they can obtain it through the caregiver program.
3. All caregivers are faced with elevated risks of poor health outcomes, strained family relationships, and financial losses from missed work or loss of work to become a caregiver. These risks are higher for post 9/11 military caregivers. (http:// www.farmerveteran.com/resources
a. You might be asking yourself “don’t caregivers get paid?” well yes, they do. Caregivers receive a stipend from the VA. (DEFINITION of Stipend. A stipend is a predetermined amount of money that is provided periodically to help offset expenses. Stipends are often provided to those who are ineligible to receive a regular salary in exchange for the duties they perform, such as interns. Dec 20, 2017)
b. A caregivers stipend does not have any of the normal deduction taken from it like Social Security, Pension plan, taxes, unemployment, or anything else that comes out. So, then NOTHING is going towards that caregiver's retirement. Let say a caregiver has been working up until they are 50, and now they are a caregiver for years and years. At the age of 65 to 72, they will not have any extra money added to their social security retirement or an IRA.
c. Now let say they receive a tier 3 stipend. Here is how it may be calculated, (40 hours x $10.00 x 1.3 x 4.35 = $2262.00). This is NOT accurate, just an example. For some, this may be a lot of extra money as they may have only made minimum wage to $10.00 less than full-time. However, if you take into account the parents with careers who made more than double that amount how much that hurt them and they still moved forward with giving up their career and helping their child or spouse. Remember, their income when away, but their bills stayed the same.
d. There are fewer caregiver support programs that provide respite care, or financial support. If there is support, they must use the veteran to apply and then the veteran has to get the money and pass it on. With this area being a great need, it has still been overlooked or people have not been educated about this population of caregivers. This is an area of great need
e. 25% of post 9/11 caregivers rely on their parents who are aging and who, starting in 15 years, will no longer be able to provide support. Then who will care for the veteran
4. Caregivers are full of emotions that range from uncontrollable tears to frustration, anger, love, compassion, joy, empathy and sympathy. They do need someone to talk to. There has been a handful of wonderful organizations that have programs for caregivers to at least have someone to talk to over skype or chat. Other caregivers have put together private groups for them to reach out to each other and then there is a small group of personal friends you made while living at the hospital together.
So, why tell you all of this? To help educate you on the military caregivers in hopes you will pass it on. There is a need for more understanding in this area to help our caregivers by creating more programs, donating to nonprofits that assist our caregivers and most of all follow the political VA battle on what is taking place in the caregiver realm.
https://www.metooo.io/e/veteran-warriors-inc-presents-opera…
