Often times, veterans who live in rural areas have a hard time accessing health care services because their VA facility can be up to 5  plus hours away from their residence. In many cases this requires heavy travel and out of pocket expenses for gas, lodging, food etc. In addition, most veterans who are needing health care services, require their caregivers to provide them transportation and assistance.  VA case managers can make all the difference in the world for a veteran and their family.

 

 

New Services for Family Caregivers of Post-9/11 Veterans

 

 

Family Caregivers provide crucial support in caring for Veterans. VA recognizes that Family Caregivers in a home environment can enhance the health and well-being of Veterans under VA care.

 

 

Under the “Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010,” additional VA services are now available to seriously injured post-9/11 Veterans and their Family Caregivers through a new program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. VA is now accepting applications for these services.

 

 

 

Who Is Eligible?

 

 

• Veterans eligible for this program are those who sustained a serious injury – including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder – incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, on or after September 11, 2001.
• Veterans eligible for this program must also be in need of personal care services because of an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living and/or need supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological impairment or injury.
• To be eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, Veterans must first be enrolled for VA health services, if not enrolled previously.

 

 

New Services Available to Family Caregivers through this Program :

 

 

The new law will provide additional assistance to primary Family Caregivers of eligible post-9/11 Veterans and Service members. New services for this group include:
• Monthly stipend
• Travel expenses (including lodging and per diem while accompanying Veterans undergoing care)
• Access to health care insurance (if the Caregiver is not already entitled to care or services under a health care plan)
• Mental health services and counseling
• Comprehensive VA Caregiver training provided by Easter Seals
• Respite care (not less than 30 days per year)

 

 

http://www.caregiver.va.gov/support_benefits.asp