Posted on Jan 14, 2019
It Takes a Network: Did you know there are an estimated 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers?
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Did you know there are an estimated 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers?
Do you know one?
Are you one?
The Rand report Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers commissioned by The Elizabeth Dole Foundation identified that only 47% of post 9/11 Military and Veteran Caregivers have a caregiving network. More than half of the caregivers of military service members and veterans don’t know other caregivers in their situation.
The Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) was created to address the issues of social isolation many caregivers are facing. Now part of the American Red Cross, the Military and Veteran Caregiver works to increase connection, engagement, knowledge, skills, and hope for the 5.5 million caregivers around the country.
Peer support is the base of all we do at the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network. The MVCN team and our volunteers are caregivers who are living this journey alongside the caregivers they are supporting. We train volunteer peer mentors, support group facilitators, and online moderators who provide one on one mentorship, facilitate peer support groups online and in the community, and interact in our Online Community to connect caregivers to crucial support. The hub of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network is a secure, custom, online community that operates 24/7 to support caregivers. Our Online Community has over 2000 members and continues to grow daily. Within the Online Community caregivers can find topic and partner groups, training opportunities, chats, phone calls, and support opportunities to engage with their peers and reduce their isolation.
Our caregiver members include those who are just embarking on their caregiving journey as well as those who have been caring for their loved one for decades. Our structured peer support fosters mutual respect and opportunities for caregivers to give back to their peers in a meaningful way. Through the process of training and getting to know these caregiver peer supporters, I have truly been inspired by their compassion, empathy, resource referral, self-care, and understanding.
Since it can be challenging to identify as a military or veteran caregiver, whether due to stigma, fear, or other reasons, the MVCN created a quiz to help caregivers self-identify.
1. Do you do things for someone who serves or served in the Armed Forces that he or she can’t do for themselves anymore?
2. Do you feel you do the care responsibilities for someone who served in the Armed Forces because they are your spouse, son/daughter, friend, sibling or other family member?
3. Do you sometimes, even often, feel alone or isolated in in your duties because no one around you does the same thing or seems to understand?
If you answered YES to any of these questions you may be a military or veteran caregiver. Please connect with us to share your story, get support, and engage with a community of military and veteran caregivers who understand the journey you’re on.
Signing up for the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network is easy and starts with your name and email.
https://rly.pt/CaregiverApplication
Once we have verified your military or veteran connection, you will receive a link to login to the secure, custom, caregiver only online community.
Do you know one?
Are you one?
The Rand report Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers commissioned by The Elizabeth Dole Foundation identified that only 47% of post 9/11 Military and Veteran Caregivers have a caregiving network. More than half of the caregivers of military service members and veterans don’t know other caregivers in their situation.
The Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) was created to address the issues of social isolation many caregivers are facing. Now part of the American Red Cross, the Military and Veteran Caregiver works to increase connection, engagement, knowledge, skills, and hope for the 5.5 million caregivers around the country.
Peer support is the base of all we do at the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network. The MVCN team and our volunteers are caregivers who are living this journey alongside the caregivers they are supporting. We train volunteer peer mentors, support group facilitators, and online moderators who provide one on one mentorship, facilitate peer support groups online and in the community, and interact in our Online Community to connect caregivers to crucial support. The hub of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network is a secure, custom, online community that operates 24/7 to support caregivers. Our Online Community has over 2000 members and continues to grow daily. Within the Online Community caregivers can find topic and partner groups, training opportunities, chats, phone calls, and support opportunities to engage with their peers and reduce their isolation.
Our caregiver members include those who are just embarking on their caregiving journey as well as those who have been caring for their loved one for decades. Our structured peer support fosters mutual respect and opportunities for caregivers to give back to their peers in a meaningful way. Through the process of training and getting to know these caregiver peer supporters, I have truly been inspired by their compassion, empathy, resource referral, self-care, and understanding.
Since it can be challenging to identify as a military or veteran caregiver, whether due to stigma, fear, or other reasons, the MVCN created a quiz to help caregivers self-identify.
1. Do you do things for someone who serves or served in the Armed Forces that he or she can’t do for themselves anymore?
2. Do you feel you do the care responsibilities for someone who served in the Armed Forces because they are your spouse, son/daughter, friend, sibling or other family member?
3. Do you sometimes, even often, feel alone or isolated in in your duties because no one around you does the same thing or seems to understand?
If you answered YES to any of these questions you may be a military or veteran caregiver. Please connect with us to share your story, get support, and engage with a community of military and veteran caregivers who understand the journey you’re on.
Signing up for the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network is easy and starts with your name and email.
https://rly.pt/CaregiverApplication
Once we have verified your military or veteran connection, you will receive a link to login to the secure, custom, caregiver only online community.
Caregiver
Health
Military Family
Healthcare
American Red Cross
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 19
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Melissa Comeau
Thank you so much for that comment. You are the heroes and it is an HONOR to care for you
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Like to follow up with you folks with radio interview on #SALRadio one of pur Monday shows on WVOX 1460 New Rochelle.
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Took care of ailing WWII veteran Dad for a bunch of years, a jey was taking him out in a wheelchair and drive through ice cream on errand trips. Miss those days.
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I’ve read articles about how hard life can be on the caregivers, as they sacrifice so much of their own lives to take care of others. A hard job indeed.
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Did you know 4.4 of the 5.5 million Caregivers provide for a 100% physically Wounded WWII Korean VIETNAM or Desert Storm Vet and arent NOT eligible for the stipend a post 9/11 vets w PTSD gets?
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when will the cold war veterans caregivers be able to collect a stipend? I haven't been able to work since May 2019 when my husband was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He served from active duty 1987-1996 & reserve duty 1996-2004. I've been told that since he only served 25 days overseas during 2004 he don't qualify.
Leada6
Leada6
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We will need many more given the current U.S. military violations of legitimate Nuremberg Trial verdict prohibition against human experimentation-- especially conducted by foodstuffs by Monsanto Roundup and Mil Spec Rx Vaccine.......... https://secretingredientsmovie.com/
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SP5 Arthur Ben Ephraim
BTW, train youth-- come to the Old Pueblo and play the Tucson continuity of Governance Downtown bunker Complex War Game. I'm playing with Grand Children and will bring crayons ! :-) FALL OUT SHELTER War Game: TUCSON 3rd FLOOR Pima County Library Info Desk. Signal Intel component: Email of Cahill, AIR POLICE MECHANIZED 1969-70 : Ben Hoa Air Base:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi%C3%AAn_H%C3%B2a
FALL OUT SHELTER Component: BUNKER ISLAND ACCESS DOOR north of Toole Avenue near Maynards, Hotel congress, and WW II Ground Zero Hiroshima OCT NOV DEC 1945 Etajima US ARMY Hospital Albert A. Huffman Locomotive of Tucson Train museum: of Rogers & Hammerstein musical: OKLAHOMA. The Gospel of John 3:16-17 is............
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi%C3%AAn_H%C3%B2a
FALL OUT SHELTER Component: BUNKER ISLAND ACCESS DOOR north of Toole Avenue near Maynards, Hotel congress, and WW II Ground Zero Hiroshima OCT NOV DEC 1945 Etajima US ARMY Hospital Albert A. Huffman Locomotive of Tucson Train museum: of Rogers & Hammerstein musical: OKLAHOMA. The Gospel of John 3:16-17 is............
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My Daughter is my Moms caregiver I did the paperwork myself and sent it in. The VA people don't have a clue.
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SSG Byron Howard Sr
1SG Eddie Smith my Mom was a WAC in WWII. She has 2 Champaign ribbons both have Battle Stars. There was a requirement that the Vet had to be a combat Vet.
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1SG Eddie Smith
Sir, your Mothers service is highly commendable. But the reason I ask is because of the current eligibility requirements for the VA Family Caregiver program, which I whole heartily believe should cover ALL Veterans from all eras, however, the current program is for Veterans that separated military service after Sept. 10, 2001. Politicians make the law/policy, not the VA, U.S. Code Title 38. Veterans Benefits.
Sign up for the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network at:
https://rly.pt/CaregiverApplication
This program in the article is not VA, but may connect you to VA or other resources that can help.
Sign up for the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network at:
https://rly.pt/CaregiverApplication
This program in the article is not VA, but may connect you to VA or other resources that can help.
Online Community Application | MVCN
The MVCN provides pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran caregivers with peer support to reduce their isolation and increase their sense of connectedness, engagement, hopefulness, wellness, knowledge and skills.
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SSG Byron Howard Sr
1SG Eddie Smith here is the program my Mom is in. https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/wartimeperiod.asp
Eligible Wartime Periods - Pension
Wartime Veteran Pension
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