Caring for our Heroes: Exploring effects on Pre and Post 9/11 veteran caregivers

Caregivers of veteran’s care for veterans after they come back from war. They provide a range of services necessary to help the veteran adjust to civilian life. In this literature review, the investigation focuses on the type of services veterans need and the kind of care their caregivers provide. This study also explores the effects of caring for the veteran on the caregivers. Also, this study explores what caregivers need to cope while caring for the veteran. To achieve these goals, we examined the history of the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terror. We explored how these wars affected veterans physically and mentally. I reviewed the literature to learn how caregivers care for the veterans and whether that care is causing a strain on the caregiver. Results from my investigation show that caregivers deal with various forms of hardships, such as physical and mental problems, family and marital problems, as well as financial problems. Younger caregivers are known to have more stressful trauma such as secondary trauma than older caregivers because younger caregivers are caring for veterans that are dealing with recent PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Younger caregivers also tend to have less income, making it more likely that they will experience financial difficulties. Given the lack of research on caregivers’ needs, future research should focus on specific needs caregivers gave and developed while caring for a veteran. Additionally, future research should explore services that can address the caregiver needs.Ope

The Lived Experience of Caring for an Australian Military Veteran With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Author version made available in accordance with publisher copyright policy.There is limited literature on the experience of caring for an intimate partner with a mental health condition. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health condition for military veterans; yet, little is known about how partners experience and cope with these caring relationships. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, we collected data through individual interviews with 20 female partners of male veterans diagnosed with PTSD living in South Australia. We found the emotional features of caring to be directly derived from the strength of commitment these carers had to their relationships. We show that lack of understanding of carers’ lives, particularly by health providers and government, has resulted in a sense of social disconnect and invisibility that has contributed to stress and is a barrier to coping. Of vital importance to these carers was that partners of younger veterans do not have to suffer the same experiences

Veterans and Homelessness

[Excerpt] The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan brought renewed attention to the needs of veterans, including the needs of homeless veterans. Homeless veterans initially came to the country’s attention in the 1970s and 1980s, when homelessness generally was becoming a more prevalent and noticeable phenomenon. The first section of this report defines the term “homeless veteran,” discusses attempts to estimate the number of veterans who are homeless, and presents the results of studies regarding the demographic characteristics of homeless veterans as well as those served in VA homeless programs. At the same time that the number of homeless persons began to grow, it became clear through various analyses of homeless individuals that homeless veterans were overrepresented in the homeless population. The second section of this report summarizes the available research regarding the overrepresentation of both male and female veterans, who have been found to be present in greater percentages in the homeless population than their percentages in the general population. This section also reviews research regarding possible explanations for why homeless veterans have been overrepresented. In response to the issue of homelessness among veterans, the federal government has created numerous programs to fund services, transitional housing, and permanent housing specifically for homeless veterans. The third section of this report discusses these programs. The majority of programs are funded through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Within the VA, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which is responsible for the health care of veterans, operates all but one of the programs for homeless veterans. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), which is responsible for compensation, pensions, educational assistance, home loan guarantees, and insurance, operates the other. In addition, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) operate programs for homeless veterans. Several issues regarding homelessness among veterans have become prominent since the beginning of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The fourth section of this report discusses three of these issues. The first is the VA’s plan to end homelessness among veterans. A second issue is ensuring that an adequate transition process exists for returning veterans to assist them with issues that might put them at risk of homelessness. Third is the concern that adequate services might not exist to serve the needs of women veterans. This report will be updated when new statistical information becomes available and to reflect programmatic changes

Innovations in Compassion - The Faith-Based and Community Initiative: A Final Report to the Armies of Compassion

[Excerpt] This Final Report to the Armies of Compassion prepared by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives offers an account of President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative (FBCI or Initiative) to the dedicated faith-based and other community organizations (FBCOs) that have joined in the battles against poverty, disease, and other social ills. The report emphasizes what matters most about the FBCI: measurable results achieved for millions in need across America and around the world through vibrant partnerships with the “armies of compassion” – the thousands of FBCOs that have partnered with government to serve their neighbors in need. It also offers a look at key government reforms and innovations that made these results possible. The report finishes with a glimpse toward the future of the FBCI and the foundation upon which the next generation of government and community leaders can build to achieve even greater good in the decades to come. Changing Lives highlights twelve areas of critical human need that have been particularly affected through expanded Federal partnerships with faith-based and other frontline nonprofits. The chapter highlights key results across these wide-ranging areas of need and stories revealing the deeper impact of the FBCI for individual organizations and the people they serve. Transforming Government explains how reforms led by the FBCI have secured a level playing field for faith-based organizations and reduced barriers to help small FBCOs or those new to partnering with government compete for Federal funds. The chapter also highlights some of the innovative funding models advanced by the FBCI that enable more effective partnerships between government and grassroots nonprofits, such as vouchers, mini-grants, and intermediary model grants. Strengthening Partners describes the Initiative’s diverse methods for building the capabilities of nonprofit organizations and the social entrepreneurs who lead them. These efforts range from technology-based instruction and in-person training events to the hundreds of millions of dollars invested in capacity- building and technical assistance grants. Volunteerism and Private Giving highlights President Bush’s efforts to expand volunteer service and private financial support for America’s FBCOs. Taking Root in States and Cities reveals how the principles of the FBCI are being replicated outside of Washington. Governors and mayors across America are embracing the vision championed by the FBCI as a practical way to engage the toughest challenges faced by their communities. These “laboratories of innovation” will play a key role in the future of the FBCI

We Have a Sacred Duty to House all Homeless Veterans

In a letter to Congress urging the nation to pay what it owed to veterans of the Continental Army, George Washington voiced his firm conviction that we as honorable Americans would “never leave unpaid the debt of gratitude” to those brave souls who “rescued by their arms from impending ruin” the fledgling United States. (excerpt

Effect of Self-Efficacy Enhancing Education Program on Family Caregivers\u27 Competencies in Caring for Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effect of a self-efficacy enhancing education program on family caregivers\u27 competencies regarding perceived confidence and performance in caring for patients with mild TBI in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Methods: The quasi-experimental study, two groups pre-test and post-test design was conducted. Fifty family caregivers and patients with mild TBI who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. The first 25 control group received the routine care were, while another 25 subjects in the experimental group received a self-efficacy enhancing education program developed by the researchers. The program was constructed using Bandura\u27s four sources of self-efficacy. The family caregivers\u27 perceived confidence and performance were measured by using the Perceived Confidence Questionnaire (PCQ) and the Performance Questionnaire (PQ). The data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The findings showed that the family caregivers who participated in the program had a higher in perceived confidence (t = 8.30, p < .05) and performance (U = .00, p < .05) in caring for patients with mild TBI upon the completion of the program. Conclusion: This study suggests the program may have contributed in improving the family caregivers\u27 competencies regarding perceived confidence and also influencing their performance in caring for patients with mild TBI. Therefore, this program is recommended for nurses to extend this knowledge for nursing practices and improve family caregivers\u27 competencies in caring for patients with mild TBI before and after discharge

Taking Care of the New Home Front: Leveraging Greater Federal Resources to Expand Community Capacity for NYS Veterans and Families

This report from the Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) looks at the progress of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, a first-of-its-kind initiative that assists veteran families at imminent risk of homelessness in maintaining safe, permanent housing.SSVF is also designed to meet the needs of veteran families that have become homeless by rapidly re-engaging with permanent housing and other support structures to achieve quick housing outcomes and community integration. SSVF ensures that every veteran household in New York State would have access to high-quality, outcome-oriented homelessness prevention services.The New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) and IVMF recognized this program as an opportunity to make a demonstrable impact in preventing veteran homelessness in New York State. With support from NYSHealth, the IVMF is working to grow the capacity for SSVF grantee applicants and will work with existing grantees to help increase their capacity to serve veterans. As result of NYSHealth's investment, New York State secured $26 million in federal resources through the SSVF program in 2013

Disability and Retirement: The Early Exit of Baby Boomers from the Labor Force

A CBO ReportCBO11_22_LaborForce.pdf: 177 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Preventing Violence in the Homes of Military Families

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF), have demanded unprecedented service at every level of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. For the first time in our military history, active duty, reservists, and guard servicemen and women have been required to complete multiple deployments. These repeated, lengthy deployments combined with limited family "dwell" time in between have deteriorated the stability of many military families. Of the almost two million Americans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many arrive home with serious mental health conditions and injuries that increase relationship stress, marital strain, and family violence.The first large-scale, nongovernmental assessment of the psychological needs of OIF/OEF service members, released by the Rand Corporation in 2008, revealed that 38 percent of these combat veterans suffered from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), major depression, traumatic brain injury, or some combination of the three -- yet less than half had sought treatment. Figures from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suggest that these numbers have almost doubled; Forty-four percent of those who came to the VA for help have been diagnosed with one or more mental health issue. This psychological and emotional toll on our veterans has put them at greater risk of perpetrating family violence. Research has found that:Male veterans with PTS are two to three times more likely to engage in intimate partner violence, compared to those without PTS -- up to six times higher than the general civilian population.81% of veterans suffering from depression and PTS have engaged in at least one violent act against their partner in the past year.Over half of veterans with PTS performed one severe act of violence in the past year -- more than 14 times higher than the general civilian population.However, the confluence of domestic violence, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), PTS, and other mental health injuries among war veterans is by no means fully understood at this point, and requires greater analysis and investigation