Nine Steps to Respite Care for Military and Veteran Caregivers

Prepared for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation – Hidden Heroes and published here with their permission.

Military and Veteran Caregivers may face special challenges. Sometimes, Veterans have unique physical, emotional and behavioral conditions that require specialized care. For example, younger Veterans may have traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, amputations and post-traumatic stress disorder. Aging Veterans also may be diagnosed with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Providing care for these Veterans can be complicated and challenging.  It is important for you to be aware of a resource called respite care. Respite services can provide you with a much needed break away from your caregiving responsibilities and this fact sheet can help you find and use respite.

Accompanying this fact sheet is a Matrix of Federal Programs that Support Respite for Military and Veteran Families.