A PTSD diagnosis can drastically change the life of the Veteran you care for. You may notice physical changes like difficulty sleeping, irritability, or emotional changes such as avoidance of specific people or places.
You can help your Veteran manage their symptoms with a combination of therapy and medication. To get started, apply for the VA caregiver program.
Benefits
The VA provides several services for caregivers, including monthly compensation, training, and healthcare benefits. To qualify for the program, a veteran must have a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher and live with a family member who is the primary caregiver. The Veteran must also be unable to perform their daily activities independently or require supervision, protection, or instruction.
Those who meet the requirements are eligible to receive a monthly stipend and additional benefits that include counseling for PTSD, respite, mental health treatment, and group and individual support. Those already in the program will be reassessed for eligibility over the next year.
NPR reported on the program last year after a report found that some VAs were dropping families from the program while others were adding them.
Requirements
If you’re considering applying for the program, be prepared to provide details about your caregiving responsibilities. During your conversation with the clinical team and home visit, be as specific as possible. This will help them determine how much stipend payment you’ll receive and the degree of personal care services your Veteran will need.
Moreover, the VA caregiver program for PTSD provides crucial support and resources to caregivers assisting veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, offering assistance tailored to the specific needs and challenges of both the veteran and the caregiver.
To qualify for the VA caregiver program, your Veteran must have a service-connected disability that requires daily assistance. They must also be unable to self-sustain in the community without a primary caregiver. This means they can’t perform basic actions such as eating, bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom.
Caregivers should also be able to attend regular mental health sessions with their Veteran, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and family or couples counseling. This is especially important when the Veteran has PTSD, as symptoms can cause emotional and behavioral changes. For example, a PTSD flare-up may lead to the Veteran avoiding people or becoming withdrawn.
Appeals
If you are applying to the program, being open and honest with your clinical team during the home visit is essential. Be sure to discuss your schedule and specific activities you support the Veteran with and answer questions about how well they perform ADLs. Also, stay in contact with your Caregiver Support Coordinator (CSA) throughout the process.
After NPR’s report last year, the VA briefly paused all revocations and conducted a strategic review to improve the program. However, veterans who dropped from the program at the VA say that they can still not get back on.
Fortunately, a ruling by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims means that veterans can appeal their decisions from the Board. Keep an eye out for notices that are coming in the mail. You can also reach out to your local DAV office for assistance.
Resources
Veterans who have PTSD may experience a wide variety of physical symptoms that interfere with their ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. These symptoms can range from difficulty falling asleep to recurring and intrusive thoughts that bring up the memory of the trigger or stressor event that caused the PTSD in the first place.
Often, these symptoms lead to a loss of hope or enthusiasm for life, making it hard for a veteran to engage with family and friends. This can cause them to become isolated and withdrawn from the world.
For those who are caring for a Veteran with PTSD, there are various resources available through the VA Caregiver Program. These include monthly compensation, medical training, healthcare benefits, and respite. Those interested in applying for the program must have a home visit with a VA examiner to verify that they require caregiver services and assess their level of need.
This post was so informative to read. I am all for anything that helps our veterans.