Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program
The VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP) offers clinical services to caregivers of eligible and covered veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The program’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of family caregivers who care for military veterans.
The CSP achieves this goal through two programs to support those who provide caregiver services to veterans.
Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS)
This program provides peer support, mentoring, skills training, coaching, telephone support, online programs, and referrals to available resources to caregivers of Veterans. To be eligible for this program, the veteran must be enrolled in VA health care and receive care from a caregiver. Caregivers who participate in PGCSS are called General Caregivers. General caregivers do not need to be a relative or to live with the veteran.
Every VA facility is staffed with a CSP Team and a Caregiver Support Coordinator. This team can assist you with finding the resources and services available to you and can assist in the enrollment process.
Services provided through PGCSS include:
S.A.V.E. (Signs, Ask, Validate, Encourage and Expedite)Training
This is a skills training that provides information on steps that anyone can take when a veteran may be at risk of suicide.
REACH (Resources for Enhancing All Caregiver's Health)
A caregiver may connect with a coach who will provide you with a workbook on caregivers' issues. They can provide coaching on stress management, problem-solving, self-care and healthy behaviors, veteran safety and more.
Caregiver self-care and resilience courses
Caregiver Self-Care courses are in-person or virtual group training provided to caregivers focusing on supporting and meeting their needs. Trained facilitators lead the classes.
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
This program is for veterans who sustained or aggravated a serious injury or illness in the line of active duty federal military service. To be eligible for this program, the veteran must have an individual or combined disability rating of 70 percent or greater and need at least six months of continuous in-person personal care services.
Personal care services include health and well-being, everyday individual needs such as feeding, bathing, and dressing, and safety, protection, or instruction in their daily activities.
A caregiver under this program must be an adult family member, extended family member, or someone willing to live full-time with the veteran. A veteran can have one primary caregiver and up to two secondary family caregivers who provide backup support to the primary caregiver when needed.
Eligible primary and secondary caregivers can receive Caregiver education and training, mental health counseling, and travel, lodging, and financial assistance when traveling with the veteran to receive care.
Additionally, eligible primary family caregivers may receive a monthly stipend, access to the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), and at least thirty days of respite care for the veteran.
The veteran and caregiver must apply to this program jointly. For more information on how to apply, see the program page on the federal VA’s website here.
Family Caregiver Alliance
https://www.caregiver.org/
The Family Caregiver Alliance, located in California, provides many online resources that include articles and videos to assist caregivers in overcoming the challenges of caring for an ill loved one.
National Association of Caregivers
The National Association of Caregivers, Located in Washington, D.C., this organization advocates for issues of importance to caregivers. Their webpage has several documents to help beginning and experienced caregivers. Phone: 202-918-1013
Fax: 202-918-1014
info@caregiving.org
West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
Phone: (304) 558-3317, (877) 987-3646
Fax: (304) 558-5609
AARP Family Caregiver Guides
AARP advocates and provides resources for seniors, including a
Family Caregiver Guide. Among those resources is a caregiver guide and other useful information for caregivers, whether the veteran is a senior or not.