Military Caregivers
Cornerstones of Support for Our Nation's Wounded, Ill, and Injured Veterans
RAND Health Quarterly, 2013; 3(1):3
RAND Health Quarterly is an online-only journal dedicated to showcasing the breadth of health research and policy analysis conducted RAND-wide.
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Military caregivers are an essential part of our nation's ability to care for returning wounded warriors. Far too often, their own needs are neglected. The RAND Corporation and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation collaborated on a first, exploratory phase of a larger research effort regarding this demographic and its needs. The research explores what is known about the number and characteristics of military caregivers, describes the roles and functions they perform, and highlights the effect of caregiving on their own well-being. Most existing literature on family caregivers is heavily focused on an older population caring for persons with chronic conditions or dementia. By comparison, research on military caregivers is scant, and there are notable differences that make this population unique: Military caregivers are spouses with young children, parents with full- and part-time jobs, and sometimes even young children helping shoulder some of the burden. Government services available to this population are in their infancy; community service organizations offer diverse services but they are generally uncoordinated. This article lays the groundwork to inform policy and program development relative to the unique needs of military caregivers.
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The United States has been at war longer than any time in its history. While thousands have been wounded in this long-running conflict, advances in battlefield medicine mean many of our troops survive catastrophic wounds. The nature of many of their wounds, however, means some require long-term care-giving support.
Those caregivers often toil in relative obscurity, and they are challenging to count or describe. They are spouses, parents, children, and relatives of the wounded veteran, but many coworkers, neighbors, and friends also take on responsibilities. They provide care and assistance, promoting faster recovery for their loved ones and thus saving our nation millions of dollars in health care costs. However, the personal impact of providing this care is enormous. The time required can result in lost jobs, lost wages, and a possible loss of health insurance; in addition, the physical and emotional toll can be substantial.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation commissioned the RAND Corporation to assess the needs of military caregivers, scan the services available to them, and identify how their needs are—and are not—being met. This research reviews existing research on the needs of caregivers in general, and assesses how lessons learned can be applied to military caregivers. This knowledge will inform policy and program development in the short term. We also present information gleaned from military caregivers themselves and from policymakers and program officials who either directly support, or advocate on behalf of, military caregivers. We provide a snapshot of the number and characteristics of military caregivers, the roles they serve, the physical and emotional impact caregiving has on their lives, and the resources available to them.
We estimate that there are between 275,000 and one million men and women who are caring or have previously cared for wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans—but the actual number may be even more. Caregivers perform a wide variety of roles and functions in support of their wounded warriors—assisting with the normal activities of daily life, serving as mental health counselors, advocating for new and better treatment, even serving as the family's legal and financial representative. Taken together, these responsibilities can amount to more than a full-time job. And yet, military caregivers may also be parenting young children and providing an income for their family.
The appeal of military service to future generations is based upon our nation's commitment to support our service members, veterans, and military families. Ensuring adequate care for wounded, ill, and injured veterans is a critical aspect of this commitment, and a large portion of this care rests on the shoulders of America's military caregivers. Many of them prioritize their veterans' well-being over and above their own. In addition to general physical strain, caregivers may experience a greater incidence of disease or other negative health outcomes. Specifically, they are at high risk for coronary heart disease, hypertension, compromised immune function, and reduced sleep. They suffer disproportionately from mental health problems and experience emotional distress associated with caregiving.
Despite the need, no national strategy for supporting military caregivers exists. Government agencies and other organizations are trying to help, but most programs are in their infancy and inadequate to meet the needs of this growing population.
Future research conducted by RAND and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation will provide a clearer understanding of the number and composition of military caregivers, as well as their needs, the resources available to them, and the gaps that exist. RAND will develop actionable recommendations that policymakers, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations can implement so that, as a country, we rise to support those who are fundamental to the care of our military service members and veterans.
This research was prepared as part of Phase I of a research study funded by Caring for Military Families: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation. The research was conducted within the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD).
