Resources for Caregivers of Veterans in Rural Areas

Caregivers of individuals with dementia can experience isolation. This sense of isolation can be especially challenging for those Caregivers living in rural and highly rural locations. In recognition of this challenge, the VA Office of Rural Health and the VA Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care have both provided funding for a project carried out at the Salt Lake VA Medical Center that focuses on providing remote support to Caregivers. The SCORE project (Supporting Caregivers of Rural Elderly) involved the development of resources that could be delivered via telephone or internet.

One such resource is a set of video modules that exemplify the experiences that a Caregiver may encounter over the course of their loved one's progression with dementia. The twenty video modules follow the lives of a fictional couple, Harold and Margaret, from Harold's diagnosis of dementia through several medical, behavioral, emotional, and logistical challenges. Each module provides approximately five minutes of content focusing on a variety of different topics. The most frequently viewed topics include: Communicating with Your Doctor, Overview of Dementia, Caring for the Caregiver, Facing Legal Issues, and Problem Behaviors. All of the modules can currently be viewed or downloaded for free on the Office of Rural Health public website at:

www.ruralhealth.va.gov/education/dementia-caregivers/index.asp

Thank you to Dr. Rand Rupper, VA's Office of Rural Health, for this article.

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Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Caregivers of Veterans sometimes feel overwhelmed as they look for services and supports from the community to help care for a loved-one. Often, this search involves many phone calls, office visits, and web searches that produce confusing and sometimes conflicting information. Fortunately, there is a community organization that can help simplify this process—Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). ADRCs, a collaborative effort of the U.S. Administration on Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, are single points of entry for people looking for long-term supports and services for older adults, people with disabilities, and their Caregivers. ADRCs can reduce consumers’ and their families’ frustrations because with a single contact with the ADRC, a Caregiver can receive accurate information and be connected to many different long term services and supports.

As of October 2013, 514 ADRCs operate in 52 states and territories. Many of these reside within local Area Agencies on Aging or Centers for Independent Living. ADRC staff are experts in public and private programs within their communities. They provide objective information, advice, counseling, and assistance to empower people to make informed decisions about their long-term services and support. Many agencies also assist with enrollment and eligibility, nursing home diversions, and transitions from hospitals and nursing homes.


Caregivers of Veterans may not be aware of services available through VA, so they instead seek help from ADRCs and other community programs before approaching VA. In these situations, ADRCs serve as a gateway into VA for many Veterans and their Caregivers. Many ADRC staff have attended trainings on Veteran Benefits to expand their very limited knowledge of VA programs. This has greatly increased the information and options they can provide Veterans and Caregivers living within their community. For example, one ADRC site helped a homeless Veteran connect with the local VA medical center prior to his discharge from a nursing home. The VA helped the Veteran transfer directly to a contract nursing home, thus avoiding a period of homelessness.

ADRCs can be an invaluable resource to Caregivers by providing connections to community resources. Working with your local ADRCs will widen the services and support available for Caregivers of Veterans. You can find your local ADRC through the following link: http://www.adrc-tae.acl.gov/

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Happy National Family Caregivers Month!

November is National Family Caregivers Month. VA appreciates, celebrates, and honors each and every family Caregiver of a Veteran! One way VA celebrates family Caregivers of Veterans is to provide support and education. In February 2013, VA launched Building Better Caregivers^TM, an on-line, interactive workshop for family Caregivers of Veterans. To find out more about this innovative program, please visit http://www.va.gov/health/NewsFeatures/2013/August/Are-You-a-Caregiver-for-a-Veteran.asp.

 

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$30.95

 

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