THE VHA CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM · •Managing caregiver fatigue and stress •Improving caregiver sleep, diet and personal health •Learning ways to cope with caregiver issues

THE VHA CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM

Mission Statement:

“To promote the health and well-being of family caregivers who care for our

nation’s Veterans, through education, resources, support, and services”

VHA Caregiver Support Program Pillars

July 2019 VA Caregiver Support Program 2

Inclusive

Care

Education

& Training

Trusted

Partnerships

Service

Excellence


– Empowerment: promoting strengths-based

approach to foster caregivers’ growth and

confidence in their capabilities

– Collaboration: increasing communication

and participation between caregivers and

Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA)

providers

– Coordination: facilitating access to services

and benefits for caregivers and the Veterans

they support

INCLUSIVE CARE


– Development: providing training and support to

caregivers to enhance their confidence and

abilities to care for both themselves and the

Veteran

– Outreach & Awareness: creating awareness

and providing education to both VHA staff and

community partners regarding caregiver support

services

EDUCATION AND TRAINING


– Advocacy: recognizing and promoting the

importance of the caregiver role and the

unique needs of caregivers, within VHA and

in the community, to increase visibility,

involvement and support

– Transparency: demonstrating strong ethics

and accountability through policy

development and program administration

TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS


– Research: allowing for innovation through

discovery of best practices that support an ideal

future state

– Policy Development: ensuring policy is aligned

with regulations and evidence-based best

practices

– Stewardship: establishing responsible policy

and program operationalization through quality

assurance and program evaluation

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

THE VHA CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is comprised of

two unique programs to serve and support Veterans

and caregivers across all eras:

• The Program of General Caregiver Support

Services (PGCSS)

• The Program of Comprehensive Assistance

for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)


THE PROGRAM OF GENERAL CAREGIVER SUPPORT

SERVICES

The Program of General Caregiver Support Services

serves caregivers of enrolled Veterans of all eras.

A General Caregiver is defined as a person who

provides personal care services to a Veteran who:

• Needs assistance with one or more activities of

daily living (ADL) or

• Needs supervision or protection based on

symptoms or residuals of neurological care or

other impairment or injury


SUPPORT & SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ALL CAREGIVERS

VA is committed to providing services to all caregivers. These services include, but may not be limited to:

• Resource and Referral: Assistance navigating VA services, including those available as part of the Veteran’s healthcare and benefits

• Education, Training, and Support: Building Better Caregivers TM, Caregiver Support Line and monthly education calls, REACH VA, self-care courses, peer mentoring, support groups and the VA Caregiver Support website.

• Counseling: Provided “in connection with the treatment” of a Veteran’s disability to further the objectives of the Veteran’s medical treatment plan


OTHER VA SUPPORT THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO

CAREGIVERS

In-Home Care• Skilled Nursing

• Home Health Aide

• Home Based Primary Care

• Veteran Directed Home & Community Based Care

Respite Care (Up to 30 Days Per Year)

• Residential (VA Community Living Center or Community Facility)

• In-Home

• Adult Day Health Care

Equipment & Supplies• Mobility aids

• Home modification grants

• Communication devices

• Cognitive prosthetics

• Incontinence supplies

*These supports may not be available at all facilities

VA Caregiver Support Program 10July 2019

BUILDING BETTER CAREGIVERS TM

Building Better Caregivers TM (BBC) is a six week online

interactive workshop for caregivers of Veterans. The

workshop assists caregivers with:

• Enhancing communication and decision-making

• Managing caregiver fatigue and stress

• Improving caregiver sleep, diet and personal health

• Learning ways to cope with caregiver issues

• Engaging in shared experiences and peer-to-peer support

Following completion of the workshop, caregivers can

participate in the ongoing BBC Alumni Community.



The VA Caregiver Support Line responds to calls from caregivers, Veterans and community agencies seeking information about VA caregiver services.

• Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 8:00PM (EST)

• Staffed by VA clinical social workers

• Links callers to their local Caregiver Support Coordinator

• Provides information about assistance through the VA

• Offers supportive counseling when needed

NATIONAL CAREGIVER SUPPORT LINE

TELEPHONE EDUCATION CALLS

Social workers at the VA’s Caregiver Support Line (CSL) facilitate psychoeducational “Care for the Caregiver” groups for caregivers via toll-free teleconference.

• Twelve unique topics are offered annually, such as setting boundaries, asking for help, handling the holidays and managing anger

• Each topic is offered 3 times throughout the month: a morning, an afternoon and an evening session

• Calls are accessed through a 1-800 number from the comfort of one’s home

• Additional caregiver-led calls are hosted throughout the year to share personal peer experiences


REACH VA

Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers’ Health in the

VA (REACH VA) is an evidence-based program that

provides interventional support to caregivers.

• Delivered in four, one-hour core sessions with the option of

additional sessions if needed, in person or by telephone/telehealth

• Supports skill building through problem solving, stress reduction,

and positive thinking/mood management

• Specialized curricula are available for caregivers of Veterans with

ALS, dementia, MS, PTSD, and spinal cord injury

• The VA Memphis Caregiver Center and the VA Office of Rural

Health have partnered to provide REACH to rural caregivers


CAREGIVER SELF-CARE COURSES

Caregiver Self-Care Courses are offered by trained

facilitators from the VA Memphis Caregiver Center and

are provided in person with caregivers at local VA

facilities. Courses are approximately 3 hours in length.Topics Include:

• Utilizing Technology

• Problem Solving & Communication

• Stress Management

• Stress Management II

• Taking Care of Yourself

• Taking Care of Your Emotional Health


PEER SUPPORT MENTORING

VA’s Caregiver Peer Support Mentoring Program links

caregivers of Veterans in a mentor/mentee relationship

to provide peer support and guidance.

• Experienced caregivers are trained to serve as mentors

and matched with newer, less experienced caregivers.

• Mentors provide personalized guidance based on

experience and knowledge and help alleviate isolation

for mentees

• Caregivers of all eras are eligible to participate in the

Caregiver Peer Support Mentoring Program, both as

mentors and as mentees.


VHA CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM

WEBSITE

Links caregivers to helpful tools, information, resources and stories of caregivers and Veterans.

Includes:

• Information on the VA Caregiver Support Program

• Caregiving tips by diagnosis

• Ways to connect with other caregivers

• Tips and tools for caregivers such as managing medication or talking with medical providers

• Publications and resources by topic

• Directory of VA Caregiver Support Coordinators by state and U.S. territory

• Access to the application for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers


NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH

In addition to year-round support, VA also recognizes

National Family Caregivers Month in November.

Local facilities organize special events and publicity to

celebrate, recognize and honor family caregivers.

Some offerings may include:

• Workshops

• Local resource fairs

• Self-care days

• Special education

• Community awareness


CARING FOR SERIOUSLY INJURED POST 9/11 VETERANS

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for

Family Caregivers (PCAFC) offers enhanced

clinical support for caregivers of eligible Veterans

seriously injured in the line of duty on or after

September 11, 2001.



Veterans may be eligible for this clinical program if

they:

• sustained or aggravated a serious injury in the

line of duty on or after 9/11/2001 and

• require personal care services to perform one or

more activities of daily living or

• require supervision and protection based on

symptoms of residuals of neurological impairment

or injury

• require the assistance of a family caregiver to live

safely in a home setting



Enhanced PCAFC services for eligible caregivers

may include:

• Financial stipend

• Access to CHAMPVA health care insurance, if

caregiver is otherwise uninsured

• Mental health counseling

• Caregiver training

• Respite care

• Hero Miles

• Travel and per diem compensation when traveling

for a Veteran’s VA medical appointment


PROGRAM OF COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE FOR

FAMILY CAREGIVERS – CURRENT DATA*

• Applications filed: 129,850

• Participating Caregivers/Veterans: 19,309

– Tier 3 – 4,538 (stipend national average $2,671.02 per month)

– Tier 2 – 7,101 (stipend national average $1,625.20 per month)

– Tier 1 – 7,670 (stipend national average $655.24 per month)

• CHAMPVA Enrollees/Caregivers actively eligible: 3,119

• Caregiver Demographics:

– Gender: Over 90% women

– Relationship: spouses/significant others (78%); followed by

parents

– Largest age cohort of approved caregivers is 30-39, followed

by 40-49 and 20-29 years of age respectively

*Data as of May 2019


HOW POST 9/11 SERVICEMEMBERS/CAREGIVERS CAN

INITIATE THE PROCESS?

• Referral to a VA Liaison at local MTF

• If no VA Liaison at the MTF:

o Visit www.caregiver.va.gov to determine potential

eligibility and download the application.

o Mail or fax completed and signed application (by

Caregiver and Veteran) to local VA Medical Center

Caregiver Support Coordinator (CSC).

o Mail or fax completed and signed Application for

healthcare and Application for Caregiver Support

Program, to Health Eligibility Center

(https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply)

o Meet in person with local VA Medical Center CSC for

assistance to complete the form.


http://www.caregiver.va.gov/

https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply

SPECIAL COMPENSATION FOR ASSISTANCE WITH

ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (SCAADL) AND CSP

• Payment based on same evaluation tool and same payment

scale

• Payment made to Servicemember and is taxable

• Similar to VA’s Aide and Attendance Benefit in which a higher

monthly compensation payment is made to Veteran in

recognition of their need for assistance

• Eligibility is not the same: DoD program covers illness, but is

more restrictive

Transitioning to VA’s Program

• Servicemember will need to apply for VA’s Caregiver Program

once a discharge date from the military is known

• Payment is based on geographic location of the

Servicemember/Veteran, so if a Servicemember is returning

home from a MTF, a difference in compensation may occur


VA MAINTAINING INTERNAL SYSTEMS AND STRENGTHENING

INTEGRATED OUTSIDE NETWORKS (MISSION) ACT AND CSP

• As required by the 2018 VA MISSION Act, expansion of

the PCAFC will begin when VA has fully implemented a

required information technology (IT) system and certifies

this to Congress. The timeline for completion and the

subsequent certification is in development. VA will

provide updates on the MISSION Act Website.

• Once the IT system is successfully deployed, the

expansion will occur in two phases, beginning with

eligible Veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious

injury in the line of duty on or before May 7, 1975. The

final phase of the expansion is anticipated to begin two

years later. It will include eligible Veterans who incurred or

aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty after May 7,

1975 to September 10, 2001.


https://missionact.va.gov/

QUESTIONS?


National Caregiver Support Line:

1-855-260-3274

Website:

www.caregiver.va.gov

[email protected]

Documents

THE VHA CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM · •Managing caregiver fatigue and stress •Improving caregiver sleep, diet and personal health •Learning ways to cope with caregiver issues