Many Veterans feel comfortable when their family member or caregiver is present at their VA appointment. They may offer support in a time of need or provide helpful insight for your VA provider. Now, you can have the same assistance at your video telehealth appointments by inviting up to five family members or caregivers to join you. Just ask about the Caregiver Connect option when scheduling your video visit.
Join from any location with a personal link
After you provide your guest’s name and email address, your VA care team can send them an email invitation with a unique link to take part in your video visit. Caregiver Connect makes it convenient for your family members and caregivers to add the appointment to their calendar and join through their personal link, regardless of their location.
Guests can join the video visit through VA Video Connect, VA’s secure videoconferencing app, from any location using an internet-connected, video-capable device such as a computer, smartphone or tablet.
Add guests after your video visit has begun
If you forget to add your guests before your video visit, you can still include them in the appointment. Ask your VA provider to invite them to an in-progress video visit using the new Invite Participants feature. The invitation is sent immediately through an email or text message.
Connect with more VA care team members
VA is also making it easier for your VA care team to collaborate through VA Video Connect. At the request of a VA care team member, schedulers can invite up to five additional VA staff members to take part in your video visit. This enables you to work with specialists, social workers and other VA staff to get the care and resources you need.
If you have questions about what telehealth options are right for you, talk with your VA care team at your next visit or send them a secure message through VA’s My HealtheVet online patient portal. You can ask about having your family members or caregivers join your next video visit.
Get connectivity support for VA telehealth
If you cannot access VA Video Connect because you don’t have internet access or an internet-connected device, talk with your VA care team about the Digital Divide Consult. To learn more about how VA is helping Veterans get connected, visit the Bridging the Digital Divide page.
Several mobile carriers help Veteran subscribers avoid data charges when using VA Video Connect on their networks. This enables you to access care through VA telehealth with fewer worries about data fees. Find more information, including eligibility details, on the cellular data program webpage.
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Army Veteran Denis Velez donated a painting of his VA hospital as a way of giving back for his treatment there.
As caregiver for a 100 percent total and permanent service connected disabled Army veteran this is my experience in the caregiver program…
My wife requires constant care and has significant cognitive irregularities that require continual instruction and constant protection from the hazards inherent in the environment .
This fiscal year the so called national caregiver program budget is one point eight billion dollars. There are roughly fifty-five thousand eligible veteran caregivers. That is 1,800,000,000 divide by 55,000 = 32,727.27 per participant.
The funds are to ease the burdens of caring for the veteran and make ammends for the disrution of any form of more normal life. Most family members who care for thier veteran are unable to work outside the home and congress intended to provide for thier sacrifice to the nation too.
Last year my thitytwo thousand got us two one sheet page folded newsletters that were all about the summer vacations planned for the VA staff and the great times they were looking forward to. It’s an insult to good conscious.
This is the meat of the issues that I am attempting to address here.
This program is needful of documentation and accurate information and not more lipservice about transparency and equity.
That is simply lipstick on a pig.
If you have any questions or concerns please let me know and we can move together with full disclosure and healthy discussions. The reasonable person will be resolved to assist in fixing this problem with accountability and to ensure that the Veteran and thier families receive the benefits that Uncle Sam intends.
I’m a retired US Air Force, Active-Duty Individual who retired in 1985 and has not received any information nor help from any VA organization nor VA Personnel! I have no idea what services are available from the VA nor even how to contact a person who can advise me of what VA benefits are available to a Active-Duty US Military retiree? I hear about different programs, but there is little or no point of contact provided in their “Back Smacking” Articles of VA’s great accomplishments and programs, but no information on who can apply, get assistance or access to VA Programs? I’ve been taking care of ALL my healthcare, investments and Retired Active-Duty Military retiree programs that I’m able to find on my own! It would be great or would have been great, to have a representative from The VA to help me, at any time, for the past 38 years, since my Air Force Active-Duty Military Service retirement! I can only assume what I may have missed.!