VA recently launched a virtual program to pilot mental health services for caregivers enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). This program will provide much needed resources, tools and support for caregivers while they care for our nations’ heroes.
The clinical resource hub will focus on the unique mental health needs of caregivers through evidence-based therapeutic modalities with services centered around couples, family therapy and the individual needs of the caregiver.
“This program is a significant step forward in addressing the mental health needs of caregivers enrolled in PCAFC,” said Dr. Colleen Richardson, executive director of the Caregiver Support Program (CSP). “Through these virtual clinical resource hubs, CSP will provide the mental health resources our nation’s Caregivers and their Veterans need through counseling and support.
Over 2300 caregivers may be eligible
The nation’s first clinical resource hub located within the Ozarks VA began seeing caregivers on May 1, 2023. It is estimated that 2,317 caregivers may be eligible to receive telehealth-based services through the pilot. Although most caregivers will receive care through telehealth, caregivers may access in-person counseling at local VA facilities if requested.
“Our caregivers are an integral health care team member providing critical and essential support to Veterans,” said Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks VA Director George Velez. “In turn, we need to support our caregivers. They are our most valuable resource, and providing mental and emotional health stability is essential to their overall well-being so that they too can live their best lives.”
Aligned with VA’s hiring goals, the Caregiver Support Team will hire a clinical director to oversee program implementation and sustainment. Additionally, most clinical resource hubs will hire three psychotherapists and one advanced medical support assistant to provide mental health counseling to eligible caregivers.
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new actions to tackle American’s mental health crisis.
For more information about mental health services through the Caregiver Support Program, reach out to your local CSP Team.
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Salt in the wounds of dedicated caregivers. I’ve been on my own caregiving Parkinson’s disease since 2015. The VA caregiver assistant called me twice in 2022 to ask me what I do all day long. When spouse went into Nursing Care in 2023, a social worker noted “wife needs respite”. Days later, I was offered generic Cymbalta 90 tablets x 7 refills by an Indiana medicaid provider. Indiana is a bad place for caregivers, and the caregiver assistant made it even lonelier.
Question. Will this program assist caregivers of the disable children of disable vets.
I have a hard time believing that Biden and Harris really care anything about Veterans healthcare. I have been a disabled veteran from 1969 to present and have received almost no help from the VA that I didn’t have to fight them for. I am a 100% Disabled Veteran from the Vietnam war. I live in Phoenix, Az. and we had the VA Hospital either kill or try to kill us veterans in 2014, it made all the news on TV and across the country just so they could get their bonuses.
Great info about caregivers!!
No
If they truly cared for the mental health needs of the Caregiver they need to look at the Caregiver Support Program as a whole. Look at the big picture when interviewing for the program. And do not strictly go by the records. The Dr’s don’t record anything! Look at the individuals! Why would someone stay home and care for their spouse without pay living in near poverty conditions for 20+ years if the spouse didn’t need them?
We aren’t a checklist!