As many of us know firsthand, caregiving can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have, but it can also be one of the most challenging—especially when you are facing an emergency in your home or a disaster in your community. To make matters worse, resources to help families prepare for disasters often lack content that reflects the unique needs of family caregivers, despite the critical role they play in these crises.
In partnership with VA, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) set out to change that. Together, we developed a new toolkit, “Prepared Caregivers,” to support caregivers of Veterans and the unique challenges they may face in times of disaster, so that they are better prepared for even the most difficult days.
Prepared Caregivers is made up of plans, advice, insight and conversation prompts for caregivers of Veterans, with customizable checklists designed to create a plan suited to caregivers’ unique needs. Resources include but are not limited to:
- Explanations of key terms used in the preparedness sector but that are not commonly known
- A military-caregiver-specific emergency plan
- Checklists for caring for people with special needs, pets and service animals in an emergency
- Insight into how the physical and mental wounds of war may cause Veterans to experience disasters differently than other care recipients
- Strategies to help Veterans process their emotions in precarious situations
- Tips for service animals
- Month-by-month guides for assembling disaster kits
- Procedures for navigating life after a disaster
This toolkit is free for download, fully customizable to meet the unique needs of each military caregiver and is designed to be self-paced. To access the toolkit, please visit https://rosalynncarter.org/emergency-preparedness/.
Prepared Caregivers will walk you through every step of your emergency preparedness plan, because being prepared for these devastating events is one way to help offset the challenges you may face in times of emergency.
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers promotes the health, strength and resilience of caregivers in the United States. Established in 1987 by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the institute’s priority is the unpaid family caregiver, the people who care for a relative, friend or loved one. To learn more about the institute, its advocacy and how to participate in programs or build a partnership, visit www.rosalynncarter.org.
Topics in this story
Link Disclaimer
This page includes links to other websites outside our control and jurisdiction. VA is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of non-VA Web sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy or terms and conditions of those sites to fully understand what information is collected and how it is used.
Statement of Endorsement
Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
More Stories
Musicians On Call is hosting “Concert For Veterans,” a special virtual concert that bridges the gap between hospital walls and our nation's recognition of Veterans.
The American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network provides caregivers with a variety of resources and support.
Hiring Our Heroes is saying thank you to America’s military by giving away a new Toyota to one lucky, active-duty service member, Veteran or military spouse.