Caring for a Veteran can be a rewarding but emotional journey. As a caregiver, you may experience grief even before a loved one passes away. This type of grief is called anticipatory grief and can bring on a wide range of emotions.
It’s normal to feel sadness, frustration, or even anger. The first step to healing is recognizing these feelings and finding ways to cope.
“Being a caregiver is a selfless and challenging role, and it’s important to be patient with yourself,” said VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP) Executive Director Dr. Colleen Richardson. “Grief is a personal journey, but VA is here to support you every step of the way.”
Ways to cope with grief
- Take care of yourself: Make time for activities that bring you joy, help you relax and give you rest. Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching empowers caregivers by helping them focus on their own health and wellbeing.
- Lean on friends and family: Reach out to loved ones for emotional support and practical help. VA also encourages caregivers to take breaks and rest when needed through our respite care offerings.
- Find support: Connect with other caregivers who understand what you’re going through. Programs like Caregiver Peer Support Mentoring and Building Better Caregivers can help.
- Talk to a CSP staff member: CSP offers self-care courses for caregivers on topics like grief, resilience and self-care. There’s also a 6-week group called Thriving Through Change and Loss that helps caregivers cope with grief and find tools to move forward.
- Express your feelings: Journaling or art journaling can help you process emotions. Ask about CSP’s Art Journaling initiative to learn more.
VA services and supports
Help the Veteran in your care create or update their advance care plan by visiting VA’s Advance Care Planning & Making Decisions page . This page includes helpful websites, forms and handouts. VA also provides services to support families of deceased Veterans or service members.
About the Caregiver Support Program (CSP)
CSP supports caregivers of Veterans through education, resources and services to help you and the Veteran you care for thrive. Find your local caregiver support team.
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I just want to say that the caregivers program helped me during my husband’s illness by offering support.The meetings with other caregivers who were going through the same allowed me to express how i felt and to be able to relieve some stress and identify some stressors and to fill normal again.
These programs appear to be for NON-veterans caring for veterans. Are there any programs for when the vet is the caregiver to a non-vet?
you are right Being a caregiver is a selfless and challenging role, I was told many times by social workers other VA staff his assign PCP “We cannot help you/your veteran he needs a disability rating first” that was where challenges and selfless came in for me. My husband 22 years active duty service Honorable discharge assign a Va PCP for care that was never had asses to .I worked 6 hours a day sometimes 4 hours and give half of paycheck to a private caregiver .Finally move and live with family who helps with taking care of him while I worked reduce hours .( My boss was very understanding and supportive she knows my challenges ) My dear husband totally disable did not walk , did not speak, did not eat by mouth totally dependent on us we care for him with great joy he was our hero .I manage his J tube feedings and diabetes keep him comfortable and safe . Thanks to the lady from the care giver support group who would call me with advise Little she knows the help and assistance from the VA was not available for us
Exactly!
I left the hospital yesterday.
My MH dbq was posted yesterday for active claim.
The examiner said ptsd therapy might help me. MST also from 1977. I can’t bury that deep enough.
The NG tube is gone. The bowel obstruction is still present. I can tell by the burps and reflux.
At 68 years old w more vba denials than I can count from memory . The best thing would be to pass in my sleep.
I often wonder is it the same senior reviewers and raters who are closely watching to make certain my claims are denied.
Or was it the three of the adversarial malicious C&P examiners that used assumptions, lies and malinformation ?
The appeals judge stated false information by the C&P examiners in Remand. However, it goes back to the same RO.
They weren’t C&P examinations they were character assassinations
third party and the very worst infamous MH C&P examiner who all the appeals judges know and remand for another look. ?