For Veterans who have a spouse, family member, or friend who helps provide them with care and support at home and could use an extra set of hands, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Respite Relief Program provides free caregiving support.
This program supports Veterans while giving family caregivers a time for respite so they can run an errand, go for a walk, or simply relax. This free program is available to caregivers of pre- and post-9/11 active-duty service members and Veterans.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation Respite Relief Program
Services are often provided within the home. They can be arranged for as little as an afternoon, or for several days or weeks. Through the Respite Relief Program, a caregiver can receive 35-hours of free respite care services provided by a trusted CareLinx professional.
Respite Care Includes: 
- Housekeeping
- Meal prep
- Transportation
- Companionship
- Medication reminders
- Bathing
- Exercise
- Mobility
- Toileting
- Grooming
What happens after you submit an application
Once the caregiver submits an application at hiddenheroes.org/respite, the paperwork will be reviewed and the caregiver will be notified about eligibility by email within seven business days. Once notified, CareLinx will reach out to the caregiver and perform a quick, easy assessment to match that person with the right CareLinx care provider. The caregiver will then receive instructions about how to book the respite hours. Please note, there may be a 4-6 week gap in services depending on location.
This program would not have been possible without the support from VA, CareLinx, Generali, Wounded Warrior Project, AARP, Tranquility® Incontinence Products, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, Bob Woodruff Foundation, and USAA.
Apply for free respite in less than 10 minutes at https://hiddenheroes.org/respite.
The foundation is currently only accepting one application per caregiver per year. For questions, please contact respiterelief@elizabethdolefoundation.org.
The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on part of VA.
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What help is available to a vet without any home care givers and might need some help?
CA Caregiver assistance is available., call your primary care Dr,and Social worker at your VA med Ctr. DAV Calvert and congressman , it is a struggle but we are fighters keep fighting.
Does this program help veterans who are caregivers to nonveterans ?
Spouse and caregiver of a disable veteran and this sounds wonderful!!
sounds like a wonderful program and know it will help us in our situation with my husband being the veteran and is diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia so know in the future we will need some respite or home health care.
It clearly says it is available for ALL veterans, pre- and post-9/11. I’m sure Elizabeth Dole is not personally making any decisions about anything this or any other program her foundation manages. She just provides the name and the money.
As a Veterans Service Officer and a veteran, I find this to be an amazing program and will for sure tell the veterans in my office about these services.
I am a Viet Nam veteran with 25 years active duty service, and have agent orange nerve damage. The local VA will not acknowledge me, because of my service, and I have TriCare for Life, and also Medicare. Their response to my requests for assistance, is ‘they don’t have the personnel to help me’. Some of my friends have gone out of state to obtain medical help. I can’t because I’m a 24/7 care giver for my wife.
…and what about the Vietnam Vets and their families? Oh so cold! Excluding this generation of military service is just further affirmation that Vietnam Vets were just political fodder. Perhaps you shouldn’t let a politician’s wife operate such a such an program, at least one that has deliberately excluded an entire cohort of service members!
This free program is available to caregivers of pre- and post-9/11 active-duty service members and Veterans.
Asa veteran, I am very appreciative of this effort
I have a Vietnam Vet who needs this for sure.