ASK Lisa

By Lisa Sydnor

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SHOWING OUR GRATITUDE

ASKLisa has a little different format in this issue. It is in segments – or chapters – or format. I have so much to tell you (don’t I always!) and I couldn’t get it all in just a few paragraphs. November is a special month. We honor our Veterans; it is Caregiver Month; and we celebrate Thanksgiving. All in the spirit of gratitude and thankfulness.

November is National Family Caregivers Month. This is a time to recognize and honor family/ friend caregivers and an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.

Through national surveys, our research identifies important new trends and sheds light on the varying needs of this huge and diverse group. In advancing our mission, NAC conducts research, does policy analysis, develops national best-practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. National Family Caregivers Month www.caregiver.va.gov/

The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) developed From Momentum to Movement: Developing a Unified Strategy to Support Family Caregivers Across the Nation.

This report supports building partnerships in advocacy that improve the lives of family caregivers. In 2019, the NAC Annual Conference of Caregiver Advocates explored the need for a unified strategy to address family caregiving as a public health issue. The feedback from that conference supports continued partnerships to advance the goal of a unified caregiving strategy to support family/ friend caregivers across the nation.

The need to support the nation’s nearly 53 million family caregivers and sustain them as the backbone of our chronic and long-term care system is a central issue in national and state efforts to reform healthcare.

From Momentum to Movement represents the first iteration of a living document and compilation of resources to help guide advocates in developing caregiving strategies that address community-level needs. As well as individual needs. There is a strategic process to foster the development of actionable goals in many new state plans. It also includes core policy recommendations in personcentered domains intended to coordinate alignment across key global, national, and state-level priorities and to strengthen movement toward a robust, unified caregiving strategy for caregivers across the lifespan.

YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY VA! Sometimes it pays to re-access what you think you know about an organization. The VA, and in particular VA Hospital in Oklahoma City, has instituted new programs and enhanced existing ones. There are two programs specifically for caregivers. One is the Caregiver Support Program; this is general support for all veterans. Christy Pargeter and Craig Harrison brought me up-to-date on enhanced elements and a new initiative of the Caregiver Program, Inclusive Care. This is a system-wide approach to Veteran care that embraces, engages, and empowers caregivers, Veterans, and clinicians through the care journey. By giving providers the tools and training they need to include caregivers as part of the care team,

the Campaign for Inclusive Care is making inclusive care the standard of care across the Veterans Health Administration and, ultimately, at healthcare facilities nationwide. The goal is to improve outcomes for veterans, their caregivers, and their healthcare providers. The mother of a Veteran shared with a counselor, “The Collaboration for Inclusive Care is essential. It makes a huge difference in the last 4-5 years since being on the Caregiver Program that has significantly changed our life and my son’s ability to not only maintain what health he has but have hope for moving forward, that is the goal.”

During National Family Caregivers Month and throughout the year, the VA honors the service of 5.5 million family members and friends who have dedicated their lives to providing much-needed care for chronically ill, injured, or disabled Veterans.

www.https://VA Caregiver Support Program Home www.caregiving.org/

A primary goal of the VA Caregiver Program (CP) is to reach caregivers and emphasizes self-care. The team from CP strives to meet the caregivers where they are and mentor them through the quagmire of learning what to do, what not to do and how to best care for their Veteran. A caregiver cannot guide the care receiver to recovery if they are suffering from a lack of self-care. It is critically important for caregivers to practice self-care; it is not selfish, without a strong support system (caregiver) it is very difficult for a care receiver to work toward, and achieve recovery.

The focus of CP is the support of the caregiver, who in turn supports the care receiver. Elements of the CP include: motivational texts; counseling with a social worker; monthly education calls; support groups (live or virtual); referrals to other VA or community resources; and navigating barriers to accessing care.

A second caregiver program is the Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers which offers enhanced clinical support for caregivers. This program provides training, legal and financial services for eligible caregivers, and may provide a stipend for family caregivers. This program is private pay; it is not covered by veteran benefits or supplemental insurance. For detailed information on Inclusive Care: https://campaignforinclusivecare.org.

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