The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have launched an emergency respite care fund for the family caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured veterans. The program, Respite Relief for Military and Veteran Caregivers, provides non-medical, no-cost, professional home care to veteran caregivers struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CareLinx, a nationwide professional home care network, helped launch the fund with a donation of $1 million worth of services, and Wounded Warrior Project contributed additional $1 million to expand the program. The Foundation anticipates providing 75,000 hours of care to more than 3,000 caregivers of veterans.
“The lack of affordable, convenient, and professional respite care has always taken a significant toll on the emotional and physical well-being of veterans’ caregivers,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “We are grateful to CareLinx and Wounded Warrior Project for helping us respond to this urgent need.”
Even as we recover from the pandemic, some of the most critically wounded or ill veterans and their caregivers will have a long journey back to the pre-pandemic world. These veterans often have vulnerable immune systems that require their caregivers to take every precaution against exposure. By asking family and friends to keep their distance, they are losing a vital source of daily support.
The program is available in select regions and will expand nationwide over time. Eligible caregivers can request services that include companionship, grocery shopping, cooking, mobility assistance, transportation, bathing, and other activities of daily living. AARP and Bob Woodruff Foundation have also joined as key collaborators for this effort to help spread the word to military and veteran caregivers.
Article Source: NAPSI. To learn more about the program and apply, visit www.hiddenheroes.org/respite.
