caregiver support program department of veterans affairs · care functions required in everyday...

Caregiver Support ProgramDepartment of Veterans Affairs

Elsie Moore, MSW, LICSWNational Caregiver Support Program Manager, Education & TrainingCare Management & Social Work Service

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Caregiver Support Program Mission

Mission Statement: To promote the health and well-being of family caregivers who care for our nation’s Veterans, through education, resources, support, and services.

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(PC

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers(PCAFC)

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Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers – Program Overview

• Clinical Program, providing the following additional services directly to Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans injured in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001:– Stipend– Enrollment in CHAMPVA– Mental Health– Beneficiary Travel– Education and Training– Additional respite

• Program participation must:– Be in the clinical best interest of the Veteran – Support the Veteran’s progress in treatment

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Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers – Current Data*

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• Applications filed: 123,846

• Participating Caregivers/Veterans: 19,187– Tier 3 – 4,535 (stipend national average $2,677.31 per month)– Tier 2 – 7,066 (stipend national average $1,636.87 per month)– Tier 1 – 7,586 (stipend national average $669.71 per month)

• CHAMPVA Enrollees/Caregivers actively eligible FY18: 3,310

• Caregiver Demographics:– Gender: Over 90% women– Relationship: spouses/significant others (78%)– Largest age cohort of approved caregivers is 30-39, followed by 40-49 and 20-29 years of

age respectively

*Data current as of 2/4/19


DoD-VA Coordination

VA Liaisons for Healthcare at Military Treatment Facilities:• Provide education on the VA Caregiver Support Program and the role

of the Caregiver Support Coordinators (CSCs)• Collaborate with military case managers to identify potentially

eligible Servicemembers and Caregivers• Assist with the Caregiver application process for the Post 9/11

Veterans• Request DoD Healthcare Team complete clinical assessment• Engage local CSCs until transfer and connect the CSC at the home VA

Medical Center

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How Post-9/11 Servicemembers/Caregivers can Initiate the Process?

• Referral to a VA Liaison at local MTF• If no VA Liaison at the MTF: Visit www.caregiver.va.gov to determine potential eligibility and

download the application. Mail or fax completed and signed application (by Caregiver and Veteran)

to local VA Medical Center Caregiver Support Coordinator (CSC). Mail or fax completed and signed Application for healthcare and

Application for Caregiver Support Program, to Health Eligibility Center (https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply)

Meet in person with local VA Medical Center CSC for assistance to complete the form.

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http://www.caregiver.va.gov/

https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply


Eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

1) Veteran/Servicemember has a serious injury that happened in the line of duty on or after 9/11/2001.

2) Due to the serious injury(ies) sustained by the Veteran or Servicemember, another person (Caregiver) is REQUIRED to assist with the daily management of personal care functions required in everyday living, or supervision and protection.

3) Care from a Caregiver must be required regularly for a minimum of 6 months. 4) It is clinically in the best interest of the Veteran or Servicemember to participate in

the PCAFC.5) Veteran will receive care at home from the Caregiver upon admission into the

PCAFC. 6) Veteran must receive ongoing care from a Patient Aligned Care Team or other VA

Health Care Team. 7) Care provided by Caregiver will not be duplicated by another individual or agency.

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Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL) and CSP

• Payment based on same evaluation tool and same payment scale• Payment made to Servicemember and is taxable• Similar to VA’s Aide and Attendance Benefit in which a higher monthly

compensation payment is made to Veteran in recognition of their need for assistance

• Eligibility is not the same: DoD program covers illness, but is more restrictive

Transitioning to VA’s Program• Servicemember will need to apply for VA’s Caregiver Program once a

discharge date from the military is known• Payment is based on geographic location of the Servicemember/Veteran,

so if a Servicemember is returning home from a MTF, a difference in compensation may occur

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General Caregiver Services and Supports

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Program of General Caregiver Support Services Program Overview

• Clinical program, providing the following services to caregivers of Veterans enrolled in VA health care, regardless of era of service or reason for requiring a caregiver:

– Training and Education – Diagnosis Specific Programs for Caregivers– Caregiver Support Line– Caregiver Support Program Website– Email Listserv

• *No application is required, however, they are tracked by Caregiver Support Coordinators.

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Menu of VA Services

In-Home CareSkilled NursingHome Health AideHome Based Primary CareVeteran Directed Home & Community Based Care

Respite CareServices to Address Mobility Issues

EquipmentHome ModificationAutomobile Modification

Education and TrainingFinancial Support

Aid and AttendanceCaregiver Stipend (Post 9-11)

Information and ReferralCaregiver Web site: www.caregiver.va.govCaregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274

Caregiver SupportCaregiver Support CoordinatorsPeer Support Mentoring ProgramBuilding Better CaregiversTM

Spouse Telephone SupportREACH VASupport Groups

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Caregiver Support Coordinator (CSC)

• Located at each VA medical center• Clinical experts on caregiver issues • Knowledgeable about VA and

non-VA resources • Organize Caregiver focused activities and services

– National Family Caregivers Month (November)• Ensure Caregiver sensitivity is integrated into all programs• Provide National Caregiver Support Line follow-up

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VA Caregiver Support Program Caregiver Training and Education Programs

Caregiver Self Care Courses In person classroom trainings provided to caregivers, focused on supporting and meeting the needs of caregivers. Classes are led by trained facilitators and are offered in English and Spanish. Topics include:

- Managing Stress - Problem Solving & Effective Communication - Taking Care of Yourself- Utilizing Technology

Caregiver Education Calls VA’s National Caregiver Support Line offers monthly telephone education calls for caregivers with a theme of “Care for the Caregiver.” The topics change monthly.

Peer Support Mentoring Peer Support Mentoring was developed to strengthen relationships between caregivers of all eras, to provide an opportunity for networking, and to empower caregivers to help one another. Peer Support Mentors receive training and support prior to being matched with mentees.

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Resources for Enhancing all Caregivers Health (REACH VA)REACH VA is an evidence- based education, skills building, and support intervention for Caregivers of Veterans with dementia, spinal cord injury/disorders, MS, PTSD, and ALS.

The REACH intervention is available at many VA local medical centers and consists of 4 sessions with the Caregiver over a 2-3 month timeframe. Can be completed in person or over the telephone.

- Core skills taught to the Caregiver are: Problem solving, Positivethinking/mood management, and stress reduction.

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General Telephone SupportGeneral Telephone Support is an intervention provided to caregivers via a telephone support group. The following Telephone Support Groups are available at medical centers across the country, depending on local interest:

• Caregivers of All Eras• Spouses of Post 9/11 Veterans• Dementia• Spinal Cord Injury /Disorders• ALS • MS• PTSD

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Building Better CaregiversTM

• An interactive, web based workshop developed by Stanford University and provided in partnership with the National Council on Aging (NCoA)

• Equips caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and support to boost their self-confidence in maintaining and leading active, fulfilling lives

• 6-week workshop composed of 20-25 caregivers, moderated by 2 trained facilitators• Topics include managing difficult behaviors and emotions, reducing stress, self-care

methods to improve health, making decisions, finding additional help and resources, and planning for the future

• Weekly activities include reading and applying new knowledge; making and posting a weekly action plan, brainstorming, problem solving, and celebrating milestones with fellow participants via bulletin boards; and participating in self-tests and activities

• Caregivers completed: 3,029

(Dupke, et al., 2019)17


VA’s Caregiver Support Line - 1-855-260-3274

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• Located in Canandaigua, NY• Over 408,214 calls received • Averaging 236 calls per day• Staffed by licensed social workers• Follow-up provided by local CSC• Consistently receive positive comments and appreciation from

caregivers• Expanding the role of the CSL

(Wright et al, 2019)


Caregiver Web Site

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• Provides zip code based interactive Caregiver Support Coordinator locator

• Contact info for Support Line• “Caregiver Toolbox”• Caregiver “connections” with stories

from peer Caregivers• Link to application for new

benefits/services with live chat support

• Videos of Family Caregivers and Veterans

• Averaging over 2,246 hits per day (updated 2/2019) www.caregiver.va.gov


Questions?

Elsie Moore, MSW, LICSWNational Caregiver Support Program Manager,

Education & Training Care Management and Social Work Services

Department of Veterans Affairs

[email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]

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