Salisbury VAMCCaregiver Support Program

What is P.L. 111-163, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010?

• Requires VA to establish a program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers.

• Requires VA to establish a program of general caregiver support services.• Authorizes VA to provide medical care to certain primary family caregivers

through CHAMPVA (under 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 1781 (section 102).

• Increased respite services for caregivers, including 24 hour care• Provide counseling and mental health services for caregivers (under 38

United States Code (U.S.C.) § 1782 (section 103).• Authorize VA to provide the expenses of travel (lodging and subsistence)

for family caregivers during travel to and from a VA facility for the Veteran’s medical exam, treatment or care.

VAMC Caregiver Support Coordinator

• Coordinate the VA Medical Center’s Caregiver Support Program and serve as clinical expert on caregiver issues and resources.

• Assist family caregivers with the psychosocial and emotional stressors of caring for an ill, injured, or disabled Veteran through contact and triage/referral to Veterans team.

• Ensure that caregiver awareness is integrated into all programs. • Provide social services resources linking the caregiver to VA health care

and community services.• Use clinical skills to assess for caregiver burden provide supportive

counseling, and plan interventions to support Veterans and their caregivers.

• Responds to referrals received from the National Caregiver Support Line.• Coordinate events and programs for National Family Caregivers month.• Participate in monthly caregiver support and caregiver coaching calls.

P.L. 111-163 Benefits Sections 101-104

General Caregiver Services• Education and training• Support Groups• Respite Care• Home Based Primary Care• Telehealth• Non-Institutional Care• Caregiver Information on VA Health Web

site• Triage/Referral to internal/external

resources• Home health services

New Benefits – Post 9/11 Veterans/Service Members

Primary Caregiver• Caregiver stipend

-Formalized training program-Validation of competencies-Ongoing monitoring

• Health care coverage• Mental health services• Travel, lodging, subsistence and respite

for training and for hospital stays

Additional Family Caregivers• Formalized training• Individual Counseling

Post 911/Veteran Administrative Eligibility

• A Veteran or Servicemember undergoing medical discharge from the Armed Forces who has a serious SC injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after 9/11/2001; and is in need of personal care services because of an inability to perform one or more ADLS; a need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury; or such matters as VA considers appropriate.

• The Veteran or Servicemember must have a family caregiver who has demonstrated their role as caregiver. If the caregiver is a non-relative, then the caregiver must be living with the Veteran or Servicemember.

Model of Categories of Caregivers in P.L. 111-163 (New and expanded benefits and services for general, family and primary family caregivers.)

National VA Caregiver Support LineLicensed clinical social workers are available to answer questions, listen to concerns and directly link callers to the Caregiver Support

Coordinator at their local VA Medical Center.

www.va.caregiver.gov

Salisbury VAMC Caregiver Support Program

704-638-9000

Tara G. Zollicoffer, MSW, LCSW – Coordinator x 4580Catherine L. Lingle, MSN, RN – Coordinator x 4072Diane Fortuna, RN – Nurse Case Manager X 4499

VISN 6 Caregiver Support Coordinators

• Asheville VAMC – Patricia Kitlasz (828-298-7911 x5433)• Beckley VAMC – Jane Flanagan (304-255-2121 x4225)• Durham VAMC – Josh D’Adolf (919-286-0411 x6068), Jasmine

Moore (919-417-6349), and Jency Brogden (919-286-0411 x6191)• Fayetteville VAMC – Priscilla Burton (910-488-2120 x7563) and

Sharon Locklear (910-488-2120 x5495)• Hampton VAMC – Sonja Poitier-Hickman (757-722-9961 x4985) and

Miriam Medrano (757-722-9961 x3060)• Richmond VAMC – Darlene Dameron (804-675-5000 x4822) and

Kimberly Hinson (804-675-6631)• Salem VAMC – Rhonda Fletcher (540-982-2463 x1372)

Questions?