How caregivers can help veterans?

Veterans often suffer from different physical and mental problems Because they had to face and overcome many intense situations during their service. Many of these veterans cannot properly take care of themselves. Therefore, they need someone like a caregiver to tenderize their needs.

In this article, we want to discuss veterans and the importance of professional caregivers for veterans.

Who is a veteran?

In the past, a veteran was defined as a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who served the country on active duty and was discharged. Based on this definition, if a guard member or a soldier served for at least 180 days or longer and served on active duty, they would be considered veterans. However, if a soldier served 20 years but wasn’t on active duty, service time wasn’t regarded as qualifying.

In 2016, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs signed a new law and changed the definition of veteran. Based on the new law, official veteran status is given to National Guard members who served 20 years or more and didn’t get a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct discharge.

The new law includes guard members who never see an overseas deployment. A veteran can be a former member of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Veterans health issues

About 41% of veterans are diagnosed with mental health or behavioral adjustment disorders like depression, manic-depressive disorder. These issues are caused because of extreme conditions these veterans dealt with during their service.

Here are some common health issues veterans experience:

SUDs

Being in the military is stressful. Unfortunately, this stress increases the risk of problems with alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, also known as SUDs (substance use disorder), for veterans. Therefore, long-term care must be provided because smoking and drinking are high among veterans.

PTSD

PTSD, also known as “shell shock” or “combat fatigue,” results from experiencing traumatic events. About  36% of male veterans experience PTSD. Veterans with PTSD also experience:

• TBI (traumatic brain injury)
• MST (military sexual trauma)
• Sleep problems
• substance use
• pain

Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders. Approximately 14% of veterans are diagnosed with depression. However, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) believes this number is under-diagnosed.

Suicide

Around 18 to 22 veterans commit suicide daily due to issues like depression. In addition, 11% of veterans will reattempt another suicide in 9 months if they survive a first suicide attempt, and 6% of those will die.

Rehabilitation care

Many veterans come back to their everyday lives and realize they have difficulty re-acclimating into society after deployment because their military skills are not transferable to civilian life.

Hazardous exposures

Many veterans suffer from health issues because they were exposed to the following during their service:

• Chemicals
• Radiation
• Air pollutants
• Occupational hazards
• Warfare agents
• Noise
• vibration

Homelessness

Approximately 49,933 veterans are experiencing homelessness. Homeless veterans experience difficulties such as intensive substance use, unemployment, and mental illness. In addition, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans says 51% of homeless veterans have disabilities, 70% have SUDs, and 50% have mental illnesses.

What do caregivers do for veterans?

Most veterans need help from caregivers to do Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).  A caregiver should provide professional support for veterans when the veteran is unable to perform their personal needs themselves. Caregivers assist with any of the following:

• Taking Baths or grooming
• Dressing and undressing
• Preparing food
• Providing help for Eating
• Helping the veteran with their mobility
• Ensuring safety when the veteran may harm themselves without assistance
• Providing companionship
• Supporting the veteran’s day to day life
• Managing their finances if necessary
• Organizing their medication and doctor appointments

When do veterans need caregivers?

Some scenarios show that a veteran needs a caregiver to help him carry on their life. Here are four scenarios for veterans based on VA’s Caregiver Program:

• A veteran who is unable to do Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) is qualified to have a caregiver. For example, they cannot brush their teeth, take baths, eat without help, cook, or clean.
• If veterans suffer from neurological impairments or other impairments or injuries, they will need a caregiver to supervise and protect them. These impairments and injuries can stem from a Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, or a mental disorder.
• When a veteran has a severe injury that was aggravated in the line of duty and has been declared disabled for that injury, the injury rate must be 100 percent.
• When a veteran suffers from a severe injury, that is a psychological trauma or mental disorder. In addition, The veteran must receive a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score of 30 or less.

Caregivers for veteran in Las Vegas

Veterans who fought wars and served this country might be in need of mental and medical help. The Health & Care Professional Network provides certified caregivers for veterans and war heros in Las Vegas.

We have provided the best of in-home care services in Las Vegas since 2006. The veterans stay in their place of residence and we take the best of care from them.

Call us today (702) 871-9917 to know about various types of in-home care services and arrange everything.