Caring for someone who is military-connected
If you or someone you know is military-connected and experiencing thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, please call 988 then press 1, or text 838255 for immediate, free, confidential support 24 hours a day 7 days a week (no VA enrollment required).
For more information about the Veterans & Military Crisis Line, please visit veteranscrisisline.net.
Caring for an active-duty service member, Guard/Reserve member, or Veteran is a profound act of dedication that affects the entire household and involves unique responsibilities shaped by the ongoing demands of military life. Veterans frequently navigate lasting physical injuries, trauma, or complex health conditions resulting from their time in uniform. As a military-connected caregiver, you fulfill an essential role as an advocate and anchor, making sure the person you support receives comprehensive care delivered with honor.
However, carrying the continuous physical and emotional demands of caregiving without adequate rest can take a heavy toll on your own health, leading to severe burnout, sleeplessness, and chronic stress. It is easy to put your own needs on the back burner, but your well-being matters just as much as the person's you are caring for. Protecting your mental and physical health is an essential requirement for sustainable caregiving—not an afterthought. On this page, you will find practical tools, respite options, and supportive networks designed to help you care for yourself while continuing to support your loved one.
How do I access VA caregiver stipends, local Utah contacts, and telephone counseling?
Navigating VA care benefits is much easier when you have direct support and local connections. Use these official contacts and phone lines to explore eligibility for caregiver stipends, speak with Utah-based care coordinators, and access one-on-one counseling.
VA Welcome Kit: All-in-one guide created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help Veterans, service members, family members, and caregivers navigate VA healthcare, benefits, and support programs.
National VA Caregiver Support Program & Support Line: Direct access to VA social workers, educational calls, and clinical programs. Click the link above or call 855-260-3274.
Utah VA Caregiver Support Team: Local Utah contacts and care coordinators.
Caregiver Action Network's paid caregiver guidance: Instructions on qualifying for family caregiver stipends and paid plans.
Readjustment Counseling at Vet Centers: Community-based counseling for Veterans, active-duty members, Guard/Reserves, and their families.
Where can I take online courses, learn practical care strategies, and build confidence?
Building practical skills and understanding military-connected health conditions can make daily caregiving far less overwhelming. Connect with these online classes and specialized toolkits to gain practical strategies, manage stress, and connect with fellow caregivers.
Building Better Caregivers (BBC): A 6-week online workshop for caregivers of Veterans with dementia, PTSD, TBI, or serious illness.
Caregivers FIRST: An evidence-based four-session group training program focused on coping strategies, daily care skills, and resource navigation.
REACH VA Program: One-on-one clinical coaching tailored for caregivers of Veterans with PTSD, dementia, spinal cord injuries, MS, or ALS.
Self-care courses: Classroom training focused on stress management and problem-solving. Ask your local VA caregiver support team for details or click the link above for online options.
Caregiver Support Line Caregiver Education Calls: Monthly telephone education sessions covering caregiver wellness, with archived recordings and scripts online.
PsychArmor Institute: Free library of online courses on military culture, trauma-informed care, and caregiver self-care strategies.
Office of Rural Health's Dementia video series: Short instructional videos and tips specifically for caregivers supporting someone with dementia.
Suicide Prevention Toolkit: Specialized educational resources covering facts about mental health, substance use, lethal means safety, and self-care.
What medical, in-home, and long-term care options does the VA provide?
From in-home nursing support to specialized clinical therapies, the VA provides essential resources to help your loved one maintain their health and independence. Review these medical and long-term care programs to find the right level of support for your family.
VA Respite Care Services: Programs paying for temporary short-term care so caregivers can rest or run errands.
Home & Community Based Services: Information on Adult Day Care, Home-Based Primary Care, Homemaker/Home Health Aides, and Veteran-Directed Care.
VA Mental Health Services:Evidence-based therapies, clinical treatment plans, and specialized support for Veterans managing mental health conditions, trauma, and substance use disorders.
AboutFace: Real video stories from Veterans, family members, and clinicians to help recognize PTSD symptoms, reduce stigma, and motivate Veterans to seek treatment.
Whole Health: Personalized approach to healthcare that focuses on creating tailored wellness plans based on individual values, goals, and daily needs.
Pain Management: Education, clinical guidance, and treatment strategies to help manage chronic pain, improve mobility, and enhance daily quality of life.
Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP): Specialized support for building healthy relationships and addressing domestic safety.
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA): Help navigating Aid and Attendance, pensions, and compensation claims.
What resources support active-duty, Guard/Reserve families, and children with unique needs?
Navigating active military service alongside family caregiving requires specialized backup. Use these dedicated tools and support networks to manage military life transitions, educational needs, and military family resilience.
Military OneSource: 24/7 connection for non-medical counseling, health coaching, tax services, and deployment tools.
Military OneSource's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) & EFMP & Me: Tools, customized checklists, and guidance for military families with special medical or educational needs.
Warrior Care Recovery Coordination Program: Digital resource directory tailored for wounded, ill, and injured service members.
Sesame Street for Military Families & Sesame Street in Communities: Interactive games, videos, and resilience tools for young children of military and Veteran families.
Where can I find peer support, financial guidance, and emergency grants?
Financial strain and isolation are common challenges for military-connected caregivers. Use these resources to join peer support networks, access digital financial wellness tools, and apply for direct emergency relief grants.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Hidden Heroes: National peer community, one-on-one navigation, and emergency financial grants.
American Red Cross Military & Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN): Peer-led support groups for caregivers across all eras and branches.
Prudential's Financial Wellness Hub: Credit solutions, student loan and caregiving support, and interactive planning tools.
Wounded Warrior Project: Peer support groups, mental health programs, and wellness workshops tailored specifically for caregivers of post-9/11 wounded, injured, or ill Veterans.
Semper Fi & America's Fund: Direct financial relief, adaptive equipment assistance, and vital programming for combat-wounded, critically ill, and catastrophically injured service members and their families.
Blue Star Families: Support networks addressing relocations, deployments, and caregiver wellness.
Where can I search for local, state, or specialized community resources?
Local and specialized community safety nets offer tailored assistance for housing, healthcare, aging services, and emergency needs. Explore these searchable resource directories and community hotlines to find vetted support programs in your county or neighborhood.
National Resource Directory: Comprehensive database connecting service members, Veterans, and family members to vetted local, state, and national support programs.
PATRIOTlink: Database filled with verified resources and cost-free support services tailored specifically to the military and Veteran community.
AARP Caregiver Resources: Practical online tools, step-by-step planning guides, and educational articles designed to support both new and seasoned caregivers navigating care decisions.
National Alliance for Caregiving: Searchable directory of specialized resources, advocacy insights, and evidence-based support tailored for caregivers supporting loved ones across diverse diagnoses, ages, and needs.
Area Agency on Aging (AAA): Local state-designated agencies coordinating Meals-on-Wheels, homemaker help, and local respite.
211 Utah: Website or direct local hotline (call 211) for housing support, food insecurity, healthcare, and crisis intervention.