This is my personal blog where I will share my experiences as a caregiver, the experiences that my husband and I have shared as a couple since he returned from war with serious injuries, and the experiences that we have had with agencies as we’ve negotiated care for his personal and other needs.
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As a combat medic, my husband, Leonard, served nobly through sweat and tears. He deployed to the Gulf twice – Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia – and performed countless acts to save his comrades. On Memorial Day, we honor those many soldiers who, like the comrades my husband fought so hard to save, lost their lives in battle. I am fortunate to have my husband. He returned home,…
Do military caregivers need a financial hotline? What are the benefits of having one? Since becoming a caregiver, have you thought about retirement planning—and felt you needed advice about it? What about education goals? Or my favorite … advice about ways to best save for emergencies? Anyone who handles money at one time or another in their lives will have the need to learn more…
Does a veteran’s disability rating automatically qualify him/her to be eligible for dental care? Is the veteran who served and has a DD214 eligible for dental care at the local VA? The Dental Blog writers mention that the VA eligibility for dental care at our local VA can be confusing and frustrating to navigate. This group of writers has put together a resource guide that…
How is your relationship after your loved one returned from war? Is your loved one the same person as before they left? Are YOU the same person since their return from deployment? I have to be honest…My husband and I enjoyed so much before he left for Afghanistan; however, now things are different. Before he left for war, we used to love going out to…
My days, months, and years as a caregiver to my husband have included many challenges in discovering who I am. For instance, I need to include physical activity in my day in order to maintain health, overall wellness and well-being. What about the days when I need respite, recreation, or rest? My days of ignoring my need for mental relaxation have recently come to a screeching halt….
Many work-from-home opportunities are surfacing. For some caregivers, work-from-home employment opportunities serve as the best option for contributing income to the home. In my blog post, Self Care Plan-Part 2, I give tips on best ways to practice remote work from a home office. If any of you wish to also add to these suggestions, feel free to add your comments to this post. Some work-from-home opportunities…
This is a guest post by Melissa Comeau, Director of IT Systems and Online Community at the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).What is MVCN? The MVCN is run by and for military and veteran caregivers. The mission of the MVCN (together with our partners) is to provide our nation’s pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran…
I am thankful for the nonprofits that have offered me and many others who care for their loved ones numerous free resources on much needed opportunities for respite. Among these wonderful opportunities are retreats for caregivers of veterans or service members. I’ve had the privilege of attending a few of these and have found them to be deeply rejuvenating, inspiring, and restorative when I…
At the close of 2016, I would like to provide an amazing resource that can be beneficial to military caregivers in 2017. Give An Hour is an organization that offers free counseling to those affected by war. Give An Hour provides easy access to skilled professionals for veterans, service members, and their families. New Year Resolution Military Caregivers — in 2017 let us commit to reach out…
To all of those caring for loved ones this season: I hope that this season is a time of fun, relief, and respite for you! HAVE A VERY, MERRY CHRISTMAS! The season of giving is here. It is an exciting time of year! As a caregiver, I should probably share in the excitement that this season brings … but what I really feel is…