More than 14 million Americans now provide daily care to wounded, ill or injured military servicemembers or veterans, with the burden falling heaviest on the 26% who assist people aged 60 and under, according to a new RAND report commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. The report is titled "America's Military and Veteran Caregivers: Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows." There also are five related documents that detail the project's findings from different perspectives.
More than 40% of caregivers for those 60 and under met criteria for probable depression. About one-third thought they need mental health care but don't receive it, mainly because they don't have the time. And 70% of caregivers for those 60 and under reported some difficulty paying bills, and 40% met criteria for being food insecure.
Among all military/veteran caregivers, individuals reported spending $8,583 out-of-pocket each year on delivering care and forgoing more than $4,000 in annual income. These costs may be one reason that one-third of military/veteran caregivers report incomes below 130% of the federal poverty level. Military/veteran caregivers often help others eat and walk, help manage mental health symptoms and memory deficits, and administer medications and prepare meals.
They also may provide transportation to medical appointments, pharmacies and grocery stores. The study updates RAND work from 2014 that was the first to provide meaningful estimates of the number military/veteran careg.
