When you are a caregiver, each day can bring new questions and new situations, so it’s important that you have access to the support you need — not only for your loved one, but also for you. Caring for a loved one with special needs or a life-changing injury comes with a great deal of responsibility and you may experience a roller coaster of emotions — from happiness to confusion to fatigue. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have access to the necessary resources and support to take care of yourself, too.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to get the support to be an even better caregiver than you already are. With you in mind, Military OneSource conveniently offers resources tailored to your needs in one location. You can find support services, specialty consultations, confidential non-medical counseling and access to a variety of products that can simplify your caregiver responsibilities.
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Caregiver resources from Military OneSource
Prioritizing your own needs as a caregiver may not be something you’re used to doing, but taking advantage of the following resources can help you avoid caregiver fatigue:
- Specialty consultations: You can call 800-342-9647 and speak to a Military OneSource master's-level consultant 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ask to speak to a specialty consultant in specific areas, like special needs, elder care, adult disability care or wounded warrior.
- Non-medical counseling: Military OneSource offers free confidential non-medical counseling to active-duty service members and their families. You can meet with a counselor face-to-face, online or over the phone to discuss how you're feeling and get guidance on a variety of topics, like your own health and wellness or stress-coping mechanisms.
- Products: In addition to the informative content you can find on Military OneSource, there are educational booklets, CDs, DVDs and articles that you can have shipped to your door for free.
- Downloads: Check out the Keeping It All Together notebook to organize your wounded warrior's treatment and recovery in one place, or download the adult, child and elder care toolkits from the Special Care Organizational Record for an easy way to track progress and medical information.
- Social media: Connecting with others online can often help ease potential feelings of isolation. Check out Military OneSource's social media hub to find other caregivers facing situations similar to yours. Or look for inspiration while browsing the content on the Blog Brigade.
Caregiver resources from the Department of Defense
Get
tips for how to talk to a child about a parent's severe injury.
The Department of Defense offers support to military caregivers through the following webinars, events and specialized resources:
- In-person Military Caregiver Personalized Experiences, Engagement and Resources, or PEER, Forums: Check out these forums, held monthly on military installations around the country and connect with other caregivers.
- Online PEER Forums: Can't attend a PEER forum in person? Check out the options for virtual forums instead.
- Webinars: Learn more about being a caregiver from webinars conducted by the Military Family Learning Network.
Being a caregiver is one of the most important and rewarding roles you can take on for a loved one in need. However, you don't have to do it alone. There are resources and support avenues available to help you lighten your load and take better care of yourself.