Military caregivers have a new online resource hub

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project have launched an online resources hub for those caring for a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran.

The Family Resource Hub , powered by WWP and supported by Lockheed Martin, will provide military and veteran caregivers, their families and communities with a single online destination where they can find local and national organizations and programs that offer support.

Experts designed the easy-to-use site to put military and veteran caregiving families directly in touch with resources that can help them through the challenges they face on a daily basis.

“We repeatedly hear from military and veteran caregivers that one of the hardest parts of their role is endlessly searching for resources that are effective, responsive, and trustworthy,” said Elizabeth Dole Foundation CEO Steve Schwab. “At the same time, many incredible support programs are underutilized because families don’t know they exist. By addressing both these problems, the Family Resource Hub will be an invaluable tool for the caregiver community, especially for those with kids and teens at home.”

An estimated 2.3 million young people live in households with a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran. For their families, caring for their loved ones becomes even more challenging and complex.

Research shows that young people in military caregiving homes suffer alarming rates of anxiety and depression. They often become isolated from their peers and report problems at school. Many are forced to grow up fast, taking on more responsibilities at home than their peers and frequently missing  the traditional activities and milestones of adolescence.

“Our nation’s most severely wounded warriors and their families deal with complex, life-altering injuries that require ongoing, specialized support,” said WWP CEO Ret. Lt. Gen. Walt Piatt. “Our partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is essential to empowering those who care for our nation’s heroes, including youth caregivers. We are honored to support the launch of the Family Resource Hub to provide caregiving families with vital resources and meet their unique needs. Caregivers go above and beyond for warriors, and our priority is to ensure both groups live with hope and purpose.”

On Sept. 24, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation will release its next report on the state of military caregiving produced by RAND. The study is expected to reveal troubling new findings about this population, including the prevalence of “sandwich caregivers” who care for both someone who served and children, and the staggering mental health consequences for young caregivers.

Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com .