Programs help support those who care for veterans with disabilities

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) offers clinical services to caregivers of eligible and covered Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The program’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of family caregivers who care for our Nation’s Veterans, through education, resources, support, and services.

Regionally, Barb Iwanowicz is a nurse coordinator with the Caregiver Support Program with the Veterans Administration based out of Tomah.

The Caregiver Support Program is comprised of the following two separate programs: Program of General Caregiver Support Serves (PGCSS) and the Program of Comprehensive Assistance For Family Caregivers (PCAFC).

The PGCSS is the core of the VA’s Caregiver Support Program. The program provides peer support mentoring, skills training, coaching, telephone support, online programs, and referrals to available resources to caregivers of Veterans. The Veteran must be enrolled in Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and be receiving care from a caregiver in order for the caregiver to participate. Caregivers who participate in PGCSS are called General Caregivers. General Caregivers do not need to be a relative or live with the Veteran.

If you are a caregiver of a Veteran enrolled in VA health care who is interested in connecting with other caregivers, receiving additional support from a professional care team, or looking to enhance your skills as a caregiver, PGCSS may be right for you.

A General Caregiver is a person who provides personal care services to a Veteran enrolled in VA health care who: needs assistance with one or more activities of daily living or needs supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological care or other impairment or injury.

People can utilize PGCSS without a commitment by contacting Iwanowicz and the staff at the Tomah VA. She can be contacted via email at Barbara. Iwanowicz@va.gov or by phone at (608)372-3971 x 66279.

For those in need of more advanced support including financial support for full-time family caregivers of veterans Iwanowicz recommended the PCAFC option.

PCAFC offers enhanced clinical support and services for caregivers of eligible veterans who have a serious injury or illness and require in-person personal care services among other requirements.

Veterans or service members may be eligible for this clinical program if they: Sustained or aggravated a serious injury (or illness) in the line of duty in the active military, naval or air service during any service era. Among other applicable eligibility criteria, an eligible Veteran must: Have a single or combined service-connected disability rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of 70% or more, and Be in need of personal care services (requiring inperson personal care services) for a minimum of six continuous months based on any one of the following:

• An inability to perform an activity of daily living.

• A need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury; or

• A need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which the ability of the Veteran to function in daily life, would be seriously impaired.

Additional criteria are: That it be in the best interest of the individual to participate in the program; the personal care services that would be provided by the Family Caregiver will not be simultaneously and regularly provided by or through another individual or entity; that the individual receives care at home or will do so if the VA designates a family caregiver; and the individual receives ongoing care from a primary care team or will do so if the VA designates a family caregiver.

Types of services available include mental health support, access to CHAMPVA (if uninsured), a monthly stipend, beneficiary travel (as applicable) and at least 30 days of respite care per year, for the Veteran. Respite is short term relief for someone else to care for the Veteran while you take a break.

According to Iwanowicz, the veterans and their caregivers can fill out the application for the PCAFC program online through the www.caregiver.va.gov website. She noted that many veterans will work with their local county veterans service office to help complete and submit the application process. She emphasized the importance of having documentation and ensuring the documentation is complete.

Once the application is submitted it goes into a cue for a review board based from the regional office. This review board never talks to the veterans or their families and only works off the documentation provided.

“If it is not documented it does not happen,” Iwanowicz said of the importance of having everything fully documented and included with the application.

If the application makes it through the level one review, the VA will set up a home visit to determine what level of services are needed or if the veteran no longer meets the criteria.

Iwanowicz explained that the entire process should take about 90 days. With the hiring freeze and réévaluation of personnel levels across the federal government, the application process may take longer.