Joanne: Hi, my name is Joanne. And I'm here to just share a
couple of messages with you about the wonderful VA Caregiver
Program. I've been my husband's informal caregiver for a number
of years. But as I kept searching for new and better
ways to help him, I came upon this program, and I'm so happy,
I've joined. I'm really trying to help my husband Thrive not
just survive, and the guidance, information resources, and just
good old support has made a world of difference for both my
husband and myself. So I want to thank the VA, for other great
people involved in this program, and for everything you do for
the caregivers, and on veterans every day. Thank you so much.
Maureen: Hi, my name is Maureen And I'd like to share with you
how the caregiver support program has helped me just being
heard really listened to by professionals, and also
understood and listened to by so many who are going through the
same thing. Same trials and tribulations, we have a common
bond. And I take and give comfort in that bond. The
resources that the VA offers us are phenomenal as caregivers,
and they provide for us training and skill training if we need
it. What everything we need to get through the day, all the
aspects of caring for our pets, peer support, and mentoring.
It's helpful to learn that others have also figured some
things out in specific situations, and then they'll
share that with us in a support group. There is coaching and if
you have questions, there's always telephone support. And
online classes such as building better caregivers and national
caregiver training program. There's self support, self care
support, which is a two hour talk two days, which I really
got a lot out of. And there's also an all day caregiver
support program from nine to four that offered so much
information and we got to share a lot of what we're going
through. And we got a lot of little benefits like this is my
favorite right here. If you think my hands are full, you
should see my art. I just love that. And it's the truth.
There's always the answers to your questions 20. Monday
through Friday, eight to eight to 10. And on Saturday eight to
five, you can call the 800 number and or it's 855 number.
And you can also get an appointment, if you want mental
health counseling, they're there for you. There's social workers
to help you figure out the final wishes of your bed. And any app
which couple times a week sends a little text messages with
support and positive affirmations. It's helped me do
my job. This program has helped me do my job. It's helped me to
my job better, to take care of my event and also to take care
of myself because I can't take care of him. And it's helped me
to understand what not his perspective so much, but that
it's not his fault. And that I'm not alone, that we're not alone
in this. And we have resources at the VA that we can definitely
count on. Thank you and have a good day.
Donna: Hello, my name is Donna. I'm the caregiver for my Vietnam
combat veteran husband Michael. I've been Michael's caregiver
now for the last few years and became involved with the
caregiver program for the VA within the last two years.
joining this program has opened up so much to me to be able to
help care for him and his needs going through this difficult
time that he's experiencing now. Due to his combat days. The
resources, the workshops, everything that's provided
through the caregiver program has just been so helpful. It's
helped me understand things. Having someone that I know that
I can talk to when times are just So trying, I can't express
enough how much Lisa, and Gabrielle and Joanne have done
for me in this last couple of years. But again, thank you to
all the caregiver program providers through the VA system.
Words cannot express just how much you have helped in the
things that we as caregivers deal with every day. Again,
thank you so very much