Being a military or veteran family caregiver likely will be one of the most
important and challenging roles you will ever have. Your caregiver journey
may begin in various ways, depending on whether the person you care for is
active duty, retired, ill, wounded, or disabled. It may start slowly with driving
your loved one to get groceries or to a doctor’s appointment or you may notice
their behavior changing over time. It may progress to managing medications,
providing emotional and physical support, preparing meals, assisting with
daily bathing and dressing, handling bills and insurance matters, advocating
for proper treatment and care, or taking time off from your job. Those who are
caring for an active-duty service member are considered “military caregivers”;
those who care for a veteran are “veteran caregivers.”

No matter where you are in the journey, having a good road map will make
the process easier. Remember that whether you’re a military spouse caring
for an active-duty service member, a child caring for a parent who’s a
veteran, an adult caring for a sibling service member or a parent caring for a
wounded child, government and nonprofit support services are available.

In this guide, you’ll find information, a glossary of terms to know, resources
(identified with an asterisk and listed throughout the guide), and checklists
to help you organize and find the support that you might need. The guide
outlines five key areas that family caregivers face.