Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)
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Resources for Older Veterans and Caregivers
This page will highlight resources that we believe are useful to aging Veterans and their caregivers.
- Dementia Caregiver Survival Guide: Tips for caring for a Veteran with dementia
- This 66 page guide is intended to help family members care for a Veteran with dementia. The strategies and information included in this guide can be applied no matter where you live, no matter what stage of dementia the Veteran has, and no matter what resources are available near you.
- This is a veteran-focused adaptation of the dementia Careblazer survival guide by Natali Edmonds.
- Order the Dementia Caregiver Survival Guide via email
- Palliative Care Clinic at Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
- This brochure describes how palliative care can help you and your loved ones make decisions that are right for you. It tells you what palliative care is and isn't and what you can expect from the team at Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC.
- Order the Palliative Care Clinic at Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC brochure via email
- VA Hospice & Concurrent Care
- This one pager details hospice care in general and what is unique to hospice care in the VA. For instance, concurrent hospice care allows Veterans to receive hospice care AND ongoing care from their VA medical team(s), as long as that care is aimed at improving quality of life.
- Order the VA Hospice & Concurrent Care via email
- Colorado Program for Patient Centered Decisions
- The decision aids found here provide information about treatment options for patients to think about and to discuss with their health care providers. Our goal is to increase patients’ knowledge of their medical condition, the risks and benefits of available treatments and to empower patients to become more involved in the decision-making process. Decision aids include:
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)
Heart Failure Medications
Colon Cancer Screening
Hospice
Dementia Support Tool - Dr. Dan Matlock leads this effort
- Visit the Colorado Program for Patient Centered Decisions website
- Safety in Dementia
- Caring for someone with dementia can be hard.
There are physical, emotional, financial, and life-style changes to face. There are also new issues to think about. Thinking about these safety concerns can prevent injuries and deaths.
Now is the time to make choices and plans for the future. You may have already thought about some steps to improve safety at home. You may have had discussions about what to do about driving or firearms access. This site can support these discussions. Discussion tools include:
What if I have dementia?
What do I do about firearm access?
When is the time to stop driving?
How can I make the home safer? - Dr. Marian "Emmy" Betz leads this effort
- Visit the Safety in Dementia website
- Firearm Life Plan
- The Firearm Life Plan site, and its associated resources, was developed to help people think about important questions related to their firearms and protect their families from the burden of making difficult decisions without guidance. A Firearm Life Plan is a voluntary, personal plan made between a firearm owner and those they trust.
A Firearm Life Plan will help a firearm owner be prepared. The Firearm Inventory worksheet outlines what someone wants done with their firearms, and when. The Legacy Map lets someone share the importance of firearms in their life and preserve their memories. - Visit the Firearm Life Plan website
- Veteran iPad Easy Start-up Steps
- An easy to use guide for setting up an iPad.
- Order the Veteran iPad Easy Start-up Steps via email
- Veteran iPad Tips for a Successful Appointment
- A how-to guide for making your telehealth appointment work for you.
- Order the Veteran iPad Tips for a Successful Appointment via email
- VA Geriatrics and Extended Care
- The go-to site for all things for the geriatric Veteran and their caregiver. Includes:
Home and Community Based Services
Residential Settings and Nursing Homes
Paying for Long Term Care
Health, Fitness and Rehabilitation
Making Decisions and Advance Care Planning
Mental Health, Memory Loss and Brain Health
And much more - Visit the VA Geriatrics and Extended Care website
- Mental Health, Memory Loss and Brain Health
- The go-to site for all things for the geriatric Veteran and their caregiver. Includes:
Dementia Care (including Alzheimer’s Disease)
Delirium
Brain Health - Visit the VA Mental Health, Memory Loss and Brain Health in Geriatrics and Extended Care website
- VA Caregiver Support Program 1-855-260-3274
- VA's National Caregiver Support Line is a toll-free number for caregivers, family members, friends, Veterans, and community partners to contact for information related to caregiving and available supports and services.
- Call VA’s Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 to learn more about the support that is available to you and for assistance connecting with the Caregiver Support Team at your local VA Medical Center.
- The site also features:
Monthly Podcasts
Handouts & Self-Care Topics - Visit the VA Caregiver Support Program website
- Geriatric Scholars: Dementia Resources for Caregivers and Families
- Clinician Reviewed Resources for Families Caring for Veterans with Dementia.
- An interdisciplinary team of doctors, social workers, occupational therapists, and nurses reviewed over 100 online dementia resources and selected options available to assist and support people with dementia and their families.
The team took care in choosing the most informative and easy to use resources in varied formats (booklet, brochure, video etc.). The resources suggested are organized by topic and available for viewing online. Many resources can be printed directly from the PDF or the direct link shared via email or chat.
The team wishes to express their appreciation to the sources who provided support and information to help create this webpage. Permission was obtained from the host websites to link to all the resources listed below. - Visit the Dementia Resources for Caregivers and Families website
Links to VA Resources
VA Survivors and Burial Benefits Kit – Pre-need planning information and record storage for Veterans and their families
VA Caregiver Support – Resources and programs for family caregivers
VA Mental Health – Information, resources and treatment options for mental health conditions and other challenges
VA Primary Care – Gives eligible Veterans easy access to team based, patient-centered care and providers familiar with their needs
VA Rehabilitation and Prosthetics – Programs and services that promote health, independence and quality of life for Veterans with disabilities
VA Rural Health – Resources for rural Veterans and community providers; strives to break down barriers that separate rural Veterans from quality care
VA Social Work – Links Veterans and their family caregivers to resources and services to support treatment goals and assist with resolving housing, finance, mood, relationship and physical limitation issues - Find a VA social worker in your area
Veterans Health Library – Helps you learn about your health problems, medical tests and treatments, and medications via trusted easy-to-understand information, tools and videos on thousands of topics
Links to non-VA Resources
Age Friendly – Health care that addresses the care needs of older adults, with a focus on what matters, medication, mentation and mobility
Benefits Checkup – Free service of the National Council on Aging
CaringBridge – Social support for Veterans, Service Members and their families and caregivers with a free, secure and private website to keep family and friends updated after diagnosis, illness or injury and to coordinate help
Eldercare Locator – A public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging – find services for older adults, such as home modification, as well as services and help in your community
Family Care Navigator – Find public, nonprofit, and private programs and services near your loved one – living at home or in a residential facility
Health in Aging – Expert health information for older adults and caregivers
Meals on Wheels Association of America – Provides home-delivered meals to people in need
National Adult Protective Services Organization – For help and support if you, or someone you know, are experiencing physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation or neglect
National Aging and Disability Transportation Center – Promotes the availability and accessibility of transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers
National Institute on Aging – Details current research on healthy aging, nutrition and conditions like dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Respite Locator – Find respite services in your area
We Honor Veterans – Provides help for America’s Veterans and their families to learn how to accompany and guide Veterans through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending