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Caregiver support

VA Chicago health care offers a number of services to support you and the Veteran you care for. Ask a caregiver support coordinator to help you find what you need, whether it's in-home help, someone to listen, or anything in between.

Services for Family Caregivers of Veterans

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is available to eligible Veterans who served on or before May 7, 1975 and on or after September 11, 2001 and have a single or combined service-connected disability rating of 70% or more.

PCAFC provides resources, education, support, a financial stipend, health insurance, and beneficiary travel to caregivers of eligible Veterans.

During Phase 2 of the expansion of PCAFC, Veterans who incurred a serious service related injury after May 7, 1975 and before September 11, 2001 and have a single or combined service-connected disability rating of 70% or more will be eligible for PCAFC in October of 2022. 

Veterans with a 70% service-connected disability who served either on or after September 11, 2001, or on or before May 7, 1975, and are in need of Caregivers Support should contact their local Caregivers Support Coordinator, or visit our website for more information.

The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS)

The Program of General Caregiver Support Services provides resources, education and support to caregivers of Veterans. The Veteran does not need to have a service-connected condition, for which the caregiver is needed, and may have served during any era.

Caregivers who enroll in PGCSS have access to: 

To enroll in PGCSS at Jesse Brown VAMC, contact the Caregiver Support Triage Line at or you may call the National Caregiver Support Line at 1-.
 

Program Manager

Araceli Orona LCSW

Program Manager

VA Chicago health care

Phone: 312-569-5932

Email: Araceli.Orona@va.gov

Caregiver Support Supervisor 

Janika S. Walker LCSW

PCAFC Supervisory Social Worker

VA Chicago health care

Email: Janika.Walker@va.gov

Connect with a support coordinator

Katherine Miller LCSW

Program of General Caregiver Support Coordinator

VA Chicago health care

Phone: 312-933-1501

Email: Katherine.Miller14@va.gov

Cynthia Estelle LCSW

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

VA Chicago health care

Phone: 773-962-3755

Email: Cynthia.Estelle@va.gov

Care we provide at VA Chicago health care

If you are a caregiver for a Veteran, you can get support by contacting a VA Chicago caregiver support coordinator. We can help with:

  • Getting caregiver assistance available through VA
  • Matching you with services and benefits 
  • Connecting you with local resources and programs

Questions?

The Caregiver Support Line is available if you need support outside of the Chicago region, have questions about caregiver support services nationwide, or just need someone to listen right now.

Phone: 855-260-3274

Jesse Brown Caregiver Support Triage Line: