Caregivers, Don’t Forget – James A. Haley Veterans Hospital is Here for You, Too

Fulfilling President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.

1. Caregiver Support Coordinator

   TampaVA healthcare offers a number of services to support you, the caregiver, and the Veteran you care for. One of your best resources is our Caregiver Support Coordinator. Ours is a social worker, and she can help you find what you need, whether it’s in-home help, someone to listen to, getting caregiver assistance through the VA, matching you with services and benefits as week as connecting you with local resources and programs. To learn more, email: VHATAMCaregiverSupportProgram@va.gov.

2. Caregiver Support Program

   The Caregiver Support Program offers clinical services to caregivers of eligible and covered Veterans enrolled in the CVA healthcare system. The program’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of family caregivers that care for our Nation’s Veterans through resources, education, support and services. This carried out by two programs:

• Program of General Caregiver Support Services

  The Program of General Caregiver Support Services provides peer support mentoring, skills training, coaching, phone support, online programs and referrals to available resources to caregivers of Veterans. The Veteran must be enrolled in VA healthcare and be receiving assistance from a caregiver in order for the caregiver to participate. For more details, visit: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/Care_Caregivers.asp
   

• Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

  The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers 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. For more details, visit: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/support_benefits.asp

   

3. Caregiver Support Line

   The Caregiver Support Line exists for exactly that: support! The CSL’s hours of operation are from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This toll-free number is for caregivers, family members, friends, Veterans and community partners to contact for information related to caregiving and available supports and resources. The CSL also offers monthly education group sessions, held four times a month on a range of topics and are available to all caregivers. For the monthly call schedule, visit: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support-line/docs/2025/CaregiverResource-CSL-MonthlyEducationCalls-Englich-SpanishJanMarch2025.pdf#. If you’re just getting started as a caregiver, this is a great first step to take to learn more.

• Call the CSL at 1-855-260-3274 
• You can also visit: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/help_landing.asp 

• If you’d like to learn more about the CSL, visit the fact sheet: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/docs/Caregivers-Support-Line_0611_v11.pdf#

   

4. Mental Health Resources

   As family or friend of a Veteran with mental health challenges, caregivers can play an important role in providing support for their recovery. Those close to Veterans are often the first to notice that they are facing a mental health challenge, and letting a Veteran know you there for them can help start important conversations. As you support the Veteran in your life, VA is here to support you. To explore resources about different kinds of mental health challenges and coping resources for families and friends, visit: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/families/index.asp

5. Make the Connection

   Make the Connection is a place where hundreds of Veterans have gathered and continue to gather to share their mental health challenges and the care that helped them. These Veterans shares their stories and experiences that fellow Veterans can relate to – in the hope that you can make a connection. This resource aims to reduce barriers and stigma associated with mental health challenges that may prevent Veterans from seeking care. many Veterans face. Support is also available to families and friends to help them connect with resources for managing’s life’s challenges and finding solutions. For more details, visit: https://www.maketheconnection.net/family-friends/

6. National Alliance on Mental Illness Family-to-Family

   NAMI Family-to-Family is a free., 8-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. It’s taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussions and interactive exercises. Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—experience compassion and reinforcement from people wo understand your situation. For more information, visit: https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education/NAMI-Family-to-Family/ 

7. Give an Hour 

   Give an Hour is a national organization that was founded in 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen. It’s designed to step in a provide confidential, no-cost mental health care services to active-duty, military, reservists, guard, Veterans, caregivers and spoises. The programs include one-on-one counseling, peer support groups and emotional wellness training from mental healthcare professionals that have received training to address the unique challenges and strategies needed to support clients. To learn more, visit: https://giveanhour.org/militarycaregivers/

8. Military Onesource Services Caregiver Support Services

   Military Onesource Services Caregiver Support services offers many different avenues to help advocating for themselves and the Veteran receiving care. There is also a Peer Forum and Caregiver Action Network for additional support. To learn more, visit: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/caregiver-support-services/

    

9. Building Better Caregivers
   Building Better Caregivers is an online program to help caregivers of Veterans with dementia, memory problems, PTSD, a serious brain injury or any other serious injury or illness. One service offered is an online workshop with 6 weekly self-paced lessons, facilitator guidance, group support and access to an alumni community for program graduates. For more information, visit: https://va.buildingbettercaregivers.org/

    

10. Warrior Care Recovery Coordination Program Defense Health Agency
    In terms of helpfulness and finding lesser known organizations that can add to a caregiver and Veterans’ qualities of life, this a grail of information. Visit the website here: https://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/caregiver-resources/

• Department of Defense Military Caregiver Support National Resource Directory makes it incredibly easy to find information about national-level resources and programs for caregivers. Access it here: https://nrd.gov/misc/crdDownload
• Military Caregiver Support programs provide resources and information exclusively for military caregivers who assist wounded, ill and injured service members with activities of daily living. For additional questions, email: infonrd.osd@mail.mil
   

Although this list shares many ways to practice self-care and find communities of support, it is not an exhaustive one. There are numerous organizations with the mission of helping caregivers, and we are all here for you. For more information about Caregiver Support, contact: VHATAMCaregiverSupportProgram@va.gov


As a bonus, additional resources are listed below:

https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/docs/Caregivers-Support-Line_0611_v11.pdf#

https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/Caregiver_Training.asp

https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/Caregiving_Children_Adolescents.asp

https://www.caregiver.va.gov/toolbox/toolbox_tips.asp

https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/Caring_for_your_Finances.asp

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning