{"id":83455,"date":"2024-09-24T21:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/09\/24\/vets-caregivers-need-more-support-from-va-local-orgs-study-finds\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:37:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:37:37","slug":"vets-caregivers-need-more-support-from-va-local-orgs-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/veterans\/2024\/09\/24\/vets-caregivers-need-more-support-from-va-local-orgs-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Vets\u2019 caregivers need more support from VA, local orgs, study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Military and veteran caregivers <\/a>save the federal government hundreds of billions in medical costs annually but still face significant challenges getting support and care for themselves, according to a new report released Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers from the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute<\/a> also found that nearly one in 10 adults in America provided some level of caregiver services to a veteran or wounded military member in the last two years, a much higher figure than seen in past surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 14.3 million individuals \u2014 5.5% of the U.S. adult population \u2014 are currently serving as military and veteran caregivers, according to the institute\u2019s estimates. Report authors said the value of the services they provide ranges from $199 billion to $485 billion, when taking into account the range of support and medical services they provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFew are compensated in any way for this care,\u201d they wrote. \u201cIn fact, caregivers are monetarily penalized: Over a quarter of military and veteran caregivers reported that, because of caregiving, they had cut back the hours they work, switched jobs, quit working or left school early, or felt that they were discriminated against at work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t