Noteboom The Law Firm

Legislation Pending to Help Disabled Veterans’ Caretakers

April 14, 2010 - Since 2001 more than 37,200 soldiers have been wounded in action serving this country in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense (DoD). Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), burns, and amputations have survivability rates far higher than ever before due to improved battlefield medicine.

Soldiers suffering severe injuries on the battlefield will very likely require a caretaker when they return home. There is very little research on how much impact a family member with a combat injury has on affected families. Of a random sampling including 1,730 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, an astonishing 21% of active-duty military personnel had a friend or family member leave their job in order to provide health care to the disabled veteran.

Congress's approval is the final step in passing legislation providing fill-time caretakers:

• Health care;
• Mental health services;
• Training; and
• Stipends.

 The Commission on Care for American's Returning Wounded Warriors found 33% of active duty personnel knew a family member or friend that had to at least temporarily relocate to spend hospital time with a wounded soldier. This is why this legislation is so important: it transcends disability compensation. While disability compensation is helpful, it is not enough money to cover all expenses in becoming a full time caretaker.  

The only acceptable answer is to provide a broad and all-include system of support for those caregivers of critically disabled veterans. People becoming full time caretakers are forced into lives they never intended to live. A soldier's family should not be burdened with going bankrupt tending to a soldier's disability sustained in defense of this country. Instead, the burden should be on this country to take care of the family taking care of the soldier.