The RAND Military and Veteran Caregivers Study

Link to this article: https://www.rand.org/well-being/social-and-behavioral-policy/projects/military-caregivers.html

Military and veteran caregivers are hidden heroes. This term was coined by RAND and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in 2014, when the organizations partnered to produce the first national portrait of American people who care, mostly uncompensated, for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans. Much has changed since 2014, and a new, national examination of military and veteran caregivers was needed. America’s Military and Veteran Caregivers: Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows provides updated estimates of the number of adults caregiving in the United States today; investigates how those caring for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans compare with those caring for civilians and with non-caregivers; and provides insights on the potential consequences of caregiving on caregivers’ health, their economic security, and their families’ well-being. With these groundbreaking data, RAND researchers make recommendations to strengthen national support for these hidden heroes as they continue to emerge from the shadows.

Featured Research

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    Testimony

    Supporting Military and Veteran Caregivers

    More than 14 million Americans are caring for our nation’s heroes. Supporting these caregivers requires recognizing the breadth of what they do, which includes caring for those with mental health and substance use conditions, and also attending to caregivers’ mental health and financial well-being.

    Sep 25, 2024

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    Report

    Supporting America’s Military and Veteran Caregivers

    There are 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers—5.5 percent of the U.S. adult population. How does caregiving affect their health, their economic security, and their families’ well-being? And what can be done to better support these hidden heroes?

    Sep 24, 2024

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    Report

    Who Are America’s Military and Veteran Caregivers?

    A study of U.S. caregivers explores how those caring for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans compare with those caring for civilians and with non-caregivers. This summary presents key findings and recommendations from the study.

    Sep 24, 2024

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    Report

    America’s Military and Veteran Caregivers: In Their Own Words

    Interviews with military and veteran caregivers deepen our understanding of the challenges and joys of caregiving. Their diverse and nuanced experiences offer insights into what drives caregivers, what they do, and how services could be improved to support them.

    Sep 24, 2024

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    Report

    America’s Post-9/11 Military and Veteran Caregivers

    There are an estimated 1.5 million people providing care to veterans or service members who served after September 11, 2001. Many post-9/11 caregivers meet criteria for excessive burden and high stress. Sixty percent reported difficulty paying bills. How can these caregivers be better supported?

    Sep 24, 2024

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    Research Brief

    Nine Ways to Help Military and Veteran Caregivers

    There are many ways to improve the health and well-being of military and veteran caregivers. These include increasing access to mental health and substance use treatment for caregivers and their children, expanding home health care, and promoting supportive work environments.

    Sep 24, 2024

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    Research Brief

    America’s Military and Veteran Caregivers: Changes from 2014 to 2024

    How have the lives and well-being of America’s military and veteran caregivers changed in a decade? A look at trends over time suggests areas where progress has been made and where there is room for improvement.

    Sep 24, 2024

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    Commentary

    Who Is a Caregiver?

    Over 40 percent of American adults are caregivers, providing unpaid assistance to those with wounds, illnesses, or injuries. To support caregivers, it’s crucial to recognize their roles, address their emotional and financial challenges, and offer resources.

    Sep 24, 2024