John was an Army officer who was struck by a bomb blast that threw him 20 feet from where he was standing while on a patrol. After a few months of recovery, John’s family realized something was very wrong. He began having spells of confusion and memory loss, and as he got older, things got worse for him. His wife, Mindy, took on the full responsibility of being his caregiver. Every task, from cooking dinner and paying bills to managing my John's healthcare fell on her. She loved her husband dearly, but caregiving for him wasn't an easy task and she needed all the help she could get.

Millions who are Caring for Veterans Need Assistance

Similar to John’s family, over 5.5 million spouses, mothers, fathers, siblings, and other loved ones across the U.S. are facing enormous challenges caring for members of the military and gravely injured veterans. More than a million caregivers are caring for a veteran or service member who served after September 11, 2001, while 4.4 million are caring for someone who served on or before September 11, 2001. Military caregivers provide $14 billion of uncompensated voluntary healthcare services annually. According to the Dole Foundation, “By caregiving for these heroes, these families are serving our country with the same honor and duty their loved ones demonstrated in volunteering to defend our freedom. Why then is there little to no support for those who are caring for our wounded warriors?”

“Hidden Heroes” Answers the Call for Military Caregiver Assistance