Ms. Moy Martin is the chief of Office of Clinical Translation in the HQ Division of Research, and Ms. Langbein is Brandon Green Management Group contractor support for the Office of Outcomes and Assessment at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Author disclosures The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.
Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Federal Practitioner, Frontline Medical Communications Inc., the U.S. Government, or any of its agencies.
The recent combat conflicts of OEF and OIF have resulted in a dramatic increase in the occurrence of TBI injuries in active-duty service members both in theater and stateside and have highlighted the need for some service members and veterans with a TBI to require ongoing assistance from a caregiver. The levels of assistance and length of time vary greatly, impacted by the severity of the TBI and psychosocial situations.
In response to elevated awareness, several programs and resources have been developed or enhanced to address the specific needs of caregivers. Certain programs and resources are specific for caregivers of military service members and veterans, whereas others benefit caregivers in general. Likewise, some programs are not specific to individuals with TBI.
Caregivers assume many roles in their efforts to support the person with a TBI. They may need to dramatically adjust their lives to serve as a caregiver. Providing adequate resources for the caregivers impacts their ability to continue providing care. Thus, awareness of and access to resources play a critical role in helping to reduce stress, distress, burden (eg, physical, emotional, and financial), and caregiver burnout. Programs and resources often change, making it difficult for health care practitioners to know which programs offer what or even whether they still exist. Therefore, the authors synthesized the current medical literature of the topic of TBI and their caregiver needs as well as current resources for additional information and support.
Ongoing research studies, such as the congressionally mandated 15-year longitudinal study, are examining the impact of caregiving in the military and veteran communities. Future research could identify specific needs of military caregivers, identify gaps in services or programs, and identify interventions that promote resilience. Moreover, research directed at military and veteran caregivers can promote change that will benefit the general population of caregivers. It will be important for health care practitioners to keep abreast of new findings and information to incorporate into care plans for their patients who have had a TBI and their families.
