1. Caregiver Support Program
Hollie-Lyn James, LMSW

2. Caregiver Support Program Overview
Public Law , Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of established 38 USC 1720G Directing the VA to establish the Caregiver Support Program
Under the Caregiver Support Program there are 2 separate services: Program for the Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregiver Program (PCAFC) and General Caregiver Program.
The purpose of these programs were to provide services to the Caregiver in support of the care of a disabled Veteran in the need of personal care services.

3. PCAFC - Criteria
Criteria 1 – Veteran (or Servicemember undergoing medical discharge) incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.
A serious injury is any injury including TBI or mental disorder.
Illnessess do not qualify
Criteria 2 - The serious injury requires another person (Caregiver) to assist the Veteran or Servicemember with the management of personal care functions required in every day living due to one or more of the following impairments:
Inability to perform one or more Activity of Daily Living
Need for Supervision, Protection, or assistance based on symptoms or residuals or neurological or other impairment or injury (including TBI or mental impairment)
Veteran has been rated 100% percent service connected disabled with special monthly compensation that includes aid and attendance allowance.

4. PCAFC – Criteria
Criteria 3 – Because of the serious injury, the Veteran or Servicemember requires the assistance of another person to manage personal care functions for at least 6 months
Criteria 4 – It is clinically in the best interest of the Veteran or Service Member to Participate in the Program.
The clinical team that is working with the Veteran or Servicemember are asked if they feel that it is the best interest. For example, will it facility recovery or will it foster dependence for the Veteran or Service Member.

5. PCAFC - Criteria
Criteria 5 – The Veteran or Servicemember will receive care at home from the Family Caregiver upon admission into the Family Caregiver Program.
Criteria 6 – The Veteran or Servicemember will receive ongoing care from a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) or other VA Health Care Team. This does not Preclude co-Management with a Community Provider.
Criteria 7 – Personal Care Services provided to the Veteran or Servicemember by the Family Caregiver will not be provided concurrently by another entity or program providing the same services.

6. Activities of Daily Living Explained
Eating – Able to feed self (does not include meal prep)
Grooming – Able to take care of daily personal hygiene needs
Bathing – Able to wash entire body safely
Dressing – Able to dress upper and lower body with or without dressing aids
Toileting – Able to maintain hygiene and adjust clothing before or after using the toilet or bedpan or able to manage an ostomy. Including cleaning around the stoma but not managing equipment
Prosthetics – Able to adjust special prosthetic or orthopedic devices.
Mobility – Able to transfer safely from bed to chair, chair to toilet. Able to turn and position self in bed, able to walk safely on a variety of surfaces.

7. Supervision and Protection Explained
Seizures
Planning and organizing
Safety
Sleep
Delusions and hallucinations
Impairment of Recent Memory
Affective or Behavioral Dysregulation

8. Benefits of PCAFC 24/7 hour support Mental Health Counseling
Caregiver Support Line, Caregiver Support Website
Mental Health Counseling
Ongoing Supportive Services to Caregiver
Peer Support , Building Better Caregivers, Monthly Supportive Calls
Ongoing monitoring of Veterans Health to facilitate communication with the health care team
Quarterly phone calls from Caregiver Support Coordinator, Annual Visits
Financial benefits
Stipend, Travel pay, CHAMP VA insurance

9. General Caregiver Program
Caregiver of any era Veteran who needs personal care services who is unable to perform one or more activities of daily living or needs supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury.
No formal application or VA clinical treatment team evaluation is required.

10. General Caregiver Program Benefits
After hours support
Caregiver Support Line, Caregiver Support Website
Mental Health Counseling in connection with treatment of a disability for which the Veteran is receiving disability.
Ongoing Supportive Services to Caregiver
Peer Support , Building Better Caregivers, Monthly Supportive Calls

11. Contacts Caregiver Support Line 1-855-260-3274 Hollie – Lyn James
(Cell)
New Applications:
gov/
VETS (8387).