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Improving Support for America's Hidden Heroes: A Research Blueprint
Rand Health Quarterly
|February 9, 2018
Summary
Millions of informal caregivers support U.S. veterans with service-related conditions. This study outlines a research blueprint to enhance support for military and veteran caregivers by identifying knowledge gaps and prioritizing future studies.
Area of Science:
- Military and Veteran Caregiving
- Health Services Research
- Disability Support
Background:
- Over 21 million U.S. veterans have sustained service-related conditions or disabilities.
- Millions of informal caregivers provide unpaid support to veterans, enabling non-institutionalized living.
- Existing research on caregiving for disabled adults and children is limited regarding military and veteran populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a research blueprint for improving support for military and veteran caregivers.
- To identify critical areas for future research in military and veteran caregiving.
- To guide the caregiver support community in prioritizing research efforts.
Main Methods:
- Inventory of existing research on caregiving for disabled adults and children.
- Stakeholder input gathered through surveys and an online panel.
- Analysis of current knowledge gaps and future research needs.
Main Results:
- Identified a need for studies on evolving caregiver needs over time.
- Highlighted the necessity of research evaluating program effectiveness.
- Emphasized the importance of examining caregiving impacts on specific veteran subgroups.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive research blueprint has been developed to guide future studies.
- Prioritizing research on caregiver needs, program efficacy, and subgroup impacts is crucial.
- The blueprint aims to enhance support systems for military and veteran caregivers.