Draggin's wife here...I recently received some information about how the caregiver program was changing to a "rehabilitation program" for the veterans involved. I shrugged it off, until receiving a letter that went to all caregivers in the area (North Texas). The letter follows (in red):
- Annual Clinical Reassessments are completed upon or around your anniversary of being in the Caregiver Support Program. The reassessments are completed by a board of interdisciplinary doctors including a Psychologist, Physical Medicine and Rehab Specialist, and a Medicine physician. We also reach out to you, your Veteran, and your Veteran’s VA treatment team directly to provide additional input.
o Reassessment will result in one of the following: Your tier level can increase, stay the same, decrease, or transition of the program completely if your loved one has regained independence.
- If your Veteran is receiving care by community providers (private sector), it is the responsibility of the Veteran and Caregiver to ensure that those records get to the VA system for scanning for purposes of oversight.
o You may contact your loved one’s VA primary care clinic to determine how to get these records in for scanning.
- This program is meant to be rehabilitative as opposed to a long standing benefit for Veterans who have the ability to recover.
o Veterans in this program are required to engage in treatment plans working towards recovery.
o Veterans in this program are required to see their VA treatment team ‘at a minimum’ of once per year.
o For those Veterans who have the ability to regain their independence in functioning, it is likely that many of these Veterans will ultimately transition off of the program as they continue engaging in treatment.
I have also spoken to a few veterans in my area that let me know that their caregiver benefits were taken away, as they no longer qualified. I am freaking out. My veteran cannot handle things if I have to go back to work!!!
I spoke to my caregiver support coordinator and explained that my husband is now 100% P&T disabled due mainly to PTSD. She said to have his doctors document that they do no expect improvement in his condition.
I wanted to give a heads up for any that may be coming across this situation and ask any advice of those that have already been through this sort of reassessment, as it's not the annual one done by the sweet nurses that come to your house.
Thanks so much
Draggin' and Draggin'sWife
