Research Topics
Caregivers and Family Support
A caregiver—sometimes called an informal caregiver—is an unpaid individual (for example, a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or neighbor) involved in assisting others with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks. Formal caregivers are paid care providers providing care in one's home or in a care setting (day care, residential facility, long-term care facility). There are almost 5.5 million caregivers caring for Veterans, and 96% of those caregivers are women. 70% provide care to a spouse or partner, and provide care for an average of 10 years. VA research into caregiving touches on everything from delivery of services to support for caregivers to the impact of policy decisions.
Each section below is populated by a search of the HSR website. Search results are generated based on the search term "Caregiver". Results are updated as new data are available.
VIEW: Citations | Publication Briefs | Studies | HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters | Cyberseminars | Videos | Podcasts | Other Resources
Citations
(5 of more than 716 CAREGIVER focused publications)
- Idso D, Johnson A, Hudson E, Nicholson H, Garrett S, Brown R, Talley K, Ratner E, Mosher H, Fink HA, Gustavson AM. Feasibility and acceptability of post-hospitalization discharge calls to caregivers of Veterans with dementia: A quality improvement project. Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.). 2025 Jan 29; 62(Pt A):89-95.
- Griffin JM, Holland DE, Vanderboom CE, Kaufman BG, Gustavson AM, Ransom J, Mandrekar J, Dose AM, Ingram C, Fong ZV, Wild E, Weiss ME. Assessing Family Caregiver Readiness for Hospital Discharge of Patients With Serious or Life-Limiting Illness Using Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Self-Reported Data. Health services research. 2025 Jan 28; e14441.
- Henion A, Cheney A, Pugh MJ, Leykum LK, Trivedi RB, Dang S, Kalvesmaki A, Sundstrom K, Rupper R, Bouldin ED. Women Veterans as caregivers: Characteristics and comparisons with women non-veterans using BRFSS. Journal of women & aging. 2024 Nov 9; 36(6):534-545.
- Lin JL, Devereaux T, Simon TD, Kaphingst KA, Zhu A, Narayanan U, Berry ABL, Eppich KG, Stoddard G, Smith JT, Andras L, Heflin J, Keenan HT, Asch SM, Fagerlin A. Caregiver Values and Preferences Related to Surgical Decision-Making for Children with Medical Complexity. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2025 Jan 1; 276:114366.
- Trivedi R, Ngo V, Lee T, Humber MB, Risbud R, Jacobs JC, Lorenz K, Asch SM, Gallagher-Thompson D, Leykum LK, Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research. Barriers to accessing home and community-based services among family caregivers of Veterans. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2024 Nov 1; 72(11):3541-3550.
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Publication Briefs
(5 of more than 23 CAREGIVER focused publication briefs)
- VA-GRACE Program Effectively Supports Aging Veterans and Caregivers But Does Not Reduce Readmissions
The Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders (GRACE) program is a collaborative, multidisciplinary care model that provides home-based geriatric care management. This study evaluated VA-GRACE from its implementation (2010) to 2020 in terms of its effect on mortality and readmissions – and examined patient, caregiver, primary care provider, and VA-GRACE staff satisfaction. Findings sho...
Date: August 29, 2022
- Examining the Investment in Caring for High-Needs Patients
Since 2013, VA has invested more than $22 million in fostering and testing interventions within patient-centered medical homes at five demonstration sites to improve care for Veterans at highest risk for hospitalizations or death. In this commentary, VA authors involved in this project, known as the VA PACT Intensive Management program, reflect on lessons learned about improving care for this popu...
Date: September 10, 2021
- Veteran-Directed Care Adds to Options for Medically Complex Veterans Living in the Community – Without Raising Costs
One way in which VA facilitates independence and supports caregivers is through the Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) program, part of VA’s Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care Services. VDC enables enrollees to hire family members, friends, or neighbors as paid caregivers and also provides caregiver support, including caregiver training and burden monitoring. This study evaluated the incidence of VA ...
Date: June 1, 2019
- VA Experience with Implementing Intensive Primary Care Programs for Veterans at Highest Risk
This case study describes VA’s experience with implementing intensive primary care programs, as well as the program elements that appear to be necessary to meet the complex care needs of these high-risk Veterans. Findings showed that the PACT Intensive Management program (PIM) has been successfully implemented for more than three years at five demonstration sites in the VA healthcare system. The P...
Date: October 25, 2017
- Impact of Comprehensive Caregiver Support Program on VA Healthcare Utilization and Cost
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) supports caregivers of Veterans from the post-9/11 era who need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or supervision or protection because of the residual effect of injuries sustained during their service. A monthly stipend is provided to caregivers based on Veterans’ care needs. In this study, investigators examined...
Date: April 1, 2017
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Studies
( 5 of more than 59 CAREGIVER focused projects
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Project No. |
Title |
PI |
Funding Start |
SDR 24-060
|
Home Excellence Research and Outcomes Center to Advance, Redefine and Evaluate Non-institutional Caregiving (HERO CARE) |
Leykum, Luci |
2024-10-01 |
CDA 22-008
|
Maximizing the Value of VA Homemaker/Home Health Aide (H/HHA) Services to Veterans, Caregivers and VA: Supporting Older Veterans'' Pathways to Stable H/HHA Care |
Franzosa, Emily |
2023-07-01 |
CDA 21-161
|
Family-Centered Co-Design of a Technology-Facilitated Intervention for Family Caregivers of Critical Care Survivors |
Blok, Amanda |
2023-05-01 |
CDA 21-143
|
Hospital GamePlan4Care: A Web-Based Delivery System for Dementia Caregiver Support |
Horstman, Molly |
2021-10-01 |
CDA 20-104
|
Improving Mental Health for Veterans with Dementia: Provider Training in Caregiver Engagement |
Wyman, Mary |
2021-07-01 |
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HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters
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Cyberseminars
The most recent "Caregiver" seminars are displayed.
|
Date |
Title |
Presenter(s) |
10/9/2024 |
OCC Funded Spotlight: The Many Caregiver Roles in VVC & Clinician Supported PTSD Coach in VA PC-MH Integration Programs
|
Gately, Megan
Possemato, Kyle
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6/13/2024 |
Using Multiple Qualitative Methods in a Multi-Year Enterprise-Wide Initiative Evaluation of the VA Medical Foster Home Program
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Haverhals, Leah
Manheim, Chelsea
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9/19/2023 |
Research to the Real World: Insights from Implementation of a Caregiver Support Training Program
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Decosimo, Kasey
Chadduck, Trisha
Van Houtven, Courtney
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4/27/2023 |
Evaluating Implementation of a Health Literate Care Model In VHA: Outcomes and Recommendations of an HSR&D Field Advisory Meeting
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Midboe, Amanda
Goldstein, Michael
Kimerling, Rachel
Kumar, Angela
Greenwood, Daniel
Clayman, Marla
Bowman, Sarah
|
2/10/2023 |
HSR&D National Meeting Paper Session: COVID-19
|
Research Community, HSR&D
|
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Podcasts
There are currently no podcasts for this topic. |
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