What GAO Found The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Caregiver Support Program offers mental health support, among other benefits, to eligible caregivers who provide around the clock care for veterans with serious injuries. This includes support groups and respite care. In fiscal year 2025, VHA data show the program served about 98,000 caregivers. In addition, VHA obligated $2.6 billion to implement the program, according to officials. VHA officials told GAO the program has grown significantly since fiscal year 2021 due in part to expanded eligibility criteria that allowed more caregivers to participate as of October 1, 2020. Caregivers Participating in Veterans Health Administration Caregiver Support Program, Fiscal Years 2021 Through 2025 VHA advertises the Caregiver Support Program through various methods, such as email updates and brochures at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. Some caregivers GAO interviewed said they learned about the program through these methods. However, they wished they had learned about it sooner. They also felt other caregivers did not know about the mental health support available to them through the program. VHA established four goals to assess whether its outreach efforts are effective at increasing caregivers’ awareness of the program. One goal is to increase program enrollment…
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VA Health Care: Efforts to Assess Mental Health Support for Veteran Caregiver Program Need Strengthening
Source: US GAO Reports — US Government, Public Domain