Caring for a loved one who served in the military can be deeply meaningful — and deeply complex.
“Veterans are obviously no different than anyone else, and yet in some ways, their needs are different,” says Ron Winde, a HopeHealth volunteer who is a U.S. Navy veteran himself. “Some came home from war and never talked about what they went through — whether it was diagnosed PTSD or just reluctance to talk about it. It’s shaped who they are. That impacts their caregiver too.”
HopeHealth’s new Veterans Caregiver Support Group, which Ron facilitates, offers a welcoming space for caregivers to share, learn and find strength together.
If you’re caring for someone who is a veteran, we hope you’ll join us.
Here’s what to expect.
1. Connection: Support from a tight-knit community
For many families, military service is woven into the fabric of their lives. The sense of duty, resilience and mutual support that held them together through deployments often carries on long after service ends.
“Military families bond together,” says Ron. “That connection carries over, even decades later.”
The Veterans Caregiver Support Group is an extension of that community, giving caregivers a chance to honor their shared identity — and continue to find strength in it.
> To join the group, email CenterforHopeandHealing@HopeHealthCo.org.
2. Healing: The emotional side of caring for someone who served
Some veterans carry unspoken memories of their service, or long-buried emotions that resurface later in life. As a caregiver, you may be the one walking beside them through that.
“As we get older, people tend to think about the past a lot more,” says Ron. “For some veterans, maybe they’re looking back to experiences that weren’t very good experiences. They may be suffering guilt about things they saw or did during combat but never addressed. Maybe they haven’t talked about their military service at all until now.”
For caregivers, taking in that emotional weight can be difficult. A caregiver support group is a chance to talk openly about it with others who understand — a simple act that is often profoundly helpful.
> Are you caring for a veteran? This free virtual course is for you
3. Resources: Navigating the VA and beyond
Veterans often have access to benefits and programs that aren’t available to the general public. But those systems can feel daunting to navigate, especially when you’re already focused on daily caregiving.
Ron hopes the Veterans Caregiver Support Group can help. He recently began attending educational sessions through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), learning what’s available to veterans and their families — from medical care to emotional and social supports.
“Helping people understand the VA, and connecting them with other community programs that can help their loved one, can make a real difference,” he says. “That’s part of why this support group is here.”
4. Honor: Recognizing your veteran’s service
Learning about a veteran’s unique needs goes hand in hand with honoring their service. By learning about military culture, trauma and the emotional impact of service, caregivers can help their loved one feel seen and respected.
“Many veterans have never been recognized for their service. For some Vietnam veterans, it was the opposite — many came home to anything but ‘thank you for your service,’” says Ron. “To be able to acknowledge and thank them, without judgment, can be very important. Especially at the end of life.”
It’s one more way to say: Your service matters.
> Read: “Dear Veteran”: A letter-writing campaign reaches veterans at the end of life
5. Solidarity: Knowing you’re not alone
For Ron, the heart of this group is simple: connection. It’s a place to share stories, compare notes and find encouragement from people who truly understand what it means to care for someone who served.
“I hope caregivers will see they’re not alone,” says Ron. “That there are other families going through similar experiences — and that they can gain ideas from each other, and maybe a little comfort too.”
HopeHealth’s Veterans Caregiver Support Group meets in person once a month. To join, email CenterforHopeandHealing@HopeHealthCo.org.