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Military Caregiver Appreciation Month: Celebrating Our Hidden Heroes

May 5, 2021 | Story by Megan Trexler | Commander, Navy Installations Command

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WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, Washington -- May is recognized as National Military Caregivers Month, a time used to honor, commend and show appreciation for those that care for wounded, ill and injured service members. Navy Wounded Warrior recognizes that without the family members and caregivers’ selfless dedication, Navy Wounded Warrior enrollees would not likely be so successfully in their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration activities.

The term “family” can mean many things: spouse, parent, relative, significant other, or friend. However they are defined, the families of wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen are critically important.

Navy Wounded Warrior’s Family Support Program assists family members and caregivers in multiple ways. The Family Support Program was created to provide the enrollee’s family with a variety of support services to help make their jobs as caregivers more manageable and alleviate the stress that accompanies a major life change. 

“Being able to learn from and also communicate with other caregivers is such a wonderful resource,” said a Navy Wounded Warrior caregiver.

The Family Support Program strives to improve family and caregiver resiliency by connecting them with other family members and caregivers who can share experiences, provide guidance and ultimately build trust and long-lasting relationships. 

Becoming a caregiver to a wounded, ill or injured service member can bring forward new challenges for a family. Without the proper training, guidance and support system, some can have a hard time thriving and being successful with this new lifestyle, while still maintaining their own mental health.

“Military caregivers go above and beyond to provide support to their service members, that’s why here at Navy Wounded Warrior, we provide the resources to assist them in their mission,” said Dario Santana, Family Program Coordinator. “From our quarterly newsletter and partnering with organizations to providing platforms where caregivers can learn from each other and share experiences.”

Navy Wounded Warrior’s Family Support Program identifies, connects and improves caregiver resiliency by providing resources, workshops, resiliency tools and new skill sets to ensure caretakers reach their ultimate potential.

Navy Wounded Warrior host weekly virtual Caregiver Coffee Break events, with weekly topics ranging from wellness & relaxation techniques and meditation to anger management and defining relationships.

For additional information, visit www.navywoundedwarrior.com to refer a Sailor or Coast Guardsmen to the program, read about the program’s mission or learn about additional services offered to caregivers and families.

Navy Wounded Warrior is the Navy’s sole organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen and providing resources and support to their families. Through proactive leadership, the program provides individually-tailored assistance designed to optimize the success of the wounded warriors’ recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration activities.

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