Friday,
Feb. 21 is National Caregivers Day. This
day is observed on the third Friday of each February to recognize and honor
caregivers who deliver a variety of personal, medical, or military care services.
The military departments and Defense Health Agency provide
a variety of resources to support the caregivers of wounded, ill, or injured
service members. Hawaii-based caregiver Stacey Rivera received support and
learned new coping and self-care skills through DHA’s Recovery Coordination
Program.
At the time, Rivera was a senior enlisted active duty
Army service member. She became a caregiver after a motorcycle accident suffered
by her husband on a highway on the island of Oahu. Severe injuries to his
brain, spine, back, and legs
resulted, requiring a lengthy stay in the hospital.
Over the next year and a half, Rivera stood by his side.
She became, as she put it, “everything to him, his therapist, his life coach,
his nurse, his financial manager” as well as “his best friend and wife.” At the
same time, she balanced her Army career. She lacked time for self-care or to
“even slow down” and think about anything other than his needs. The severity of
his injuries made multiple spinal fusions necessary.
Personalized Experiences, Engagement, and Resources (PEER) Support Coordinator Gabriela Arias assisted Rivera with follow-up. They had met at the regional quarterly Military Caregiver Workshop, which focuses on self-care and caregiver resources. There, Rivera learned new coping and self-care skills from Operation Family Caregiver. The skills included canoeing, pottery painting, and practicing yoga and meditation.
In her role as a PEER Support Coordinator, Arias checks in with Rivera weekly. It’s one of many roles for a PEER Support Coordinator. They assist in holding military caregiver PEER forums and other outreach activities. They identify and report on gaps in support. They also assist in finding information on military caregiver support services, and act as the point of contact for the region.
In the Recovery Coordination Program, Rivera learned she
has a support network to meet her needs as a caregiver. The workshop gave her
tools for coping along with much-needed support. She was also made aware of
other resources, such as the
and the National Resource Directory (NRD). She now knows she can reach out at any time to battle
isolation and seek the help she deserves.
Learn more at the Warrior Care and National Resource Directory websites.