By Tammy Javenkoski
Oneida County VSO

A caregiver plays an important role in caring for a disabled veteran at home and in the community. The VA has two programs for caregivers: The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS), for veterans of all eras and the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), for post-9/11 veterans.

PGCSS provides caregivers of veterans who are enrolled in the VA healthcare system with the following benefits:

• Information/referral to in-home or support services, support groups and other resources;
• Education and training on how best to care for yourself and your veteran;
• Peer support to learn from and gain support from other caregivers;
• Mental health counseling (if need and is related to the veteran’s condition);
• Programs that focus on caregiver self-care.

No formal application is required. If interested in enrolling, call the Caregiver Support Office at the VA Medical Center Iron Mountain, Mich., at 800-215-8262, ext. 32705.

PCAFC is only available to eligible seriously injured post 9/11 veterans. In addition to all services under the general program, eligible caregivers may receive:

• Financial monthly stipend;
• Health insurance (if eligible);
• Beneficiary travel benefits (if eligible);
• Mental health services;
• Respite care to get a break for no less than 30 days.

To start the application process, caregivers and veterans must complete VA Form 10-10CG, application for PCAFC. Your County Veterans Service Office can assist you with this application.

The caregiver program that is currently only for Post 9/11 veterans will be extending to veterans of other eras possibly as early as this year. We will write a new article about it when that happens. If you would like us to contact you personally when that change is made, please call or email us and we will put your name and phone number on a list.

Jason and I are proud to tell you about our new website. We are still tweaking it and adding more information but there’s still a lot of information to be found on it. Please check it out at: https://www.co.oneida.wi.us/departments/vs/ and feel free to tell other veterans and their family members about it.

Tammy Javenkoski can be reached at (715) 369-6127 or tjavenkoski@co.oneida.wi.us. Jason Dailey, Assistant CVSO, can be reached at the same number or jdailey@co.oneida.wi.us, or you can contact us via Facebook at www.facebook.com/oneidacvso.
Vilas County residents can contact Brian Thomas at (715) 479-3629 or brthom@vilascountywi.gov. Deborah Eicher, Deputy CVSO, can be reached at the same number or deeich@vilascountywi.gov.