This
Veterans Day, the American Red Cross is honoring veterans and recognizing the
special role that caregivers play in their care.
While many may recognize the American Red Cross as an organization that collects and distributes blood products and responds to local and national disasters, its Service to the Armed Forces program (SAF) is a prominent and valuable asset in the wide scope of services the Red Cross provides within any given community. In fact, it was on the Civil War battlefields that American Red Cross founder, Clara Barton, embraced the vision she had for the organization as she cared for and nursed wounded soldiers.
Today, the American Red Cross continues to serve the U.S. Military community from the time a service member takes the oath to navigating life as a veteran.
In
the Western New York region alone, the Red Cross provided 3,487 case
services to veterans and family members during the last fiscal year. On a
global perspective, each year, the Red Cross provides more than 500,000
services to members of the military, veterans and their families across the
country and around the world.
- In times of emergency, the Red
Cross helps military families communicate with their loved ones and
facilitates their return home through our Hero Care Network, which
is available online, by phone, through a mobile app or in person, 24 hours
a day.
- A variety of free resiliency
workshops are offered, in person and online, to provide active
military, veterans and their families with effective tools for facing challenges
and stress.
- Red Cross medical and non-medical
volunteers provide care, comfort and therapy items at veteran hospitals
and military treatment facilities.
- Stateside the Red Cross has a presence on all military installations. It also offers programs and services on-site at more than 140 military medical facilities and 170 veteran care facilities worldwide.
PROVIDING
SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS
Serving more than 8,200 caregivers worldwide, the Military Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN), one of many programs under the SAF umbrella, offers caregivers peer mentors, peer support groups, an online community as well as mental health, wellness and resiliency workshops. The network seeks to decrease feelings of isolation, and increase feelings of connection, hope and well-being.
The MVCN provides caregivers the ability to connect in a confidential environment that’s best for them. Our peer mentor program helps meet the specific needs of caregivers one-on-one, while peer support groups connect caregivers facing similar challenges. We offer secure online caregiver only communities to create a supportive network that is accessible without having to leave home.
In western New York, veterans and their caregivers report that the compounding effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan have created additional stressors.
In recent months, MVCN saw an increase in the
use of our Hero Care Resource Directory, which provides access to over 800
resources in every zip code in America specifically designed for veterans,
service members, caregivers and their families.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Many
Red Cross volunteers are veterans who continue to support their communities
after their active duty service ends. Also, about 6% of Red Cross employees
include transitioning military or veterans – from nurses to logisticians,
emergency management experts, project managers and preparedness experts, as
well as a number of veterans in leadership roles at local Red Cross chapters
across the country.
Tens
of thousands of Red Cross volunteers also serve in Veterans Administration (VA)
and military hospitals across the nation and around the world. These volunteers
support such areas as rehabilitation, recreation, administration, and personal
services to the men and women who are now cared for each day in these
facilities. To learn more about how you can give back in your community this
Veterans Day, visit redcross.org/volunteer.
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