Caregivers for Veterans Need a Disaster Preparedness Plan

Caregiving has defined much of my adult life. I served as a registered nurse on active duty in the US Navy where I specialized in pediatric critical care and deployed aboard the USNS Mercy T-AH 19 as part of “Pacific Partnership” in 2008. Since separating from the military, my career has shifted from providing bedside care to advising hospital and health system leadership on how to improve access to and better engage patients in their own care. I am also an experienced spouse caregiver to my husband who sustained a traumatic brain injury several years ago during combat operations. My work as a bedside nurse, consultant and spouse caregiver led me to the Rosalynn Carter Institute where I've had the opportunity to work alongside career colleagues and serve as an advisor for the development of the Disaster Preparedness Toolkit. The Toolkit is a resource I believe spouse caregivers will find invaluable. It urges you to think about scenarios you may otherwise not consider—something I know I wish I’d had when my spouse and I were working through his recovery and rehabilitation.


A Comprehensive Guide for Disaster Planning

The Toolkit (https://rly.pt/PreparednessTooklit) developed by RCI in conjunction with the Department of Veterans affairs and aims to assist caregivers in preparing for the unexpected. I love that it is comprehensive—enabling caregivers to plan for their unique needs and those of their Veteran—yet easy to digest. Caregivers can review one section at a time and plan as their schedule—and headspace—allows. Planning for disaster after surviving personal tragedy can often seem overwhelming. The toolkit provides conversation starters to help you and your Veteran talk about how to manage and even prevent risks when your Veteran is experiencing negative emotions relating to disaster events.

It's important to remember that disaster planning takes time. Be realistic with yourself and dedicate time each week or month for planning; set an achievable goal for completing the toolkit—I recommend six months. When planning, consider the types of disasters that occur most frequently where you live and prioritize those plans. And don’t forget to think of yourself. One of my favorite caregiver analogies is that of the airplane oxygen mask—put your own mask on before helping others. Often, as caregivers, we forget to prioritize our own needs and in doing so reduce our ability to help.


An Adaptable Plan to Meet Changing Needs

Caregiver needs evolve and the Toolkit stresses that disaster planning is meant to grow and change with us over time. It’s difficult to underscore the value of a tangible resource that can be referenced repeatedly and updated as necessary. As a military nurse, I learned the importance of being adaptable early on. My best advice is to re-visit the Toolkit on an annual basis—perhaps each September during national disaster preparedness month—after your initial planning is complete, think of it as your annual well-visit for disaster planning. Take an afternoon to review what you’ve planned—do they still meet the needs of your Veteran? What about yourself?

Finally, it’s important as Caregivers that we think of the Toolkit as one piece of the larger Disaster Preparedness puzzle. It’s critical that emergency responders are also prepared to support caregivers during a disaster. Earlier this year, FEMA and the Rosalynn Carter Institute partnered to leverage each other’s support networks and ensure that caregivers are pointed to the appropriate, essential resources they may need during a disaster. Whether you’re a seasoned caregiver or someone whose journey is just beginning, my hope is that this Toolkit may provide guidance and inspiration as you plan for the unexpected and consider what support is offered to you, your Veteran and your community.