The Challenges of The Caretakers of Disabled Veterans
April 30, 2008
By Ginny Estupinian
According to some reports more than 30,000 troops have been wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While in the past many of these wounded warriors would have died of their injuries, today due to medical advancements they are now surviving. The problem is that our systems are not designed to provide the necessary support for these disabled warriors and their family who often are the caretakers. It is not just the veterans that have to live with the disability, but also their families that will be living with the disability for the rest of their lives.
One of the most prevalent injuries of returning veterans from the Iraq war is traumatic brain injury. These types of injuries can drastically change a person from someone who might have been intelligent, funny, and charming to a person who is impatient, bitter, and in pain. Often this means that the veteran is completely disabled and unable to work forcing the spouse to carry the full weight of the financial responsibilities as well as care for their family.
In many cases these caregivers have had to sell the family home, quit their jobs, and move their families to be closer to hospitals. The result is that taking care of their disabled loved one becomes their full time occupation. They end up putting on hold their careers and lives and in some cases they are dealing with a person that does not resemble the love one before the injury. Gaining access to the limited benefits is time consuming and not at all easy and it is obvious they do need help in navigating through the bureaucracy of the benefits system.
The federal government has begun to address some of these issues. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced in December a $4.7 million package of services for the families of injured veterans that includes help with transportation, respite care, and emotional support. Also, in January congress expanded the Family and Medical Leave act to require that employers allow caretakers to take up to 26 weeks to care for severely injured service members. This is a beginning but more has to be done and it is up to all of us in this country to become a voice for these disable veterans and their families.
By Ginny Estupinian
It is sad to note that there are many reports showing that veterans do not always find their jobs waiting for them when they return from active duty. The problem appears to be larger than the government statistics reveal according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.
This does not mean that there are not any federal laws on the books to penalize employers who do this. Rather what is happening is that at times veterans are dealing with government delays, bureaucratic shuffling and other red tape. For example, a Defense Department survey issued last fall showed that 77 percent of returning soldiers had job trouble but did not seek any help in 2006. The report went on to show that almost 11,000 soldiers were not promptly rehired and that more than 22, 000 lost their workplace sonority.
Most of these cases are investigated and pursued by the Department of Labor but it takes a lot of time. Some indications show that it can take about up to eight months for a case to reach the office of special counsel or the Justice Department for possible litigation.
This problem is not limited to small companies and on the contrary this problem crosses all businesses. For example, in the early part of April the Department of Justice said it was suing Wal-Mart alleging that it failed to reinstate a cashier who was an Air Force reservist. The department was also suing United Parcel Service charging that it eliminated the job of another Air Force reservist while he was on active duty in Iraq in 2003.
Some states have begun to add state enforcement laws to the federal laws in an effort to strengthen and decrease the amount of red tape. However, this is the exception rather than the rule. The truth is that laws will only be part of the solution the real change has to come from the voice of the country.
This nation has the ability to make great changes and cause social change when it comes together as one for a common cause. Just look at how the nation has come together to address natural disasters and raise money to find cures for major diseases. As a nation it is now time that all of us stand for those that risk their lives in service to this country and insist that it is not alright for companies to give away the jobs of our heroes. As a people we have insisted on companies cleaning the environment and producing healthier foods. It is now time that we insist that they take care of the jobs of our veterans.
By Ginny Estupinian
Previously in this blog I have talked about the importance of using all your contacts to network and help you in finding a job. As we discussed the power of the group comes from ability that a network has to leverage your reach in the community and thereby multiply your efforts.
Today, I would like to introduce another way that you can use the power of networking. For years now, many business groups have met once a month in cities around the country to share leads as well as ideas with each other. These networking groups are sometimes run by national companies such as Le Tips and Business International. Basically they meet once a week, to once a month for about two hours, and share ideas and leads with each other. A lot of the groups limit the number of people that can join and have yearly and monthly dues to belong. Despite the fees these groups are in demand. Why? Because the members get benefits and results from belonging. Business people that meet regularly are able to not only exchange leads, but also ideas and get encouragement. These meetings are also powerful because the members are all business owners. The fact is that one business owner can understand the success and frustration of another business owner.
So what does this have to do with veterans you may ask? Well, you can take this same idea and use it by forming your own veteran’s roundtable. This group does not have to be big and complicated, and can be as small as two or three veterans. The benefit of having a group made up of only veterans is that you would relate better to each other due to having the same backgrounds and similar experiences.
The purpose of this meeting could be to talk about issues, assisting each other in finding jobs, providing business leads and opportunities, and basically being a sounding board for each other. The meetings can be held at a local Starbucks, a restaurant or anywhere where you feel comfortable to host the meeting given the size of your group.
To set up the group simply pick a date every month that all the members agree to. This could be as simple as the second Tuesday of every month. Next choose a time that will work for everyone. For example, one of the business groups that I mentioned above meets in the early morning for breakfast and the other usually meets in the evening hours after the close of business. The bottom line is that it is totally up to you. The importance is that you keep it consistent each and every month.
After having the roundtable for a few months you will discover the power and importance that having this meeting will have on each of the members. Do not be surprise if the group continues to grow and more people want to join your group.
By Ginny Estupinian
Here are two current items that can be of help to veterans and their families.
Veterans Job Fair set to take place on April 10th at Heinz Field. This job fair is open to anyone with a military background, including National Guard and Reserve members and military spouses. This is a great opportunity to meet prospective employers and explore possibilities in a environment that understands the value that veterans can provide.
The CARE-LINE service in North Carolina NOW provides round the clock service in order to respond to the needs of veterans and their families.
Reach CARE-LINE 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 662-7030 (English or Spanish) or (877) 452-2514 (TTY). Additional information is online at http://www.nccarelink.gov.
