Family Caregiver Curriculum

BACKGROUND

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2007 (NDAA), Section 744 established a 15-member panel to develop a curriculum to train family caregivers of service members and veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

Panel members were appointed by the Department of Defense (DoD) and White House Health and Human Services on 6 March 2008.  The members of the panel include: professionals from the DoD and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) specializing in TBI; family caregivers; and experts in the development of curricula.

DISTRIBUTION

The TBI Family Caregiver Curriculum (FCC) must be approved by the Defense Health Board in August, 2009 and will be available to the public in January 2010.  A link to the multimedia curriculum will be available from this site.

BENEFITS

The curriculum will offer consistent health information to caregivers and will provide them with tools for coping with the challenges of caregiving. The curriculum will be user-friendly, informative, accurate, and based on real-life needs and experiences. It will provide skill-development tools for self management, and for communicating with healthcare providers and other team members involved in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of the service member or veteran with TBI. 

MODULES

Module 1: Introduction to TBI

This module will provide general information about the structure and function of the brain and how a TBI can affect the way the brain functions. The focus of this module will be to help caregivers understand the changes they may see in an individual who has sustained a TBI.

Module 2: Understanding Effects of TBI and What You Can Do to Help

This module will consist of more detailed information describing the possible physical, cognitive, communication, behavioral and emotional effects that may result from a TBI.

It introduces the VA Polytrauma System of Care, the treatment team, the rehabilitation team, the caregiver’s role on the team, and how he/she can help support the service member/veteran during rehabilitation. Finally, it provides strategies for helping the service member/veteran with a moderate or sever TBI to manage his/her challenges and eventual return to duty or life in the community.

Module 3: Becoming a Family Caregiver for a Service Member/Veteran with TBI

This module will provide support and information for family caregivers of service members and veterans with TBI to help make caregiving easier. The module will focus on social support and self-care, and offer tips to help the caregiver get organized. The information contained will offer guidance in a number of areas including: Becoming an Advocate, Taking Care of Yourself, Addressing Family Issues, Planning for the Future, and Finding Meaning in Caregiving.

Module 4: Navigating DoD and VA Services and Benefits

This module intends to make the process of obtaining support easier for the caregiver by providing information on many of the services and benefits available to the service member/veteran and his/her family. It will explain commonly-used services and benefits, eligibility requirements, and the process for obtaining disability ratings from the DoD and the VA —an important key to obtaining many services and benefits—are established and what they mean for service members/veterans and their families.