This can be an overwhelming, confusing and stressful period of time. The following tips and links are provided to assist you in taking care of yourself and family as well as navigating the system and getting the appropriate rehabilitation and care.

Tips for Caregivers

• Take care of your life. Do not let your loved one's brain injury take center stage. Love, Honor, and Value Yourself!
• Eat properly and get enough sleep to maintain your health.
• Get professional help for depression.
• Express your emotions. Cry, grieve, and release your feelings. You can't always "be strong" and hold it together.
• When people offer help, ACCEPT THE OFFER, suggesting specific things that take up your valuable time, ie; grocery shopping, laundry, repairs, cleaning the house, child care, helping to prepare meals, etc.
• Be as informed as possible. Write down questions prior to seeing your loved one's doctors or therapists. Write down the answers.
• Keep organized. Develop a filing system and carry a notebook.
• Assist your loved on with being as independent as possible. Be open to new technologies and ideas that promote independence.
• Grieve your losses. then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
• Caregiver Checklist for Family Members of Veterans.

The following links are provided as additional support in taking care of yourself and loved one.

• National Resource Directory ~ The Department of Defense launched this National Resource Directory, a collaborative effort between the departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. The directory is a Web-based network of care that includes resources for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them.
• Veteran Caregiver: Join this virtual community
• After Deployment: Wellness Resources for the Military Community
• The Real Warriors Campaign is an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families.
• afterdeployment.org offers a full array of information from Families with Kids to Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
• Centre for Neuro Skills: Veterans and TBI
• Caregiving 101
• Caregiver's Network
• Well Spouse Association: Support for Spousal Caregivers
• Positive Aging Resource Center: Support for Caregivers
• Tips to help family caregivers deal with the emotional and practical sides of caregiving
• Handbook for Long-Distance Caregivers
• The Stresses of Caregiving
• Caregiving and Depression
• Holding A Family Meeting
• Navigating the Health Care System: Talking with your Doctor
• Disabilities Rights Center ~ Veteran and Active Duty Military Personnel
• Compensation and Benefits Handbook for Service Personnel and Families by the Department of Defense
• DisabilityInfo.gov ~ Veterans and Military Community
• Soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)