Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Sept. 24, 2024
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A Close Look at America's Military and Veteran Caregivers
In 2014, RAND released a landmark report that drew much-needed national attention to America's military and veteran caregivers--the "hidden heroes" who provide daily care to wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans. Today, a decade later, we've launched a major follow-up study to understand where progress has been made and where greater support could improve caregivers' lives.
The new report, commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, finds that there are now more than 14 million military and veteran caregivers in the United States. Their duties can range from helping their loved ones eat and walk, to managing their mental health symptoms and memory deficits, to administering medications and preparing meals. Caregivers may also provide transportation to medical appointments, pharmacies, and grocery stores.
"Care recipients benefit from the work these caregivers do, and caregivers benefit as well," says RAND's Rajeev Ramchand, the study's lead author. "But caregiving is not without its costs, both financial and emotional."
Although three-quarters of these caregivers care for individuals over age 60, the burden of caregiving appears to fall heaviest on those caring for people 60 and younger. In fact, more than 40 percent of these caregivers met criteria for probable depression. About one-third thought that they needed mental health care but don't receive it, mainly because they don't have the time. Further, 70 percent of these caregivers reported some difficulty paying bills, and 40 percent met criteria for food insecurity.
Among all military and veteran caregivers, individuals reported spending more than $8,500 out of pocket each year on delivering care and forgoing more than $4,000 in annual income. This may be one reason that one-third of these caregivers have incomes below 130 percent of the federal poverty level.
The report identifies several recommendations to help support military and veteran caregivers. These include increasing access to mental health and substance use treatment for caregivers and their children, expanding home health care, and promoting supportive work environments.
"Just as the report RAND conducted in 2014 guided the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's efforts for the last decade," says Steve Schwab, CEO of the foundation, "we will use the information RAND provided in this report to shape the nation's strategy for supporting military and veteran caregivers moving forward."
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** More on This Research
- This research brief covers nine ways to improve the health and well-being of military and veteran caregivers.
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- A second research brief explores what has changed since 2014 and what still needs to be done.
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- Our researchers also interviewed dozens of military and veteran caregivers to learn more about their experiences and share those insights in caregivers' own words.
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- Another publication focuses on the needs of those caring for individuals who served after 9/11; this group makes up about 10 percent of the country's military and veteran caregivers.
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- RAND's Carrie Farmer and Rajeev Ramchand discuss their inclusive approach to defining caregiving, which revealed that a staggering 105.6 million American adults serve as caregivers in some capacity. "It has led us to consider whether there really are caregivers and non-caregivers," they write, "or whether caregiving is something that everyone has done or will do at some point."
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- Finally, in a short Instagram video--the first in a three-part series this week--Ramchand discusses why it's important to learn more about the role of America's military and veteran caregivers. (The next two videos will focus on caregivers' challenges and what can be done to help them.)
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Immigration and Border Control Explained
The ongoing crisis at the U.S. southern border--and immigration more generally--is a top issue for Americans. To better understand these issues, we spoke to RAND researchers Shelly Culbertson and Elina Treyger. They discussed key aspects related to border control and immigration, including the surge of asylum-seekers, how U.S. refugee resettlement programs are working, and some of the major public misconceptions about immigration. Importantly, Treyger notes that migration "is a complex phenomenon that is shaped by many factors. These factors can be powerful, even if certain paths [to entering the United States] become more difficult."
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Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Forces in the Indo-Pacific
China's power and military capabilities have increased dramatically over the past two decades. The same is true of China's coercion toward Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific states. This highlights the importance of ensuring that the United States can rapidly respond in the event of a conflict. In a new report, RAND researchers explore this contingency, examining the opportunities and constraints that the U.S. military might face when operating from the territories of Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Their analysis includes recommendations for how to improve U.S. access and basing outcomes related to each ally.
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** RAND Recommends
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- RAND's Samuel Charap spoke to the Washington Post about how the United States and the West can counter Russian aggression without risking a wider war. "There are no good choices here," he said. A combination of deterrence and potential negotiations may be the best option.
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- Recent declines in social media transparency may blind researchers and the public to the ways that disinformation is being spread online, writes RAND's R. Gordon Rinderknecht.
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- What is "narrative pluralism"? And how can it help leaders communicate more effectively during times of crisis or change? RAND's Monika Cooper breaks it down.
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** Events
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Policy Lab: New Evidence for the Effects of U.S. Gun Policies
Thursday, September 26, 2024 (Online)
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What Happens to Veterans Who Leave the Military Under Other Than Honorable Conditions?
Thursday, September 26, 2024 (Online)
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All Elements of National Power: The Way Ahead for the Next National Defense Strategy
Thursday, September 26, 2024 (Washington, D.C., and Online)
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