Caring for Families of Returning Soldiers

In another great example of organizations partnering to deliver care and services to our military service members and their families, Georgia Southwestern State University’s Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) – named for the former First Lady – has teamed with Johnson & Johnson to initiate a unique program designed to help families of returning soldiers cope with health issues such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical disability related to combat.

Echoing the Joining Forces vision to ensure veterans and military families have the opportunities, resources, and support they have earned, this program will address a great need in the lives and homes of veteran families. The Georgia Army National Guard is partnering with the RCI to assist in recruiting individuals caring for their veteran family members to implement an in-home, tailored, caregiver support plan. Other supportive partners include the Veterans Administration and the National Military Family Association.

Dr. Leisa Easom, executive director of the RCI said, “This project targets improving the utilization of problem-solving skills to lower depression, decrease health complaints, and reduce burden in the family caregiver. The National Guard and Reserve forces represent a significant portion of our deployed troops. Yet, once their job is finished, guard and reserve service members return to civilian life instead of a military base. This new partnership will help us better address the needs of our National Guard and Reserve forces, as well as their families.”