7 Best Ways to Support a Veteran in Your Family
Family members often recognize the need to support veterans in their lives, but they may be unsure of the ways to provide that much-needed assistance. Whether a spouse, partner, child, parent, or sibling, individuals often grapple with uncertainty regarding what to say or do to alleviate the veteran's struggles. The challenges faced by the veteran are distinct from those encountered by the rest of the family, leading to a lack of experience in terms of effectively showing up for the person without inadvertently causing more frustration or emotional suffering. In this guide, we hope to address these uncertainties by sharing seven effective ways to support a veteran within your family.
Why Veterans Need Specialized Support
Veterans encounter challenges in receiving sufficient support due to factors such as:
Limited awareness of their specific needs
Stigma surrounding mental health
Complexity of transitioning to civilian life
Inadequate government resources
Bureaucratic hurdles in accessing health benefits
Limited social support networks
Societal attitudes
As community-led organizations invest in supplementing healthcare solutions, individual-level changes can also be made. A healthy, supportive family can make a world of difference when other modes of support are missing. When a veteran receives familial support in psychological and tangible ways, they tend to have a greater sense of self-efficacy, allowing them to make decisions and adopt behaviors that lead to healthy outcomes.
The Difficult Experience of Veteran Families
Supporting veterans can be challenging for family members when they lack a clear understanding of the unique needs and appropriate solutions for their loved ones. The military experience often involves exposure to traumatic events and a distinct culture that may be difficult for family members to fully comprehend. Veterans may face issues such as post-traumatic stress, reintegration challenges, and complex healthcare needs that require specific forms of support. The absence of awareness about these intricacies can result in feelings of helplessness or a lack of confidence in providing meaningful assistance or initiating supportive conversations.
Help Us Lighten the Load of Veterans and Their Families
Recognizing the gaps that family members of veterans often face in providing comprehensive support, our mission is to bridge these divides by offering access to affordable (or free) treatments with health and wellness practitioners. We invite you to make a financial investment in our organization so that together we can support our nation’s heroes.
By sending a monetary donation, you equip our team to fill critical gaps, ensuring that veterans receive the holistic care they deserve. Click the link below to donate today. Thank you for your thoughtful contribution!
7 Best Ways to Support a Veteran in Your Family
The way you show up in support of a veteran in your family will certainly be impacted by the relationship that has already been established before their military experience. Your ability to support this veteran will also depend on the depth of the trauma that has resulted from combat or non-combat stressors. With unique needs considered, here are seven ways to support this beloved veteran:
Understand the Veteran Experience
It is crucial to recognize the impact of military service on one’s health, family life, and self-perception. Do your best to appreciate the nuances of military culture and reintegration challenges, providing a patient and understanding environment for a smoother transition.
Foster Empathetic Communication
Empathetic communication is vital in supporting a veteran in your family. You can cultivate empathy by actively listening and demonstrating genuine concern for the veteran’s fears, desires, regrets, or challenges. When conversations are centered on trauma and triggers, approach with extra sensitivity.
Educate Yourself
Supporting a veteran in your family often begins with education. Beyond speaking empathetically with the veteran, invest in your own research about common challenges that veterans face (i.e. post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety). Learn about available resources and support networks, including veteran-specific programs, services, and nonprofit organizations.
Celebrate Milestones and Recognize Achievements
Celebrate military milestones and service anniversaries, expressing genuine gratitude and pride for the veteran’s contributions. This not only uplifts the veteran's spirits but strengthens familial bonds and acknowledges their invaluable role in safeguarding the nation.
Assist With Practical Needs
Regardless of the time that has passed since serving in the military, veterans often have needs that are difficult to meet on their own. You can alleviate some of this pressure by helping them find employment, healthcare, and personalized services in and out of the home.
Build a Strong Support Network
As you observe the veteran’s need for social support, encourage family and friends' involvement in their daily routines. You might also consider connecting them with a vetted holistic health provider through networks like Healing Can't Wait, ensuring personalized and trustworthy support.
Partner With Veteran-Focused Nonprofit Organizations
The direct support you provide a veteran in your family can be enhanced by partnering with veteran-focused nonprofit organizations. These groups offer specialized services, including access to health treatments and job placement assistance. Engaging with and donating money to these nonprofits not only expands the support network for your family member but also contributes to the broader mission of honoring those who have served.
What We Covered
Although some family members may find it difficult to effectively support a struggling veteran in their life, it’s important not to underestimate the power of small behaviors. If you’re unsure how to contribute to the veteran’s well-being, you can start here:
Understand the veteran experience
Foster empathetic communication
Educate yourself
Celebrate milestones and recognize achievements
Assist with practical needs
Build a strong support network
Partner with veteran-focused nonprofit organizations
As veterans receive more tangible support, they become more equipped to participate in healthier and happier versions of life than before. This, in turn, contributes to more thriving communities and family units throughout the nation.
Thank You for Giving!
Are you ready to take a stand against health inequity among veterans who have selflessly served our country? As we coordinate free and affordable health treatments for veterans and active duty members, we invite you to support us financially. With each monetary donation we receive, we become better equipped to vet holistic healers and wellness professionals who provide services that address the root causes of military professionals’ suffering. Within 2023 and early 2024, our growing fund will specifically be applied to building our San Diego network of healers, as well as our mobile app used for health treatment scheduling. Please see your donation options here.
Healing Can’t Wait is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Aspen Bentley, who has endured the loss of dear military soul family members, as well as her own health battles while deployed in Bahrain. Read Aspen’s story here.
