Orlando VA Healthcare System

Mearlene Filkins, Orlando VAMC Caregiver Support Coordinator, holds one of several care packages provided by Redbook Magazine and Operation Gratitude to thank Family Caregivers.

Family Caregivers, or those whom provide crucial support in caring for our Nation’s Veterans by allowing them to stay in the homes and surrounded by the loved ones they fought for - are among the unsung heroes of the VA. 

According to Mearlene Filkins, Orlando VAMC Caregiver Support Coordinator, family caregivers remain on duty to support Veterans in their recovery from injuries sustained in service long after the Veteran returns home. 

“Family caregivers provide invaluable service and assistance to their Veterans every day,” said Filkins, “including assistance with bathing, dressing, medication management, emotional support, transportation, reminders, and many other services.” 

“Unfortunately family caregivers can often feel invisible as they go about their day to day duties as the service happens quietly in the home,” she said.

So during November’s National Family Caregiver Month, Redbook magazine joined with Operation Gratitude and many other sponsors to turn the spotlight on the importance of family caregivers, and provide them a very public and heartfelt recognition.

Redbook, Operation Gratitude and a variety of vendors joined forces to provide 1,000 Care packages to Family Caregivers of Veterans throughout the country, making them available to random markets and VA clinics and hospitals. 

The packages came filled with goodies generously donation by Old Navy, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, The Pampered Chef, Bath & Body Works and many participating businesses.  Redbook subscribers were asked to make donations of cash to help defray the costs and encouraged to include messages of support that were captured on artistic cards provided by Paperculture.

Luckily, Orlando VAMC was one of the facilities selected to receive them.

“Orlando received about 150 care packages in early January,” said Filkins.  “As we have more than 200 approved Family Caregivers (those assisting Veterans who were severely injured after Sept. 11) we held a lottery that selected the recipients.”

Those selected either picked up the packages or had them shipped to their homes in mid-January 2013.  All selected recipients expressed immense gratitude for the recognition.

For more information about services for caregivers visit the VA Caregiver website at www.caregiver.va.gov or contact the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.