Passage of Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act Gives Hope to Wounded Warriors and Families

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) applauds today's Senate passage of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. This legislation will provide critical support services to the families who care for our nation's most severely wounded warriors.  The establishment of a strong caregiver assistance program was Wounded Warrior Project's highest legislative priority of both 2009 and 2010.

"Wounded warriors and their families can now have a greater sense of hope and security when it comes to their future," stated Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director Steven Nardizzi. "This measure will provide much needed supports – financial, emotional, health care, and respite – to family members who make enormous sacrifices to provide care to their severely injured loved ones within their homes and communities as opposed to in nursing homes or other institutional settings."

The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 reflects recognition of the physical, emotional, psychological and financial tolls taken on the families of our most seriously wounded warriors. The assistance that will be provided through the implementation of this program will enable a family caregiver to better withstand the daily challenges faced in caring for a severely injured veteran.    

In order to keep their loved ones out of nursing homes, many parents and spouses have given up their careers and depleted their resources in order to provide for the everyday needs and to ensure the safety of their wounded family member.  Congress has taken a landmark step in providing these families with help in meeting some of their own basic needs as they care for the needs of their wounded warrior. The creation of this coordinated program will reduce the very real risks that illness, financial stress, and psychological breakdown would make it impossible the family to sustain its caring effort.

"When Erik was shot through the skull by a sniper at age 21, we were told he would need to be in a nursing home for the rest of his life," said Christine Schei, who instead chose to care for her son at home. The Scheis have cared for Erik in their own home for more than four years since then, using up their life savings in the process. "This bill will enable me to continue the care we have provided to Erik and give us the emotional, physical and financial tools we need to remain strong for him.  With this assistance, we will be able put something aside as we get older to ensure Erik will always be cared for."

Wounded Warrior Project is especially grateful to Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) for their strong stewardship of this legislation throughout the process.

The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act was supported by a broad coalition of veterans and military service organizations and WWP was proud to work with groups like Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), National Military Families Association (NMFA) and Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) on bringing awareness to the need for passage.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.  Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project