Key facts and
statistics from the
RAND Military
Caregivers Study
© RAND 2014
9% of U.S. adults are caregivers
16.9 million
civilian caregivers
4.4 million
Pre-9/11 military caregivers
1.1 million
Post-9/11 military caregivers
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
CAREGIVERS GIVING CARE
TO PEOPLE WHO SERVED
CAREGIVERS GIVING CARE
TO PEOPLE WHO SERVED
pre-9/11 differ from post-9/11
the child
caregiver is most commonly
the spouse
47%
percentage of caregivers employed
63%
71%
percentage of caregivers with a
support network
47%
11%
percentage of caregivers age 30
or younger
37%
RECIPIENTS
RECIPIENTS
36%
care recipients who have a behavioral
health condition
64%
30%
percentage of care recipients who
have a VA disability rating
58%
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
Services offered to military caregivers by organizations
identified by RAND
Social support
53
Helping hand
52
Education/training
37
Wellness activities
21
Patient advocacy
21
Mental health care
13
Respite care
9
Health care
4
Religious support
4
Financial stipend
3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Number of programs
Notes: A single organization’s programs may span multiple categories. Data collected in summer and fall 2013. “Helping
hand” includes direct support, such as loans, donations, legal guidance, housing support, or transportation assistance.
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
Medical conditions of care recipients in the United States
Traumatic brain injury
10%
10%
Hearing/vision problem
20%
Post-9/11
38%
Pre-9/11
57%
56%
Civilian
80%
75%
66%
Mobility-limiting disability
35%
Chronic condition
63%
6%
Neurological condition
Mental health/substance use
31%
29%
36%
33%
0%
77%
64%
20% 40% 60% 80%
% of care recipients
100%
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
Activities of daily living performed by caregivers
30%
35%
Getting into/out of chair
20%
Dressing
12%
15%
Toileting
7%
Dealing with incontinence/
diapers
Pre-9/11
29%
29%
Civilian
25%
19%
22%
Bathing
Post-9/11
43%
36%
19%
27%
10%
16%
20%
Eating
44%
Any ADL
0%
20%
54%
64%
40%
60%
80%
% of caregivers
100%
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
Instrumental activities of daily living performed by caregivers
39%
38%
47%
Administering meds/pills/injections
61%
56%
64%
52%
Managing finances
Grocery shopping
59%
Housework
44%
Preparing meals
14%
Arranging/supervising paid services
69%
76%
56%
44%
79%
Any IADL
0%
20%
Civilian
33%
36%
33%
Administering physical/medical therapies/
treatments
73%
74%
59%
66%
41%
39%
48%
Coordinating medical care/rehab services
Pre-9/11
67%
72%
40%
Transportation
Post-9/11
40%
60%
% of caregivers
80%
94%
96%
100%
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
Services provided by caregivers
75%
Post-9/11
64%
56% 57%
57%
48%
53%
Help with paperwork Help care recipient
remember
% of caregivers
49%
53%
Pre-9/11
Civilian
Help care recipient
cope with stressful
situations
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
32%
Health insurance status of caregivers
Post-9/11
28%
Pre-9/11
23%
Civilian
18%
12%
14%
No health insurance
No regular source of health
care
% of caregivers
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
38%
Depression status and mental health treatment
utilization of caregivers
37%
Post-9/11
34%
30%
Pre-9/11
Civilian
19%
20%
% meeting criteria for
probable depression
OF THOSE
% receiving mental
health treatment
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
% of caregivers utilizing resources, by program type
Post-9/11
Pre-9/11
Civilian
31%
29%
26%
27%
25%
22%
18%
28%
24%
25%
26%
22%
21%
20%
25%
14%
10%
8%
7%
3%
5%
7%
9%
* Direct support, such as loans, donations, legal guidance, housing support, or transportation assistance.
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
% of caregivers utilizing resources, by program sponsor
(post-9/11 caregivers)
VA programs
Military-sponsored programs
Private organizations/NGOs supporting
broader communities
34
9
56
Friends or family
35
92
Organized groups of caregivers
Churches or places of worship
20%
40%
25
8
66
0%
27
29
44
Wanted to use
Did not want
to use
30
24
45
Used
18
17
65
State/local government programs
22
16
54
Private organizations/NGOs supporting
military caregivers
16
11
73
60%
80%
100%
% of post-9/11 caregivers
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
% of caregivers utilizing resources, by program sponsor
(pre-9/11 caregivers)
VA programs
Military-sponsored programs
Private organizations/NGOs supporting
broader communities
Friends or family
Did not want
to use
59
21
18
4 8
87
Organized groups of caregivers
16
60
21
Churches or places of worship
12
44
0%
20%
Wanted to use
58
13
26
Used
18
17
65
State/local government programs
22
16
54
Private organizations/NGOs supporting
military caregivers
16
11
73
40%
60%
80%
2
100%
% of pre-9/11 caregivers
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
% of caregivers utilizing resources, by program sponsor
(civilian caregivers)
VA programs
Military-sponsored programs
Used
Private organizations/NGOs supporting
military caregivers
Wanted to use
State/local government programs
42
Private organizations/NGOs supporting
broader communities
33
48
10
44
2
Friends or family
46
89
Organized groups of caregivers
Churches or places of worship
12
45
0%
48
2
28
20%
40%
Did not want
to use
60%
41
80%
100%
% of civilian caregivers
Source: National survey of caregivers of adults in the U.S., with findings presented in Ramchand R, Tanielian T, et al.,
Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers, RAND Corporation, 2014 (available at www.rand.org/military-caregivers).
© RAND 2014
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE
The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through
research and analysis.
This electronic document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND
Corporation.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TRANSPORTATION
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
LAW AND BUSINESS
NATIONAL SECURITY
POPULATION AND AGING
PUBLIC SAFETY
Support RAND
Browse Reports & Bookstore
Make a charitable contribution
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
TERRORISM AND
HOMELAND SECURITY
For More Information
Visit RAND at www.rand.org
Explore the RAND Corporation
View document details
Presentation
RAND presentations may include briefings related to a body of RAND research, videos of congressional testimonies, and a multimedia presentation on a topic or RAND capability. All RAND presentations represent RAND’s commitment to quality and objectivity.
Limited Electronic Distribution Rights
This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND
intellectual property is provided for non-commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND electronic documents to a non-RAND website is prohibited. RAND
electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents
for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions.