Demographics and Burden on Caregivers of Seriously Wounded,Ill,and Injured Service Members

Abstract

The media is replete with stories about the impact on families when they drastically alter their lives to provide care to a service member who is seriously wounded, ill, or injured (WII), though few studies have systematically examined these impacts. Using a 2008 survey of seriously WII service members, the authors found that 27% of caregivers provided an average of more than 40 hr of care per week, 64% of caregivers have provided care for more than a year, and 50% expected they may need to provide care over the long term. The probit and ordered probit results show that significant others (such as a spouse, fiancée, or girlfriend) bear a greater caregiving burden in both intensity and duration compared to other caregivers. The results also show that duration of caregiving for Reserve Component service members is greater than for Active Component service members.