Empowering Veterans and their families
Through my role at Sharecare, every day I have the honor of helping Veterans and their families access the in-home care and support they deserve. I’m especially proud of the growing body of research that validates and amplifies that work — including a recently published study in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.
Conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Geriatrics and Extended Care program in partnership with Duke University, the study evaluated work our home care team supported based on the Technology-Enabled Respite Homecare Model (TERHM), a VA pilot program built around one core idea: empowering Veterans and their caregivers through choice.
In addition to validating TERHM’s design as a promising model of care, the study demonstrated how technology and trust can work hand in hand to restore autonomy and improve quality of life. Using Sharecare’s home care service, Veterans were empowered to select, schedule, and manage their own caregivers, while the support of our team and platform ensured safety, compliance, and clinical oversight. And the results were remarkable.
Participants in the program experienced improved continuity of care, higher satisfaction among caregivers and families, and measurable reductions in avoidable hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Veterans who received consistent, relationship-based care showed stronger engagement in daily activities and greater emotional stability. Caregivers reported reduced burnout, improved confidence in providing care, and a stronger sense of personal meaning in their roles. Some key findings from the study include:
- 44% increase in Veterans receiving in-home care after enrollment
- Veterans rated their experience 8.6/10
- Caregivers rated their experience 8.0/10
- Caregivers earned on average $3.11 more per hour, improving financial stability and retention
- 81% of Veterans reported feeling more comfortable receiving care at home
- 0 safety incidents reported during the pilot
These outcomes reinforce that when Veterans have real choice in who provides their care, results improve across the board. Delivering measurable gains in access, satisfaction, and caregiver stability, the study offers a scalable home-care strategy; structured, self-directed models like TERHM can be integrated within existing systems to expand in-home capacity without compromising safety or quality.
Metrics aside, it’s the stories of Veterans and their families that remind me why this work matters most.
72% of the caregivers in the program were either family members or trusted friends – many who’ve spent years caring for the veterans in their lives. It’s inspiring to see people who continue to build their lives around caring for others and strengthening Veteran care. Beyond providing in-home support, the pilot models how to build a sustainable future of care that can address shortages by empowering caregivers to turn their experience into a career path, providing them with purposeful work and financial stability.
As a Veteran, social worker, and operations manager for Veteran programs, I’ve learned that service doesn’t end when you take off the uniform – it often takes a new form. The most recent reminder of this lesson was humbling. When a Veteran in the program passed away in June, his caregiver, also a Veteran, chose to continue working in home care by supporting a young Coast Guard Veteran and her mom. As one example of many during my time at Sharecare, I know it’s true that when we support Veterans and their caregivers with resources and programs, we are also creating an engaged and resilient care ecosystem.
As November marks National Veterans & Military Families Month, I’m proud of the strides we have made. The research shows that giving veterans control over their in-home care leads to greater access, higher satisfaction, safer outcomes, and a more stable, better-paid caregiving workforce.
Together, we’re committed to building a model of care worthy of those who’ve served.
