Caregiver SOS: Help for working family caregivers of Veterans
Official title: Caregiver SOS: An Intervention for Employed Caregivers
Funded at Philadelphia VA Medical Center · NIH-11363722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A support program that helps employed family caregivers of Veterans manage work and caregiving stress so they can stay healthier and keep their jobs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Philadelphia VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 30, 2024 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX002824-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11363722 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are unpaid, employed family or friend caregivers of Veterans—especially those caring for Veterans with depression, PTSD, anxiety, or traumatic brain injury—who are struggling to balance work and caregiving.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not employed caregivers, who do not care for Veterans, or whose primary needs are medical treatments rather than work-related support may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
As an employed family caregiver for a Veteran, this project offers a structured support program called Caregiver SOS that teaches practical skills to balance work and caregiving. The program likely combines counseling, problem-solving strategies, care coordination, and workplace planning delivered by VA staff and may include telehealth sessions. Researchers measure outcomes like caregiver stress, mental health, job stability, and the Veteran's care quality before and after the program. The aim is to improve caregiver wellbeing and the care Veterans receive.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could reduce caregiver stress, help caregivers keep their jobs and benefits, and improve the quality of care for Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous caregiver support programs have shown promising but mixed benefits for reducing stress and improving wellbeing, while interventions specifically focused on employed caregivers of Veterans are less common.
Where this research is happening
-
Philadelphia VA Medical Center
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Helstrom, Amy W — Philadelphia VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Helstrom, Amy W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Support for employed caregivers of Veterans
This project offers help to working family caregivers of Veterans to reduce stress and better balance jobs and caregiving.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.