Lessons From Military Caregivers Amid Coronavirus

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Many Americans who went about daily life before the threat of COVID-19 may feel as if they have suddenly been thrust into a science fiction movie. But for caregivers, especially those who

tend to military service members and veterans, heightened anxiety, ambiguity and social distancing are all part of daily life.

In that respect, the present pandemic not only provides an opportunity for civilians to learn from the military-caregiver mindset but also offers them a chance to understand what combat

veterans and military families experience with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding their circumstances.

"Being a military caregiver or living with a loved one's deployment means living with the knowledge that we can't control the situation,” says Jennifer Mackinday, a program coordinator at

the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, spokesperson for the Wounded Warrior Project and caregiver for her brother, James, who was wounded in Iraq in 2005. “Military families have learned how to

embrace ambiguity and hold on to what we do know. We also understand that the one thing we can control is how we react and respond."

Add to that the fact that many wounded warriors are already in the heightened-risk category for contracting COVID-19, which puts everyone in the family on edge, especially when a member

brings home the common cold.

Injured veterans often undergo multiple surgeries or procedures and treatments that require frequent hospital or doctor visits. They understand what it's like to be constricted in the house,

and their caregivers are familiar with the need to be prepared for the unexpected or the sudden inability to leave the home.

"I approach everything as if it's a worst-case scenario, and my brother has lived the worst-case scenario,” says Mackinday. “Most combat vets, especially with hidden injuries like PTSD, have

been practicing social distancing for years."

When resources are scarce and fear and panic exist, past trauma related to the war may be triggered. “Our veterans feel more helpless when they can't get out there and protect everyone, not

just their families,” explains Melissa Comeau, a military caregiver, whose husband was injured in Iraq, and the author of Sleeping with the War. "There is a call to service that does not go

away with wounds, illness or injury. And this virus is an enemy that you cannot see or fight with a gun.”