There are 5.5 million military caregivers—spouses, family, and friends of wounded, ill, or injured Veterans and service members—providing $14 billion in uncompensated, voluntary care for their loved ones across the United States. These hidden heroes face great physical, emotional, and financial strain themselves, and too often have few options for healthcare support.
To address this urgent, national priority, Philips, in partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is raising awareness, facilitating collaborations, and developing solutions that make a significant impact on the lives of military caregivers and identify the gaps in access to better care.
Because real change happens at the local level, we are proud to play an active role in spearheading a growing network of more than 100 Hidden Heroes cities and local leaders committed to identifying long-lasting solutions for veterans and their caregivers.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s military caregivers; the spouses, parents, family members and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill or injured veterans. Learn more about the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and it's Hidden Heroes Campaign at hiddenheroes.org.
Since 2017, Philips has been proud to partner with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation through our support for the Hidden Heroes campaign, a multifaceted program bringing vital attention to the untold stories of military caregivers.
In an effort to better understand and provide support for our military and veteran caregivers, Philips has partnered with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Department of Veterans Affairs on a project to chart the milestones that military and veteran caregivers face throughout their journey. Together, our organizations have developed the first-ever print and digital version of the caregiver journey, outlining the typical stages, needs, and intervention points of this population. As caregiver needs and challenges are ever-changing, this map will evolve as we continue to pinpoint areas where support is needed most.
Our goal is for this map to be a widely embraced tool to develop critical support and resources for this underserved population that ultimately leads to better health outcomes for our caregivers and our veterans.
