A Blueprint for Action: Mapping the Future of Caregiving in a Changing World

The Innovation Expo is designed to connect military and veteran caregivers, service members, veterans, and their families with helpful resources and support. This expo brings together a variety of companies, organizations, and agencies who are at the forefront of developing new technologies, healthcare resources, educational support, and more. Attendees will have the chance to explore different programs, ask questions, and learn about these valuable tools. It’s also a great opportunity for the caregiver community to make new connections!

This panel brings together international veteran caregivers, alongside global caregiving experts and non-profit leaders, to explore the experiences of those who care for veterans and servicemembers across different cultures. Through a rich discussion of shared challenges, cultural differences, and innovative solutions, panelists will offer insights into the complex realities of caregiving in their regions. Attendees will gain a broader understanding of how caregiving is shaped by cultural, social, and systemic factors worldwide, and learn about global efforts to support those who care for those who served and how ideas from elsewhere could be adopted in the United States.

Caring for a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran is a profound act of love and sacrifice, but it can also come with significant emotional challenges. From navigating burnout to accessing mental health resources, caregivers often find themselves without the support they need to maintain their own well-being. According to the 2024 Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows RAND report, caregivers report significantly higher rates of perceived stress, depression, and suicide ideation, compared to non-caregivers. In this fireside chat, a Dole Caregiver Fellow will share firsthand experiences of the emotional toll of caregiving and the resources that supported her journey, while an industry expert will explore emerging solutions aimed at improving mental health support for caregivers and their families. To prepare for the afternoon “Deep Dive” sessions, attendees will gain insights into innovative programs and community-driven approaches that are helping caregivers manage stress, build resilience, and access the care they need to better care for themselves and their loved ones.

Economic stability can be a major challenge for military and veteran caregivers, many of whom sacrifice career advancement, financial security, and even employment itself to care for their loved ones. According to the 2024 Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows RAND report, 35% of military and veteran caregiving households live at or below 130% of the federal poverty line and pay an estimated $13,105 in combined annual out-of-pocket costs while, at the same time, providing as much as $400 billion annually in unpaid care to veterans. This fireside chat will bring together a Dole Caregiver Fellow and a leading expert in financial empowerment to discuss the barriers caregivers face and the solutions being developed to help them achieve economic stability. The discussion will cover topics such as financial assistance programs, flexible employment opportunities, retirement, and financial literacy and planning support. To prepare for the afternoon “Deep Dive” sessions, attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the economic challenges caregivers experience and actionable ideas for supporting their financial growth.

While much attention is rightfully given to adult caregivers, millions of kids, teens, and young adults are quietly taking on caregiving roles for wounded or ill service members and veterans in their families. According to the 2024 Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows RAND report, about 40% of military and veteran caregivers are also raising a child and these children are more likely to help with at least one caregiving task than children in civilian caregiver households. These young caregivers face unique challenges, from balancing school and caregiving responsibilities to coping with the emotional weight of their role. In this fireside chat, a Dole Caregiver Fellow who grew up as a “hidden helper” will share personal insights, while a leading international expert in military caregiving will discuss new initiatives aimed at better supporting young caregivers. To prepare for the afternoon “Deep Dive” sessions, we will explore strategies for integrating caregiving youth into support networks, improving their access to educational resources and addressing their mental and emotional needs.

Caregivers do not operate in isolation—they rely on a complex network of healthcare providers, social services, peer networks, and community organizations to care for their loved one. However, too often caregivers cannot find the resources they need. And, even when they do, these systems do not fully integrate caregivers into decision-making processes, leaving them without the resources they need to provide high-quality care. According to the 2024 Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows RAND report, more than three quarters of caregivers reported not having helpful or frequent communication with their veteran’s care providers. This session will feature a conversation between a Dole Caregiver Fellow and a thought leader in the healthcare industry. Together, they will examine how to build more inclusive, responsive care ecosystems that recognize and empower caregivers as critical members of their veterans’ healthcare teams. To prepare for the afternoon “Deep Dive” sessions, attendees will explore best practices for integrating caregivers into healthcare settings, expanding access to home- and community-based services, and fostering collaborations between medical professionals and caregiver support networks.

Military and veteran caregivers often carry the emotional weight of their role while struggling to access mental health support. Research and the real-world experience of caregivers across the nation tells us that existing support programs do not always adequately address the diverse needs of caregivers and/or are not easily identified, leaving too many without meaningful assistance. Following the morning session outlining the challenges and innovative ideas, this session will take a solutions-oriented approach, bringing together policy, non-profit, industry, research, and philanthropic leaders to develop targeted actions that can drive systemic improvements. Facilitators will guide participants through an interactive process, including scenario-based discussions and data-driven analysis to surface the most urgent barriers to mental healthcare and resources. Attendees will participate in a structured decision-making exercise, using live polling technology to collectively prioritize the most effective solutions. The session will drive toward the development of a clear, actionable roadmap that outlines immediate and long-term strategies to expand mental health access and create more personalized, navigable caregiver support programs.

For many caregivers, financial insecurity is an unavoidable reality. Workplace inflexibility, employment barriers, and financial planning limitations often force caregivers to make significant economic sacrifices to care for their loved ones. Following a morning session highlighting challenges and innovative ideas, this session will focus on identifying and advancing actionable strategies to expand financial literacy, planning, and support, improve related workplace policies to enhance employment viability, and create opportunities tailored to caregivers’ unique circumstances. Through facilitated discussions, participants will hear briefly from experts on financial support and planning models and the policies that can be effective in creating economic stability. Attendees will then engage in a facilitated problem-solving exercise to refine and prioritize key recommendations. Live digital polling will ensure that the most promising, most needed, and scalable solutions rise to the top, forming the foundation of a broader strategy that stakeholders across sectors can implement to improve economic outcomes for military and veteran caregivers.

Caregiving youth—kids, teens, and young adults who support injured or ill service members and veterans—often navigate their responsibilities without adequate recognition or resources. Families providing care face ongoing challenges, particularly when existing social services and educational systems are not set up to accommodate their unique needs. Following the morning session highlighting the value of and strain on these hidden helpers, this session will focus on generating concrete strategies to strengthen support networks for caregiving youth and ensure programs and policies align with their lived realities. Participants will be guided through a series of structured activities designed to identify gaps in current systems, highlight effective models of youth and family support, and propose scalable solutions. Small groups will engage in collaborative exercises to refine potential actions, which will then be ranked and prioritized using live polling.

A well-functioning care ecosystem ensures that military and veteran caregivers are fully integrated into healthcare decision-making, have access to quality home and community-based care, and benefit from research-driven policy and technology improvements. However, systemic barriers continue to limit caregivers’ ability to find, navigate, and engage with healthcare systems effectively. This session will focus on identifying practical strategies to strengthen VA services, expand and improve home and community-based care, and integrate caregivers into healthcare teams, both VA-based and not. Participants will take part in facilitated discussions featuring insights from healthcare leaders, researchers, and caregivers with firsthand experience in navigating care systems. Attendees will then collaborate in structured working groups to refine recommendations, identifying the most promising approaches for long-term impact. Through interactive ranking exercises using digital polling, the session will generate a prioritized set of recommendations that will be incorporated into a comprehensive action plan for improving caregiver and veteran support nationwide.