When a family member returns home from active duty, you will of course be desperate to help them out however you can. However, it can be hard to know how you can support them without overstepping, or without presuming to know more about their situation than you do. A returning veteran will be going through a big adjustment so here are a few ideas to help you give them the support that they need.
Listen To What They Have To Say
You will never know exactly what a returning veteran went through during their service, even if you have served yourself, so simply being present and listening to what they are telling you is a great first step. Remember that they might not be ready to talk about absolutely everything and that providing a safe, calm environment for them to readjust will go a long way.
Help Them To Find Work
If you can offer a returning veteran family member work, then you will be providing them with a great first step on the career ladder. There are programs out there that help our military personnel find their career paths, sign up for apprenticeships, and develop the skills they need to pursue them. However, this can be a period of great uncertainty, especially with the world the way it is right now. If you are unable to provide them with a job yourself, think about what research you can to help them on their way, which brings us to our next point.
Find Them A Place To Live
Find out if they are eligible for a VA home loan to help them buy a new home. It can be a difficult adjustment going from an environment where everything is rigidly managed to civilian life, and the stress of looking for a place of their own, or a place for their family, is the kind of chaos they don’t need.
A VA home loan is set up to make things much easier, and providers who have worked with veterans before can get one set up just as quickly as a regular home loan. To find out how a VA home loan can help your family member, visit Hero Loan.
Research Potential Mental Health Challenges
Visit the VA website and other resources specifically set up to help veterans to learn about the potential issues that your family member might be facing when they return home. Of course, you should never make assumptions but any learning that you can do ahead of time will help you look out for any potential warning signs should they need some help.
These can range from the kind that need immediate assistance to more long-term readjustment techniques, and there are a wealth of resources and support systems in place to help veterans cope. The last year has taught us a lot about mental health and how we can all do more to help our friends and family, and you should remember that you don’t need to diagnose them, just offer support if they need it.
