The Veteran Family Guide

Clear, practical support for families navigating PTSD and chronic illness while caring for an aging veteran

I’m Dr. Julie Von—NYC clinician, author, and educator. I write and teach about how combat trauma and untreated PTSD ripple through the nervous system, the household, and long-term family health—especially as parents age and chronic illness enters the picture.

Start Here Resources

If you’re caring for an aging veteran while navigating PTSD and chronic illness, these are high-quality starting points:

    •    VA Caregiver Support — caregiver coordinators, programs, and guidance

    •    PCAFC (Family Caregiver Program) — eligibility and caregiver support options

    •    Find a VA-accredited representative / VSO — help with claims and benefits navigation

    •    National Center for PTSD (Families & Friends) — education designed for loved ones

    •    Eldercare Locator — local respite and aging services

    •    Caregiver Action Network — peer support and caregiver education

    •    Family Caregiver Alliance — care strategies and caregiver wellbeing

Note: I’m an educator and clinician. I’m not acting as a VA claims representative unless explicitly stated. For benefits claims, work with a VA-accredited representative or VSO.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE

    • PTSD-aware caregiving: what helps when the nervous system stays on high alert

    • Chronic illness + aging: how to reduce overwhelm when care becomes long-haul

    • Family impact: how untreated PTSD affects spouses, partners, and children—emotionally and physically

    • Nervous system tools: grounded practices for caregivers living in hypervigilance and burnout

    • Advocacy that’s usable: what to track, what to ask, and how to get support without collapsing

My Dad's War Journals