Caring for a Veteran With PTSD: A Family Guide

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can affect anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. For many Veterans, especially those who served in combat zones, PTSD can be a lasting and deeply personal challenge. If you’re caring for a Veteran with PTSD, you play a vital role in their healing and well-being, and your support can make a profound difference.

Understand What PTSD Is (and Isn’t)

PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It’s a natural response to traumatic experiences, such as combat, injury, or witnessing loss. Symptoms can include:

• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Being easily startled
• Emotional numbness or detachment
• Irritability or angry outbursts
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating
• Avoiding reminders of trauma

When your Veteran loved one has PTSD, it affects the entire family. You may notice that they act differently and get angry easily. Your loved one may not want to do activities you once enjoyed together. Family members might feel angry about how PTSD is affecting family life or wonder if relationships will ever return to normal. These feelings are natural and expected.

Understanding that these symptoms are part of a medical condition—not personal behaviour or choices—can help you strive for empathy instead of frustration.

Getting Professional Help

Whether your Veteran just returned from a deployment or has been home for 40 years, it’s never too late to get help for PTSD.

PTSD is treatable, but it often requires professional support. Encourage your loved one to speak with a therapist or counselor who specializes in trauma or military mental health. Many Veterans qualify for care through VAC (www.veterans.gc.ca/en), which offers a range of treatments, including mental health assessments, proven medications, psychotherapy (“talk therapy”), family therapy, and group therapy.

Start with Veterans Affairs Canada’s Mental Health and Wellness resources at veterans.gc.ca, call or text the VAC Assistance Service anytime at 1-800-268-7708, or reach immediate crisis support across Canada by calling or texting 9-8-8.

Learn To Listen Without Judgment

Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply be there. Veterans may not always want to talk about what they’ve experienced, but when they do, it’s important to listen without interrupting or trying to ‘fix’ things. Create a safe, nonjudgmental space. Even if they aren’t ready to share, your presence matters.

Let them know you’re there for them and you’re not going to push them to talk, but that they don’t have to go through this alone.

Create a Calming Environment

Veterans with PTSD may be sensitive to loud noises, sudden changes, or crowded spaces. Consider:

• Keeping the home quiet and predictable
• Avoiding loud movies or startling sounds
• Giving them space when they seem overwhelmed
• Respecting their need for routines or downtime

Even small adjustments can help reduce stress and anxiety.

Improving Communication

Better communication can strengthen your relationship with your Veteran. Here are a few tips:

• Be clear and to the point.
• Be positive. Blame and negative talk won’t help the situation.
• Put your feelings into words. Your loved one may not know you are sad or frustrated unless you are clear about your feelings.
• Don’t give advice unless you are asked.

If communication remains difficult, consider seeking family therapy.

Taking Care of Yourself

Helping someone with PTSD can be hard on you. If you’re not careful, you may get sick yourself, become depressed, or burn out and stop helping your loved one.

Here are some ways to take care of yourself:

• Set healthy boundaries.
• Connect with a support group (such as VETS Canada at vetscanada.org/english/about, caregiver resources, or local Veteran family programs).
• Get enough sleep, exercise, and downtime.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Caring for someone with PTSD is a journey—and you deserve support, too.

Know the Warning Signs of a Crisis

If your loved one talks about feeling hopeless, harming themselves, or withdrawing completely from life, it’s essential to take action. Don’t wait. Call or text 9-8-8, or call 911 and mention that the person is a Veteran experiencing a mental health crisis.

Getting Started With VAC Services and Home Care

If you haven’t already, visit www.veterans.gc.ca/en for resources, self-assessment tools, and links to local services.

The Veterans Independence Program (“VIP Program”) is administered by Medavie Blue Cross on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). It helps eligible Veterans maintain their independence through services such as personal care, nursing, foot care, housekeeping, grounds maintenance, meal preparation and delivery, and transportation. Right at Home proudly offers home care through this program.

For more information, visit:

You can also read more about these programs and other government supports in our free Ways to Pay Guide.

Recovery is possible, but it takes time. Your patience, understanding, and support make a real difference in your Veteran’s healing journey.

All of us at Right at Home are deeply grateful for each Veteran’s service. If you have any questions about home care supports, both government and private, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, and we can put you in contact with your local Care Planner.

Why Right at Home?

• Over 20 years of experience. Right at Home has been providing award winning customized senior care and home care for over 20 years.
• YOUR Caregivers are all part of YOUR Care Team. This means that there is no revolving door of Personal Support Workers and Nurses. With the help of your Care Planner, you choose and get to know them. This leads to an level of care for your loved one that is unsurpassed in our industry.
• Working with government support. Your Care Planner will work to help you find the government supports you are eligible for (if you would like them) and then work to find a solution for the care needs that go above what government and family can do. We will also work around the government care plan so that we are enhancing it.

We help in home, wherever home is to you.

Our Caregivers are always out in the community visiting homes, Retirement Residences, Long Term Care (LTC), hospices and hospitals.