Political and Social Impact of Heroes at Home

If the Heroes at Home Act were to pass, the objective would be to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to train caregivers of veterans suffering from TBI, and create increased awareness as to the symptoms of PTSD, TBI, and the services offered to veterans. Currently, the vast majority of this bill's political supporters are members of the Democratic Party, although the main sponsor happens to be a more liberal minded Republican.

Although the Department of Veteran Affairs will be responsible for the cost of training families, the passing of this bill will affect the government by reducing health care costs. If veterans with traumatic brain injury and/or PTSD are treated early on in the disease process, then the cost of complications secondary to the injury should decrease. In a study on mild traumatic brain injury in soldiers returning from Iraq, researchers found that 43.9% of soldiers surveyed met the criteria for PTSD after experiencing an injury while deployed. The study also found that soldiers who experienced mild TBI were more likely to report poor general health and missed work days than soldiers reporting other injuries (Hoge, et al). In addition, there may be a resulting reduction in the utilization of home care agencies if individuals with TBI and PTSD are able to regain the activities of daily living needed to function as independent members of society.