Apr 01, 2014 04:22 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Caring for an elderly parent or grandparent is a difficult but common challenge faced by most people at some point in their lifetime. Caring for an injured war veteran can be just as difficult, and more common than you might think. A new study by RAND Corp., a non-profit research organization, tracked the number of Americans in such situations and other factors, Health.com reported.

Over one million Americans are currently caring for a veteran injured since the terrorist attacks in 2001, according to the report. Researchers also found that other types of caregivers, such as those looking out for an elderly parent or grandparent, are in better position to provide support. The type of person helping a recently injured veteran is usually younger, works outside the home, and more likely to have a patient with emotional issues.

"Caring for a loved one is a demanding and difficult task, often doubly so for caregivers who juggle these activities with caring for a family and the demands of a job," study co-leader Rajeev Ramchand, a senior behavioral scientist, said in the RAND news release. "These caregivers pay a price for their devotion."

Fellow study leader Terri Tanielian, senior social research analyst at RAND, pointed out that the challenges facing caregivers of injured military personnel will only grow as their patients get older.

"After more than a decade of war, the toll faced by the nation's caregivers who aid veterans and military members is large and can be expected to grow in the decades ahead," Tanielian said. "Until now, the needs of this group have been poorly understood."

Tanielian and Ramchand's hope their research will help military caregivers get the support they need.

"There is an acute shortage of efforts to provide services directly for military caregivers. There is a particular need for programs that focus on the younger caregivers who aid the newest veterans," Ramchand said.

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