For Kelley Beck, Director of Clinical Programs – CareLinx & Veterans Health for CareLinx at Sharecare, the work of supporting Veterans through the Veteran Caregiving Program is personal. As both a Veteran and a military spouse, she's helping build a caregiving program she hopes will set the standard for the care she and her family may need one day.
When I think about the Veteran Caregiving Program at CareLinx by Sharecare, I come back to one simple idea: I want to build something I would want to use myself.
As an Air Force Veteran and the spouse of a Veteran, I understand the military community from multiple perspectives. I also bring years of clinical experience to this work, which has given me a deep appreciation for what Veterans need as they age and navigate healthcare challenges.
I followed my parents’ footsteps into military healthcare, joining the Air Force as a Registered Nurse in October 2010. I served as a nurse at Eglin Air Force Base before transitioning to civilian healthcare in 2014. I used my GI Bill benefits to earn my master’s degree to become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner before going on to earn a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. Later, while stationed in Germany as a military spouse, I volunteered more than 500 hours with the American Red Cross Family Practice Clinic, an experience that led to my work with the Exceptional Family Member Program and as a medical case manager where I gained firsthand insight into the challenges military families face when navigating complex healthcare needs.
Today, I bring those experiences together in my role as Director of Clinical Programs for CareLinx and Veterans Health.
Care that starts with the Veteran
Through our work with the VA Community Care Network, CareLinx by Sharecare helps Veterans access non-medical in-home caregiving support so they can remain safely in their homes and communities. Our Veteran Caregiving Program combines clinical oversight, individualized care plans, caregiver training, and connections to local resources, offering Veterans and their caregivers personalized support, care coordination, and assistance navigating both VA benefits and community resources.
One of the most meaningful features of the program is that it empowers Veterans to choose who provides their care, allowing them to hire someone they already know and trust to provide their care. Rather than relying solely on a caregiver from a national network, Veterans can select a family member, friend, neighbor, or another preferred caregiver. CareLinx trains, professionalizes and pays that individual to provide care.
The approach reflects an important reality: When someone needs help with daily
activities, having a familiar, trusted person in the home can make all the difference.
In fact, 85% of Veterans participating in the program choose someone they already know as their caregiver. Since the program launched in December 2023, CareLinx has paid more than $36 million to Veteran families, and more than 1.7 million hours of care have been delivered.
We’re also collaborating with PsychArmor to provide Veteran Ready training, helping our team better understand military culture and the experiences that shape Veterans’ lives. This knowledge strengthens our ability to support each Veteran with awareness, respect, and care.
Caregivers receive personalized guidance and individualized care plans, while dedicated Care Advisors help families navigate referrals and connect with additional resources. Care plans look beyond personal care to address needs such as food access, transportation, financial concerns, and home safety. Veterans may also be connected with resources for home modifications that help them remain independent.
For me, the care plan is at the heart of the program. It helps caregivers recognize changing needs, respond appropriately, and document important events. Recently, I received an alert from a caregiver who documented a Veteran’s fall and the medical attention the caregiver coordinated to address the Veteran’s injuries. That documentation helped ensure the incident received attention and the Veteran got the care he needed.
Making caregiving sustainable
The option to pay a preferred caregiver also recognizes the significant demands placed on family members. Many people leave their jobs or reduce their hours to care for someone they love. Compensation can help make that commitment more sustainable.
One family member who became a paid caregiver shared:
“Because of this care, I can stay home with my husband during palliative care instead of taking a job outside the home. It’s given me peace of mind and the ability to focus on being there for him.”
With an aging population and a growing national shortage of caregivers, finding practical ways to support Veterans and the people who care for them is increasingly important. I see this program as an opportunity to serve a population that deserves quality care while recognizing the people who make that care possible.
My goal is to keep building a Veteran-centered program that is easy to use, responsive to individual needs, and connected to the broader resources available through the VA and local communities.
I think about the Veterans who need support today, but I also think about the future. My husband and I are both Veterans. One day, we may need the very services we are helping develop. That makes this work personal. I want to know that the program we build is one we would feel confident using ourselves.
This Veterans Day, I’m reminded that honoring service means more than recognizing what Veterans have given. It means making sure they receive the care, respect, and support they deserve—today and in the years ahead.
Thank you to CareLinx by Sharecare for joining our mission to provide free education and resources to Veterans, service members, caregivers, and military families nationwide. We are honored to have them as part of our grateful nation and proud to stand alongside them in service to those who served. Learn more at sharecare.com.