In the final analysis, the veteran is accompanied in his journey by family members. Families experience all of the years in the Canadian armed forces with the military members. Over the past 25 years, Canadian military families have also been operational. Without them, the armed forces could not have accomplished their missions. It is family members, either spouses, children or parents, who are the witnesses and often the natural caregivers of the person who is injured physically or psychologically.
Even in the case of members released without medical reasons, the impact of the transition to civilian life is also experienced by the family. The two can't be separated. The family becomes a component that has to be dealt with by Veterans Affairs. It can also be a tracking tool for veterans' health problems. There is also the whole financial aspect. Over a certain number of years, the spouse put her career on the back burner, and when the member transitions to civilian life and has to find another job, there is a financial impact.
All of these elements mean that family members have to have their own identity and have to be able to access services. Throughout their lives, these women and men, the spouses of the military, did not have their own identity and could not access necessary services. They have always been identified with the members of the armed forces, and the same thing applies to veterans. Their family members can only access services only through their military spouses. We cannot separate the two any longer.
I hope I answered your question.