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For some time now, many veterans coming home from service have required at least some help, and oftentimes significant assistance. Fortunately, there has been a significant safety net in place, in the form of hundreds of thousands of care-giving professionals.

President Barack Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act into law in May 2010, with an eye toward helping more veterans to get assistance when they need it, according to a report from the Miami Herald. The good news is that the law seems to be working pretty well so far. The industry has seen more than 1.1 million Americans move into the care-giving profession in recent years, and of that group, about 1 in 5 work directly with veterans.

"This is the longest period of war in U.S. history," Steve Schwab, executive director of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which works to raise awareness and support for military caregivers, told the newspaper. "We are just beginning to learn all the ramifications of that, including what these caregivers are facing. Our national conversation needs to be about the long haul."

Through the bill, veterans of the most recent Middle East conflicts are given stipends when they need this type of care, ranging in value from $650 to $2,300 each month, the report said. More than 22,000 caregivers are eligible for visits. In South Florida alone, more than 300 people receive the stipends, in addition to having access to other benefits such as regular support sessions.

The more veterans can do to find out when they're eligible for such assistance, and what they can do to obtain it, the better off they're likely to be going forward. That could go a long way toward getting veterans whatever help they might need in their everyday lives.