Temecula Man Picked For National Military Caregiving Fellowship

TEMECULA, CA — A Temecula local who has long cared for his brother, who is an army veteran, is one of just 20 people nationwide selected for a prestigious fellowship.

G. R. Zuniga's brother, Doc Ziggy, a retired SSG who served in the 101st Airborne as a combat medic, after 9/11, now suffers from PTSD, epilepsy and multiple traumatic brain injuries.

Later this month, Zuniga will travel to Washington, D.C., to begin his two-year fellowship as part of the 2025 Class of Dole Caregiver Fellows.

Zuniga says he’s faced many barriers as a caregiver and had to set aside his consulting practice to dedicate his time to his brother.

"The biggest challenges have been financial. Setting aside my consulting practice to be a full-time caregiver has been difficult. Taking on odd jobs and projects does not provide consistent income," he said.

"Navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs system is also a challenge. When the resource becomes the roadblock, I find myself stressed and demoralized, all while I continue to honor my commitment to my brother and his choice to heal."

Later this month, Zuniga will be able to share these experiences with elected officials, some of whom represent Southwest Riverside County.

Twenty fellows across the nation will serve as advocates for 14.3 million Americans caring for wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans, according to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

This new round of fellows will be the first since the release of a study by the foundation, which revealed a threefold increase in the number of military and veteran caregivers in the U.S. Veteran caregivers nationwide now total around 14.3 million, the study found.

“Our Fellows are our first line of support and connection to the millions of loved ones caring for someone who served, and their insights, perspectives, and experiences enrich the programs and services we provide to caregivers, veterans, and their families,” Steve Schwab, CEO of the foundation, said in a statement.

Zuniga says caregiving is the most demanding role he has ever taken on, but he has found ways to cope.
"Exercise, meditation, journaling my daily lessons learned, reading, and listening to music," he said.

"Optimizing my body and mind for this journey has allowed me to cope through the tough moments and recognize where I can become a better version of me."

But the most important lesson?

"I have learned that I can lead with empathy. My kids say that I’ve gone soft in my old age. I maintain I’ve leveled up through my caregiver experience," he said.