Caregivers on the Homefront: Arts-based Programing to Support Military and Veteran Caregivers

Operating between 2016 and 2024, Caregivers on the Homefront’s mission was to support caregivers of United States veterans and first responders in Kansas City, Missouri, and beyond. Their goal was to instill hope, a sense of togetherness, and a firm foundation of resiliency through art workshops and retreats for military and veteran caregivers and their families. Caregivers on the Homefront* received a Creative Forces® Community Engagement grant for their Art on the Homefront program in 2022 and 2023.

What follows are the personal stories of two caregivers—Shawn Moore and Michael Bowles— whose caregiving journeys were shaped by the healing power of art, the strength found in community, and personal resilience. 

*Since receiving their Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants, Caregivers on the Homefront became part of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

The Art of Care

Shawn Moore

Shawn Moore, a former Kansas City police officer, founded Caregivers on the Homefront in 2017 after becoming a full-time caregiver to her husband, Bryan Moore, a 23-year veteran in the U.S. Army with seven tours in Afghanistan. Although he had no visible wounds, Bryan lived with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, and anxiety.

Being both a police officer and caregiver proved impossible for Shawn, as Bryan’s condition required constant caregiving. In 2019, she knew she needed to leave her six-year career with the Kansas City police department and pause her psychology degree to care for Bryan and keep him safe.

“Leaving the job was tough—it was a big part of who I was, and it felt like losing my independence,” Shawn explained. “But it was necessary.” The turning point came after Bryan attempted suicide. “The aftermath of someone you love attempting suicide means walking on eggshells every day,” she said. This experience showed Shawn the unique challenges of caregiving for a veteran with invisible wounds.

“I am not sure that caregiving will ever be easy all of the time, but it can be better when you find a tribe of like-minded individuals who understand what you are going through,” she explained.

Through the programs she created at Caregivers on the Homefront, Shawn found solace, strength, and resiliency. She eventually became an Elizabeth Dole Fellow and finished a master’s in social work. Shawn credited the resources she helped create through Caregivers on the Homefront for helping her on her journey. Through her program, she connected to healing and enriched the lives of many others in the large, overlooked population of military and veteran caregivers.

Michael Bowles

Michael Bowles had never known a role beyond caregiving. As the oldest of seven in a single-parent household, he had been one all his life. Bowles is a U.S. Army veteran, and, at 42 yearsold, became a full-time caregiver to his wife—a U.S. Army veteran with traumatic brain and spinal injuries—and their teenage daughter with learning disabilities.

Bowles grew up moving around frequently to different military bases. The oldest child of a teen mom, his parents divorced when his mother was only 19. Since his mother struggled with mental illness, Bowles had to step into a caregiving role at a young age. By age six or seven, he was already caring for his younger siblings.

He learned to compartmentalize. If something needed doing, he’d get it done. His siblings recognized that and relied on him. By age ten, he told his mom that the only mistake he made was doing the job right the first time, because it became expected of him every time. “That pressure was always 

there, and it created a distance between me and my siblings.”

The restorative weekend retreats organized by Caregivers on the Homefront allowed Bowles to focus on himself for the first time. Though initially unsure about being one of the few male participants, he became involved when Shawn Moore reached out to him personally.

“I was apprehensive at first, wondering how I would fit in as one of the few men, but when I opened up, I realized I was just like the others,” he explained. “It’s been a powerful experience, and it’s helped me understand that I need to take care of myself, too.”

Bowles believed in the impact of restorative healing. He could focus on self-care when attending Caregivers on the Homefront retreats, knowing his wife was well-cared for. He was able to center himself through creative activities like leatherworking and writing poetry. These art-based experiences helped him release bottled-up emotions and take his mind off the day-to-day struggles of caregiving.

Healing through art and community

Caregivers on the Homefront retreats and workshops went beyond simple respite care. They gave caregivers access to the transformative power of the arts and a community of peers. Their retreats combined mindfulness, meditation, and artistic activities to address serious issues like caregiver burden, secondary PTSD, and isolation. Participants discovered their inner strengths through mask-making, journaling, and other creative pursuits, and learned sustainable self-care practices.

The arts offered a way to connect with others, relieve stress, and create something beautiful. Through various art forms, caregivers discovered new ways to express complex feelings that might be difficult to put into words. Local art teachers guided participants through different creative techniques, ensuring everyone could find a form of creative expression that resonated with them. The conversations and connections that developed during these creative pursuits provided essential support for caregivers who often felt Invisible and unsupported.

“What I have learned in this short but seemingly long journey is that you cannot do this alone,” said Shawn Moore. “A caregiver never knows what the day may bring. Having a sound support system gives you the courage and strength to keep moving forward. Even if it is one day at a time.”

In Memory of Bryan A. Moore
1970—2024

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