Veteran Best Practice: Working Well with Aged Veterans, War Widow(ers) and the DVA

An introduction to the Ageing Veteran, Health, cultural and special needs issues

Over sixty years have passed since the end of World War 11. For many ageing men and women veterans wartime experiences may impact on their health and wellbeing as they grow older and subsequently require emotional and physical supports to meet the potentially complex range of health and service support requirements.

Veterans are described as a special needs group. Older men and women veterans however are not easily identifiable by service and support providers as many do not necessarily talk or think about their past war experiences in relation to their health and wellbeing needs.

Currently on average World War 11 veterans are aged 86 years with 43%of males over the age of 85 years are in receipt of a DVA health card. It is estimated that 1/3 of older people over the age of 85 years and in receipt of the aged pension are DVA pensioners. Further, when compared to older people in general, a higher proportion of DVA clients continue to live in a community setting rather than in Residential Aged Care facility.

Health

Veterans are reported as having the potential higher rates of health risk factors due to: Lack of exercise, increased weight, smoking and alcohol consumption over a long period of time. In addition veterans are more likely to experience a short or long term illness, suffer from diseases of the digestive, nervous, circulatory or musculoskeletal systems, from arthritis and develop cancer.

The mental health needs of older veterans are also reported as significant with 40% of DVA clients receiving mental health treatment for disorders that include anxiety, PTSD, substance use disorders, substance use disorders - especially alcohol and depression.

Given that 67% of older DVA veterans report having physical health problem DVA data indicates that only half of veterans visit a GP and 30-40% seeks no treatment at all

This study will focus on describing the health and service use trajectories and predictors of outcomes of veterans that can be used to plan targeted services and programs. The study will also include a qualitative component that provide in depth data about the needs and aspirations of older veterans and their carers that can be used to inform service development. 

For further information please contact Susan Feldman (susan.feldman@monash.edu) or Colette Browning (colette.browning@monash.edu).