Veterans & Their Caregivers: A
GlimpseTasi Faith C. Taitano
University of Hawaii, at Manoa
Heroes Who Beat the Odds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJUFbFh7Dx8
Who is a Veteran?Veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
(USC : Title 38, Veterans Benefits)
Veterans are men and women who have served (even for a short time), but are not currently serving, on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard, or who served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.
(United States Census Bureau)
Active Duty and
Ready Reserve
Personnel (N=2,516,3
24)
Total Force Family Status(N=2,228,348)
Periods of War World War I: June 28, 1914 – November 11,
1918 (Last WWI Veteran died in 3/2011)
World War II: December 07, 1941 – December 31, 1946
Korean War: June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955 Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 (1961 for
Veterans who served “in country” before 1964) – May 7, 1975
Gulf War : August 02, 1990 – Date to be set Global War on Terror (OEF/OIF/OND)
Types of VeteranCombat Veteran Peacetime
Veteran
Risks of WarPhysica
l Psycho-Social
Psychological
Toxins Sleep
Deprivation Noise Injury Temperature Diet No Luxury
Trauma Combat Non-Combat
MST
Deprivation Separation
from the norm
PTSD/Anxiety
Family Disruption
Social Impairments
Financial Challenges
Unemployment
Effects of WarWWII
Noise Radiation
Hiroshima
Cold Injury Skin Cancers/Frost
bites
Mustard Gas Occupational Hazard
Korean War Cold Injury Noise Occupational
Hazards
Effects of WarVietnam War
Noise Hepatitis C Occupational Hazard Agent Orange
Exposure Prostate Cancer Parkinson’s Disease Hodgkin’s Disease
Gulf War Heat/ Sand/Dust
Particles Depleted Uranium Chemical Agent
Resistant Coating (chemical to resist corrosion)
Chemical Weapons Infectious Disease
Malaria
Elderly Veterans Kimbrell et al., (2011) reports that PTSD is more
prevalent in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans than it are in Korean and WWII veterans.
For older males the three prominent health conditions are “hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary heart disease, which together were present in 37% of men.” (Steinman, et al., 2012).
For older female veterans, “the most common combination was hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and arthritis, which co-occurred in 25% of women.” (Steinman, et al., 2012).
Veterans suffer more frequently from Traumatic Brain Injury (29%), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Diabetes (28%), and paralysis or Spinal Cord Injury (20%).
About Damn Time
for Our Vietnam Veterans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp0LYc4IHnY
Caregivers• 43.5 million caregivers for
person 50+ years of age.
• 5.5 million care for veterans from all eras.
• 70% of veteran caregivers are their spouses.
• 66% of caregivers are females.
Their Responsibilities
Shopping Food preparation Housekeeping Laundry Transportation Medication
Management
Feeding Dressing Grooming Walking/
Transferring Bathing Toileting/Diaper
Changing
Caregiver Struggles Role confusion
Mom/Spouse Child Friend Nurse
Expectations Expect health improvements or for the veteran to help
themselves Frustration
Lack of money Skills to effectively plan, manage, and organize their loved
one's care. Formal assistance
Veterans Benefits & eligibility requirements
Signs of Caregiver Burnout
Isolation/Withdrawal from friends & family Lose Sleep Effects of PTSD/Dementia/Medical
Conditions Belittlement
Neglecting their own health Getting sick more often
Signs of Caregiver Burnout
Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
Feeling blue, irritable, hopeless, and helpless Changes in appetite, weight, or both Feelings of wanting to hurt yourself or the
person for whom you are caring Emotional and physical exhaustion
Caring for the Caregiver
Self Care Practices Reconnect/Build informal & formal support
systems Learn about your loved ones medical
conditions Keep all of your healthcare appointments Eat & stay hydrated daily Take breaks in between the day Find activities you love
Reading/Writing/Sewing/Dancing
ACCEPT HELP
Caring at the Homefront
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV0pWd7x5YM
The End
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