Many seniors may have lost a parent, sibling, friend, classmate or even a child in the line of duty. For them, it’s a time for reflection, gratitude and an opportunity to take the time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

“It’s important to remember that Memorial Day is specifically meant to honor Veterans who have died, especially those who died while in military service,” says Dr. Julie Strassman, Bethesda Hospice Care Manager of Support Services. “This is different from Veterans Day, which honors all who have served in the Armed Forces.”

Dr. Strassman details the following ways to observe Memorial Day with senior veterans or your senior loved one:

1. Enjoy a parade

Many area communities will host a Memorial Day parade. Grab a portable chair and a cooler with a couple of cool drinks to set up along the route and watch the participants march by with your senior loved one. Check out this list of local St. Louis area parades and ceremonies appropriate for the whole family.

2. Bring flowers

Take them to the grave of a loved one to decorate it with flowers, a flag or a commemorative wreath.

3. Talk about it

Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone who may be missing friends or loved ones is to listen as they share stories. Listening to your senior loved one speak about life during wartime or asking them to share their favorite memories of fellow comrades, family members or friends who died in the line of duty may really aid their observance – and yours.

4. Safe at home

If your senior loved one isn’t up to a trip across town, bring the observation to them. Go to their residence to watch a Memorial Day ceremony on television. One option is the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS, beginning at 7 pm CST, live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The event is a 30-year tradition which honors servicemen and women by performing uplifting musical numbers and sharing inspiring, real-life stories and moving tributes. Instead of decorating the grave of a fallen family member, light a candle in their memory. You can also honor those who have fallen by recognizing a moment of silence. Bring your senior friend or family member a poppy flower, a symbol of remembrance, to pin to their lapel.

5. Dress it up

Put together a patriotic outfit of red, white, and blue for your senior loved one. If they served in the military, make sure they have an outfit that signifies their branch of service or their veteran status. While Memorial Day is for those who have been lost, it can help veterans feel close to their lost comrades to honor their time serving together.

6. Fly the flag

Help your senior loved one observe Memorial Day by having your own flag ceremony. Remember, it’s traditional to fly the American flag at half-staff until noon in remembrance of those who died while defending their country and then to raise it up to full height the rest of the day in recognition of the fact that our country remains because of them and their heroic efforts.

Making the Day Meaningful

The options are practically limitless when honoring senior veterans. But it’s important to share the planning process with our senior loved ones to ensure that their emotional needs are met on the occasion. Present them with some options but ask them what their priorities are and how you can help them have a meaningful Memorial Day.

While Memorial Day is a solemn occasion, that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be a sad day. It can be emotionally uplifting for our senior loved ones to know people who are important to them haven’t been forgotten. It’s also a great time to get together with friends and family, something essential to keeping them from feeling isolated, lonely, and depressed. The long holiday weekend is a terrific opportunity for a family gathering to remind our seniors that they are important and loved.

No matter how you arrange for your senior loved one to observe the Memorial Day holiday, the most important thing is to spend the occasion together.

Explore more ideas for honoring our veterans and read their stories on Bethesda’s Veterans blog!

The post How to Honor Senior Veterans on Memorial Day first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

When did you serve and in what branch of the military?

The Air Force. I served 8 years and went in in February of ’62. I was 24.

Did you enlist on your own or were you drafted?

To keep from getting drafted, we had to enlist. We went to all the services and talked to the recruiters and decided that the Air Force was the best because we could get in and become officers relatively fast without having to go through ROTC. We went to officer training school, OTS, and I think it was 2 months.

Where did you spend most of your time?

I started out in Amarillo at Amarillo Air Force base in Texas. Then I went to Montgomery, Alabama and became a recruiting officer trying to recruit students from the University of Alabama, University of Georgia, and Florida.

How long were you a recruiting officer?

That was probably not much more than a year because I wanted to be a pilot. I was able to go to pilot training in Phoenix, Arizona. I didn’t make it through, so from there I went to McChord Air Force base in Washington. I had a son born in Texas, a daughter born in Alabama, a son born in the state of Washington and a son born in St. Louis. All my children were born in different states.

Are there any memories that stand out to you?

When I was recruiting, I met a college senior at the University of Alabama. He was in ROTC and they taught him how to fly. He says, “Do you want to go flying with me?” So, we went flying over the countryside of northern Alabama and he says, “Watch this.” Down below in a pasture were cows. He pushes in the fuel line and that made the plane slow down – you couldn’t hear it. And we come in behind the cows and when we got [close], he would pull it out and the engine would start with a bang. It was really loud and those cows, they just went in every direction!

What does it mean to you to be a Veteran?

It means that I did serve the country and I was willing to do most everything they wanted me to do. But it was enjoyable, I had a good time when I was in the service.

Is there anything you wish everyone understood about Veterans?

I wish they would not be so critical. There were different times in this country where if you were a military member, you were despised because you wore a uniform. And other times you were appreciated. I think the kids today have no concept of what it’s like to be regimented, I mean really regimented. If you don’t do what you’re told in the service, you’re in big trouble!

Read more resident stories on our blog!

The post Bethesda Veterans: Jerry Heltibrand first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

At 18 years old, Joann joined the U.S. Navy. Not only did she join the Navy, but as one of the first participants in the Naval Reserve’s WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) program, Joann was one of the first women in the nation to serve!

Joann was stationed at the Naval Air Station at Lambert Field, where she served as an Air Traffic Controller from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean War. She radioed all arriving and departing flights to gain clearance for Navy pilots flying into the base, and kept flight log books for pilots assigned to the Naval Air Station.

Despite being a woman in a male-dominated field, Joann never felt like she had something to prove. Her Navy experiences were wide ranging, and she learned many life lessons along the way. “Knowing the chain of command serves you well—it’s really important not only in the military but also in civilian life,” Joann says.

After the WAVES, Joann worked in a variety of fields, including accounting, engineering, homemaking and a 24-year career in education. She even ran for political office in the 1980s!

After her husband passed away, Joann looked ahead to her next chapter. Despite opposition from her children to move into an independent living community, Joann felt Bethesda Orchard was the perfect fit for her.

Joann moved to Bethesda Orchard in March 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. “The day after I moved in, they stopped allowing visitors,” Joann says. “I didn’t know anyone. It was a very strange situation. But I started meeting people, and it has worked out just fine—I love living here.”

Today, Joann enjoys hosting friends for Rummikub and using Bethesda Orchard’s exercise equipment. She is grateful for the beautiful views of downtown St. Louis from her balcony (“I can see the Arch!” she says), and for Bethesda Orchard’s Veterans group.

Read more resident stories on our blog!

The post Bethesda Veterans: Joann Folluo first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

When did you serve and in what branch of the military?

I was in the Marine Reserves from 1954 to 1962. I signed up for four years and they called me into the office and said, “By the way, Congress just passed a law, you’re in for eight.” So they stamped my papers and I was in for eight years.

Did you enlist on your own?

Oh, yes. When I started, I was 17. I started Reserves in Springfield, Missouri. I was at Drury College and they had a facility on the campus. I signed up there. This was a very quiet period between Korea and Vietnam.

Were there any challenges you faced leaving home?

No, I was ready. I was never homesick. When you’re ready, you’re ready, I guess. I guess for my mother it wasn’t quite as good. [laughs]

What were your main duties?

Training in case I needed to go. In 1962 was the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was getting out in November. I turned all of my equipment in and the sergeant there said, “By the way, you’re considered trained for two years. We’ll hold on to your equipment for you!” Fortunately, nothing happened.

What does it mean to you to be a Veteran?

Well, I think it’s important to serve the country, and as we can see from a lot of the incidents around the world, it’s a dangerous place. And you need to have a deterrent, and having a strong military is the best deterrent you can have.

Is there anything you wish everyone understood about Veterans?

Well, there’s so many people who have no experience with the military and sometimes they have some very biased views about what the military does, but I think it’s a matter of serving the country and serving the people that are here and protecting them.

Read more resident stories on our blog!

The post Bethesda Veterans: Al Cawns first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

When did you serve and in what branch of the military?

The Army from 1958 through ‘64. Two years active and four years reserve.

Did you enlist on your own or were you drafted?

Back then we were drafted. I was 24 and now I’m going on 89.

What were your thoughts when you got drafted?

I really didn’t want to go but I had to go. I was working for the Department of Defense before I went in. When I got to Germany, they gave me a desk job and for two years I was behind the desk and played baseball.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced?

I didn’t find out until years later that I was on a missile head casern. The Cold War was going on, so they kept the rockets in one part of Germany and the missile heads in another part, and I was on the post where the missile heads were and didn’t know it because everything was top secret. And you know how I found out? They did a documentary on “60 Minutes” and I said, “Wow, that’s where I was stationed in Germany!” The biggest challenge was to find out I was actually involved in some type of war affair.

Are there any memories that stand out to you?

I was in Paris and got a chance to meet a St. Louis native, Josephine Baker. I was walking down the Champs-Élysées, and she was performing at this theatre. I said, “That’s Josephine Baker! She’s from St. Louis where I’m from!” I went in and got a chance to get her autograph. I never saw her perform in St. Louis, only in Paris. So that was a high point of my career.

What does it mean to you to be a Veteran?

The saying “All gave some and some gave all.” That’s how I look at my comrades. I’m most proud of serving my country because I did it in civilian life and in military life.

Is there anything you wish everyone understood about Veterans?

That when they say “thank you for your service” they really know what that means. That they really know the true meaning behind that statement.

Read more resident stories on our blog!

The post Bethesda Veterans: Erv Wilson first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Leslie Schaeffer explains five of most common and important benefits:

• Disability Compensation
• Veterans or Spousal Pension
• Aid and Attendance
• Veterans Administration (VA) Contract Facilities
• VA Survivors Pension 

Leslie is Bethesda Hospice Care’s Bereavement and Veterans Coordinator and Manager of Support Services team. In her work, she has assisted many Veterans and their families in navigating the VA benefits system.

VA benefits do not directly pay for assisted living or skilled nursing services. The Veteran and his or her spouse can, depending upon eligibility, receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs related to the Veteran’s care and support in these facilities.  

Disability Compensation 

This is a monthly monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service, a part of the Service Connected Disability Compensation. The compensation rate varies with the degree of disability. It is not subject to federal or state income tax, and income is not taken into account to be eligible. 

Eligibility:

Military service

• Active duty 90-day minimum
• 1 day during wartime*
• Honorably discharged

Medical

• A chronic illness or condition attributed to service
• Physician’s diagnosis and documentation 

Wartime Service Dates

• WWII: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
• Korea: June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
• Vietnam: August 2, 1964 to May 7, 1975
• Gulf War: August 2, 1990 (end date to be set by law)

The Service Connected Disability Compensation does not decrease Military Retirement Pay or take into account income. “This benefit also enables Veterans to sometimes qualify for many other benefits,” Leslie says. 

Veterans or Spousal Pension

VA pension benefits are paid to wartime Veterans who have limited or no income and who are age 65 older or – if under 65 – are permanently and totally disabled and meet the following criteria:

Honorably Discharged

Served at least 90 days of active military service, one day of which was during a war period. Note: after 9/7/1980, a Veteran must have served at least 24 months, or the full period for which they were ordered to active duty. (Service does not have to have occurred in a war zone). 

Countable family income must be below a yearly limit set by law. However, unreimbursed, out-of-pocket medical expenses may reduce countable income for VA purposes. Nursing home and assisted living costs are expenses that can be included.

Aid and Attendance 

Benefits are paid to a Veteran or spouse who requires the aid of another person to help them stay safe in their environment or is in need of a higher level of care, such as an assisted living or a skilled nursing facility. 

Veterans who need help with the activities of daily living (eating, bathing, dressing, etc.) may qualify for this benefit if they are already receiving Service Connected Disability Compensation or meet the criteria to apply. They may also qualify if their service-connected injuries have worsened to warrant the aid of another person, which is an additional monetary benefit to the Service Connected benefit.

Aid and Attendance provides for the Veteran who needs to pay for private duty services to help stay safe in the home. “This benefit is also paid to eligible Veterans or their spouses who require the aid of another person, or if they require a higher level of care like assisted living,” Leslie says. 

Also, if the Veteran experiences a non-service-connected decline in health and meets all pension requirements he or she may qualify. 

A surviving spouse of a Veteran living in a private assisted living facility may qualify for the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides reimbursement for services. 

Aid and Attendance is a tax-free lifetime benefit. 

VA Contract Facilities 

Veterans may be able to receive Community Nursing Home Care paid for through the VA if they meet eligibility criteria involving their service connected status, level of disability, and income. The Bethesda Dilworth community is one example of a community nursing home that has a current VA contract. 

VA Survivors Pension/Death Pension 

The VA Survivors Pension offers eligible dependents of deceased wartime veterans. Dependents can be an unmarried child or surviving spouse who has not re-married and have limited or no income. 

VA survivor benefits are tax exempt, and some compensation may be paid to a surviving spouse for costs associated with a disability or for help with activities of daily living.

Medical expenses can be added up and deducted from income to possibly qualify. 

Other Things to Consider

“I think the main point for older Veterans and their spouses and family members is to look for an organization that can help them identify which Veterans Administration (VA) benefits that are out there, which ones they may qualify for, and who can help them with the process of submitting claims,” Leslie says. 

‘We Honor Veterans’

One other consideration is the understanding and support Veterans and family members will receive at a senior living community. Organizations like Bethesda, who are part of the We Honor Veterans program, a national awareness campaign conducted by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in cooperation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, provide support for Veterans and understanding of the unique challenges they face as a result of their service. Monthly support groups meet with Veterans and their families, share stories, acknowledge the service of Veterans, and provide information on VA benefits. 

Visit Bethesda’s blog to find more resources for Veterans and their caregivers. 

The post Essential Items for Veterans Searching for Senior Living Communities first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

According to Leslie Schaeffer, Support Services Manager, Bereavement and Veterans Coordinator with Bethesda Hospice Care, aging combat Veterans describe hiding painful thoughts, emotions, and images in what they call a “mental lockbox.” “When they come back home from combat, they try to settle into a normal life of finding a job and raising a family,” Leslie says. “Often they don’t want to think about, much less talk about, their combat experiences.”

Then, she says, when the Veteran reaches retirement and life starts slowing down, some of these memories can start to resurface. “Some can integrate their war experience into their life through acceptance or finding some resolution for things that cannot be accepted,” Leslie says. “For others, it’s not so easy.”

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Amid the horrific memories of combat, one source of debilitating emotional pain is called moral injury, which results from performing an act in combat or failing to prevent an act that goes against the soldier’s personal values or ethics. “This can make a Veteran question his or her basic values and belief systems,” Leslie says.

Leslie also notes that military training emphasizes mental toughness and stoicism, meaning that soldiers don’t complain about or acknowledge emotional pain. Denying its existence doesn’t cause it to go away, and often will express itself in deep depression and anxiety called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

”PTSD changes how the brain processes and responds to information and events,” Leslie says. ”It can trigger nightmares, flashbacks, and feelings of constantly being on edge. This is taxing physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

There are many symptoms associated with PTSD, including:

• Feeling on edge all the time
• Repeated angry outbursts
• Nightmares and flashbacks of traumatic events
• Sleeplessness
• Feelings of guilt or shame
• Being easily startled
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Distancing oneself from others
• Difficulty focusing
• Fatigue
• Major weight changes
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Aggressive or reckless behavior
• Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs

The Stigma of Vietnam

Compounding the problem of PTSD for a Vietnam Veteran is the disrespectful way these Veterans were often received when returning home from the conflict.

“Many of these Veterans would change out of their uniforms before landing in the U.S. and leaving the airport,” Leslie says. “Some would deny that they had fought in Vietnam to avoid being questioned about or abused for their service. This heightened their sense that they couldn’t share what had happened to them in combat.”

The Importance of Knowing the Veteran’s History

The above context is important for professional counselors and therapists, as well as family members, to know when trying to help a Veteran with depression.

According to Leslie, medical professionals are now focusing on identifying Veterans who may need help by asking when and where they served in the military. “The vast majority of Veterans are not going to ask for help,” she says. “Therefore, we need to know something about the history and conditions of the conflict they fought in so we can draw them out. This enables us to find out much earlier if we need to start screening the Veteran for depression.”

Treatments for Depression in Veterans

Leslie says the best evidenced-based professional treatment for Veterans with severe depression is a combination of medications and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy that identifies the negative thoughts and beliefs a Veteran feels and then replaces them with positive, healthy thoughts, which in turn produce positive experiences and emotions.

The support of family members is crucial in treating depression in Veterans. “The family can provide a window of opportunity for their Veteran to talk about his or her experiences,” Leslie says. “Just ask them, ‘Is there anything you want to talk about? Anything troubling you about your time in service?’” She says the tone should be undemanding, and it should be clear that the Veteran has an accepting environment to share what he or she is feeling.

Leslie also encourages Veterans to talk to other Veterans, citing VFW and American Legion posts as good sources for sharing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, family members of Veterans can contact a local post of one of these organizations to discover what support is being offered while still providing for the safety and health of their Veteran loved one.

If you or your senior loved one need extra support, contact us to learn how our St. Louis-based senior care communities and in-home services are helping senior Veterans.

The post How to Help Veterans Suffering from Depression first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Little has changed in the past 4+ years, and the process of qualifying and applying for Veteran’s benefits can still be complex and time-consuming. A senior care manager—a professional versed in the medical, financial, and social needs of seniors—can be an invaluable aid in helping Veterans understand and work through the benefits process. Care managers can help Veterans take advantage of numerous benefits, outlined in our guide below.

Veteran’s Guide to Senior Living & Benefits

Service-Connected Disability Compensation

Service-Connected Disability Compensation is a monetary monthly benefit paid to Veterans disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during wartime and connected to active military services.

To be eligible, the Veteran has to have been on active duty a minimum of 90 days, one of which was during wartime, and have been honorably discharged.

The greater the disability, the larger the compensation. A Veteran’s income does not affect the benefit amount awarded. This benefit does not decrease military retirement pay.

Common service-connected disabilities include:

• Vision or hearing loss (hearing loss is often overlooked as a disability)
• Agent Orange exposure
• Respiratory problems
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Brain injury
• Skin conditions, including scarring or serious skin problems
• Heart or cardiovascular problems

When seeking care, Veterans and their families should look for organizations that have staff trained and experienced in addressing these needs, such as Bethesda’s senior living communities across the Greater St. Louis area.

VA Pension

A VA pension is paid to wartime Veterans who have limited or no income. The Veteran must be 65 or older, or if under age 65, they must be deemed permanently and totally disabled.

The Veteran must be honorably discharged, and they must have served at least 90 days of active military service with at least one day during wartime. (After 9/7/1980, the Veteran must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which the Veteran was called or ordered to active duty.)

The amount of family income is set annually by law. Those exceeding the maximum income may deduct their out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses, including medical insurance premiums, assisted living or private duty expenses, and copays for doctors’ offices. If their total expenses reduce their income under the limit, they may qualify.

Aid & Attendance

If a Veteran is in need of support from another person to assist them in the activities of daily living and to keep them safe in their environment, they may qualify for aid and attendance. Aid and attendance is an additional payment if they have met the qualifications for either the service-connected disability or the VA pension.

If the Veteran suffers from a decline for the same diagnosis of service-connected disability and they need to pay for private duty care to stay safe at home, they can submit a claim for increased compensation for this service. If they experience a non-service-connected decline in health and they meet all the VA pension requirements, they can also submit a claim.

Other Veteran Benefits

A death pension is paid to eligible dependents of deceased wartime Veterans. Dependents can be an unmarried child or surviving spouse who have limited or no income.

A benefit for burial expense is also available, as well as a host of services to aid senior Veterans and their families in planning for the future, obtaining loans and insurance, and finding local resources that provide care and information.

Information can be found at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

There are three different VA departments. Visit the Veterans Health Administration Department for medical information.

“We Honor Veterans” Program

“We Honor Veterans” is a national awareness campaign conducted by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Bethesda Hospice Care is one of just a few hospice organizations in the St. Louis area to have earned top-tier rating in the program.

As part of the program, training is provided to all hospice staff concerning the unique needs of Veteran patients.

Licensed social workers encourage discussions with Veterans about their experiences, screen for PTSD and provide appropriate interventions.

Other Senior Care Options for Veterans

Along with civilian senior communities, there are communities that cater to Veterans, sometimes exclusively, including:

• Veterans Affairs (VA) senior living communities
• Military-only retirement communities
• Senior living communities popular with the military because of their proximity to bases

For more information about skilled nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care check out the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Schedule a tour at a Bethesda senior living community near you or give us a call at 314-800-1911 to learn about the care and services that we provide for St. Louis Veterans.

The post A Veteran’s Guide to Senior Living first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

“At Bethesda, we love our Veterans and want to honor them in any way we can,” said

Leslie Schaeffer, Outreach Coordinator for Bethesda Hospice Care. “Vietnam Veterans never really got the “welcome home” they deserved after their service, so we want to give them the recognition they earned 50 years ago now.”

Welcoming Home Vietnam Veterans

About 50 people attended a Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home party, which was held at Bethesda Barclay House in Clayton, Mo. There, 23 men who served in the war were presented with commemorative lapel pins. Leslie said she hopes the event will become an annual occurrence.

“Bethesda Hospice Care currently has achieved Level 4 in the ‘We Honor Veterans” program through the National Palliative and Hospice Care Association,” Leslie says. “That program provides us the best practices in terms of education and training to be able to identify the unique needs of our Veteran patients. We’re continuously trying to acknowledge our Veterans for the service they provided and to thank them as much as possible. It’s never too late to give them a warm welcome home.”

Nick Ohlman, a Vietnam War veteran and a Bethesda Hospice Care Veteran volunteer, said the gesture was greatly appreciated by the Veterans in attendance.

“I really thought the event was well done,” Nick said. “Those of us who served in the Vietnam War came home all those years ago, and no one patted us on the back or said ‘welcome home.’ We went and served our country, just like our fathers and grandfathers did in World War I, World War II, and Korea. But even Veterans of those wars treated us differently. It really hurt, and I think, in addition to the terrible things they saw and endured during the war, they’ve been carrying around that pain for all of these years.”

In addition to the pinning ceremony, Veterans and guests were served a complimentary buffet-style breakfast with all the fixings.

Guest speakers included Angela Sipe, Executive Director of Opus Peace, who discussed “Soul Injury” and the physical and emotional trauma that Vietnam veterans have had to deal with over the years, and Gary Moore from the St. Louis Veterans Administration Office.

At the end of the event, some of the Veterans in attendance told Leslie with tears in their eyes that it was the first time anyone told them welcome home after the war.

“If we’re able to take away some of their pain by showing them our appreciation for what they did for our country, we’re glad to do that,” Leslie said.

For more Veteran stories like this, visit our blog.

The post “It’s Never Too Late for a Warm Welcome Home” as Bethesda Honors Vietnam Vets first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

In the wars that followed, terms like “shell shock,” “battle fatigue,” and “combat neurosis” were used to describe the mental and emotional costs of war for combat Veterans.

Today, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is a recognized condition that can persist for many years, and one to which senior adults are particularly susceptible.

Symptoms of PTSD

There are many symptoms associated with PTSD. Here are a few:

• Feeling on guard all the time
• Repeated angry outbursts
• Nightmares and flashbacks of traumatic events
• Sleeplessness
• Feelings of guilt or shame
• Being easily startled
• Loss of interest
• Distancing oneself from others
• Difficulty focusing
• Aggressive or reckless behavior

Trying to Cope

PTSD was not formally diagnosed until the 1980s, and effective treatments did not come along until the 1990s. Until then, many Veterans tried to cope with the pain caused by their horrific combat memories either by trying to ignore them, working long hours to distract themselves from thinking about them, isolating themselves, or self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

Symptoms often occur soon after trauma, but some Veterans do not experience the effects of PTSD until years later. The symptoms may be less severe and tend to be directly related to addressing the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of aging.

PTSD and Senior Veterans

Aging Veterans found that their additional spare time provided them with many opportunities to remember the events surrounding their trauma. In addition, the additional stress of aging—health concerns, loss of loved ones, financial worries, cognitive impairment— increased or re-awakened their PTSD symptoms.

Treatments to Manage PTSD

The predictor of PTSD symptom severity is often linked to the depth of the initial trauma. Some people recover from milder symptoms of PTSD on their own, but if symptoms persist beyond a month, treatment is recommended.

Treatments include psychotherapy and some of the same medications used for depression and anxiety. Psychotherapy sessions are led by a professional therapist. More details about PTSD treatments can be found at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD.

It is important for people with PTSD to receive the support of family and friends, and understand that their condition is not due to weakness or failure.

Exercise can ease physical tension. Volunteering can serve to occupy the mind and put senior veterans in touch with other people rather than allowing them to retreat into isolation.

PTSD is Not Just About Combat

PTSD is not confined to combat. In fact, it develops in approximately 1 in 3 people who have experienced other serious trauma, such as:

• Injury, especially falling*
• Diagnosis of a serious illness
• Personal assaults like robbery and sexual assault
• Car accidents
• Natural disasters
• Witnessing violent acts
• The death of a loved one

(*A study showed that out of 100 senior adults over age 65 who had a fall resulting in a hospital admission, 27 percent experienced symptoms of PTSD.)

Early treatment can improve physical as well as emotional health. Without resources and support to manage PTSD symptoms, older adults may find symptoms re-emerging or growing worse.

As the primary caregiver of a senior Veteran, you may need a helping hand. Bethesda provides care and services to seniors and their families across the St. Louis area, with special and unique consideration offered for Veterans. Contact us today to learn more.

The post Caring for Senior Veterans: How to Manage PTSD first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.