Heroes Who Beat the Odds 

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=2,516,324)

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 Veteran Combat VeteranPeacetime Veteran

Risks of War Physical 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 War WWII  Noise  Radiation  Hiroshima  Cold Injury  Skin Cancers/Frost bites  Mustard Gas  Occupational Hazard Korean War  Cold Injury  Noise  Occupational Hazards

Effects of War Vietnam 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 

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 

The End