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Aging Vietnam War Veterans

Angie Oh, MSW intern GSWEC -VA. Aging Vietnam War Veterans. Agenda. Purpose Methods Summary of interviews Practical advice. Purpose. Most Vietnam Veterans are over 60 years old and make up almost 10% of their generation. Part of the baby boomer population

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Aging Vietnam War Veterans

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  1. Angie Oh, MSW intern GSWEC -VA Aging Vietnam War Veterans

  2. Agenda • Purpose • Methods • Summary of interviews • Practical advice

  3. Purpose • Most Vietnam Veterans are over 60 years old and make up almost 10% of their generation. • Part of the baby boomer population • Current and future geriatric social workers should be educated on the aging Vietnam veteran population because they will most likely encounter them in their work. • Some knowledge and cultural competency in this area can help foster healthy client-worker relationships

  4. Disclaimers • Whenever we learn about cultural competency, we should have cultural humility • The purpose of this is not to foster any existing stereotypes about Vietnam veterans • This presentation does not represent the official opinions of the VA or Vet Center

  5. Methods • In-person and telephone interviews with • 6 clinicians from the VA and 4 clinicians from the Vet Center • 6 social workers, 3 psychologists and 1 psychiatrist • Average length of years worked with veterans: 13.8 years • Chosen through a combination of snowball and convenience sample • Four open-ended questions were asked • This PowerPoint presentation was made

  6. 4 Questions that were asked • 1. How are Vietnam veterans different from other veterans? • 2. How have Vietnam veterans changed as they aged? • 3. What are some common issues and themes you see in your sessions with aging Vietnam veterans? • 4. What advice would you give to geriatric social work students when working with this population?

  7. Main themes from interviews… • Cultural upheaval and unstable homeland • Uniqueness of the Vietnam War • How they were treated when they got back • Agent Orange • PTSD • Family life

  8. Cultural loss and upheaval in the 60’s • Loss of important political figures • John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X • Large social movements • Women’s movement, Civil Rights Movement, etc. • Unstable homeland • Counterculture, number of traditional families were decreasing, etc. • “Go to jail or go to Vietnam” • How do these things affect their aging process?

  9. Uniqueness of the Vietnam War • Long • Undeclared • Political • High-casualty • Most unpopular war • No closure; unresolved feelings • First televised war • How do these things affect their aging process?

  10. How they were treated when they got back • People hated the war and hated the soldiers • Called “baby killers” • Spat at and yelled at • Poor treatment from the VA • Led to the formation of the Vet Center • There were a lot of jobs-went to work right away • How do these things affect their aging process?

  11. Agent Orange • Many Vietnam veterans were exposed to Agent Orange (20 million gallons sprayed) • Paranoia • About the government • Did the government know about the harm it could cause? • About their health • Agent Orange is connected to Type II Diabetes, cancer, heart problems, etc. • “When will be my last day” • How do these things affect their aging process?

  12. PTSD • More Vietnam veterans are seeking treatment for PTSD at the VA and Vet Center • Delayed onset • More outreach from VA/Vet Center • Compensation • Retirement • How do these things affect their aging process?

  13. Family life • Boundary problems with families • Children & grandchildren are living with them • Veterans feel guilty about the times they were not available or good to their families in the past • Life review • Some children are taking advantage of this • Caregiving responsibilities • Taking care of their grandchildren • Taking care of their elderly parents • How do these things affect their aging process?

  14. Practical advice • Each veterans’ experience is unique; learn from them. They are the expert. • Educate yourself about general history/geography of the Vietnam War • If you don’t know something, ask them. Don’t pretend you know something • Allow extra time to build a relationship and get information (institutional transference) • Learn key principles of how to work with veterans in general

  15. Help them feel valuable and honor them for their service. Respect them. • Find creative ways to help them realize their strengths • Do not take things personally • Use military concepts in psychoeducation • Do not be judgmental and beware of stereotyping • Be aware of survivors guilt

  16. THANK YOU!

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