Some former servicemen talk about their service all the time. Some haven't mentioned it in decades until they're next to someone from the same branch, and the stories start flowing. With Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, Senior Helpers knows this is a week to help with keeping senior veterans connected.
The Shorthand Veterans Share
Fellow vets share a shorthand, and the ranks, the long deployments, the jokes and the losses don't need explaining. For older former military personnel whose spouse has died or friends have moved, common ground can encourage them to leave the house.
Isolation often begins with small steps like giving up car keys or skipping gatherings. Over time, this leads to an empty calendar, negatively impacting mood, sleep, and health management. This is why keeping senior veterans connected is so vital for their overall well-being.
Posts, Chapters, and Reunions
Several national groups have local posts and chapters. The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars both have local posts; you can find the ones nearest you on their websites. Disabled American Veterans has local chapters too.
Membership rules differ. Some groups are open to anyone who served, while others depend on when or where a person served, so check with the post directly.
Unit reunions and branch associations can be a good fit as well. A Navy vet may light up at a ship reunion newsletter. At the same time, a Vietnam-era Army medic might prefer a small coffee group.
That First Walk Through the Door
Walking into a post for the first time can feel awkward. Offer to join. Call ahead to find out when there's a casual breakfast or meeting. Choose an event with food and no speeches, where your parent can sit with coffee and have people come to him.
Getting there is usually the biggest obstacle. If your dad in Randallstown or Reisterstown no longer drives at night, look for daytime events or line up a regular ride. Let him choose his level of involvement; some former military personnel want to attend every meeting, others just a call or the Veterans Day ceremony.
Staying in Touch Between Gatherings
Not every connection has to happen in person. When it comes to keeping senior veterans connected, a simple phone call with an old buddy keeps a friendship going when winter weather keeps people home. A group email from a unit association or a video call on a tablet by the sugar bowl. Staff at a nearby VA location can tell you about local veteran events, and the VA locator shows which ones are closest.
If low mood persists for weeks, consult a doctor. In a crisis, elderly military retirees and their families can call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
Keeping Senior Veterans Connected This November
A ride to the Thursday breakfast at the post is sometimes all that stands between an elderly military retiree and the people who get his jokes. Senior Helpers Central Maryland drives older veterans to post meetings, appointments, and community events, then keeps them company at home on the days in between. Families call on us in Pikesville, Owings Mills, Ellicott City, Randallstown, and Windsor Mill. Contact us and tell us about the vet in your family.