Ageing veterans, more health issues
Australia’s ageing war veterans are suffering a higher rate of chronic disease than the general community, the RSL claims. The RSL alleges veterans are more likely to develop cancer, arthritis, chronic airways disease, and “risk factors are also high for the development of Alzheimer’s”.
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Australia’s ageing war veterans are suffering a higher rate of chronic disease than the general community, the RSL claims.
The RSL alleges veterans are more likely than the general population to develop cancer, arthritis, chronic airways disease, and “risk factors are also high for the development of Alzheimer’s”.
“Many veterans have multiple co-morbidities with the number increasing incrementally with age,” the RSL tells AAP.
“More than a quarter of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ treatment population have mental health illnesses, about half of which are accepted as being (the result of) military services. Mental health problems include insomnia, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.”
The RSL is calling for improved and specialist palliative care services and access for veterans in a submission to a federal government inquiry. With 75% of veterans aged over 65 years, and 57% aged over 80 years, and up to 20,000 passing away every year, the RSL says there is a “glaring need” for better palliative care.
“To provide the best possible quality palliative or end-of-life care, there has to be an understanding of the life of the veteran. For many veterans and their dependents, wartime experiences have impacted on their life’s journey.”
Professor Sandy McFarlane, head of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies at Adelaide University, says research from World War I and II veterans shows a pattern of earlier onset of a range of chronic diseases and younger deaths than the general population.
“One of the things we often forget if you have had horrific exposures to death as a soldier, your own impending death can become a particularly difficult and painful time. It will bring back memories of the death of colleagues.”
Professor McFarlane said younger veterans’ health needs should not be overlooked, with thousands of veterans from conflicts in the Middle East and East Timor.
