Angie Oh, MSW intern
GSWEC -VA
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Purpose
Methods
Summary of interviews
Practical advice
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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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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
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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
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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
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Four open-ended questions were asked
This PowerPoint presentation was made
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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?
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Cultural upheaval and unstable homeland
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Uniqueness of the Vietnam War
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How they were treated when they got back
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Agent Orange
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PTSD
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Family life
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Loss of important political figures
 John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X
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Large social movements
 Women’s movement, Civil Rights Movement, etc.
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Unstable homeland
 Counterculture, number of traditional families were
decreasing, etc.
 “Go to jail or go to Vietnam”
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How do these things affect their aging process?
 Long
 Undeclared
 Political
 High-casualty
 Most unpopular war
 No closure; unresolved feelings
 First televised war
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How do these things affect their aging process?
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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
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There were a lot of jobs-went to work right
away
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How do these things affect their aging
process?
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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”
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How do these things affect their aging process?
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More Vietnam veterans are seeking
treatment for PTSD at the VA and Vet Center
 Delayed onset
 More outreach from VA/Vet Center
 Compensation
 Retirement
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How do these things affect their aging
process?
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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
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Caregiving responsibilities
 Taking care of their grandchildren
 Taking care of their elderly parents
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How do these things affect their aging process?
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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
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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