Older adults play vital, positive roles in our communities as family members, friends, mentors, volunteers, civic leaders, members of the workforce and more. This May, VA recognizes Older Americans Month as we celebrate their contributions and we recommit ourselves to serving older Veterans.
This year’s theme, Powered by Connection, focuses on the impact that meaningful connections have on the health of older Americans.
Community engagement is essential in a person’s mental health, and their physical and emotional well-being. Together we need to recognize the role we all play to mitigate issues of loneliness and promote healthy aging for more older adults.
How can you help?
- Connect older adults with local services.
- Promote recreational programs, virtual events and more opportunities for older adults to engage in.
- Remain involved and contribute to your community through work, volunteer and/or civic participation opportunities.
- Share information about mental, physical and emotional VA health care benefits.
Communities benefit when people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are welcomed, included and supported. VA recognizes the need to create a community that provides the right support services older Veterans need to thrive and live independently.
Explore VA’s services available to help you get Powered by Connection.
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Army Veteran Denis Velez donated a painting of his VA hospital as a way of giving back for his treatment there.
As a veteran myself I want to bring in nurse coaching to the VA. I am a board certified Holistic Rn and Nurse Coach. I partner with clients and offer 1:1 and/or group coaching and the transitions are just amazing. As a holistic nurse I understand the mind, body, spirit connection and a young veteran I am on a mission to change healthcare from the inside out.
i have seen clients go from burnt out and over life to finding joy back in their life.
Clients not enjoying exercise to posting pictures of her bird watching and working out and posting it on social media. Just amazing results. And when one thing changes its like a domino effect.
Stay happy and healthy!
I will be 81 next month. I am angry to see negative comments regarding VA health care in this thread. VA, except for some difficulty in getting appointments, has always taken excellent care of me and made my life better. Over the years I have found all VA care givers to be dedicated, well qualified and very helpful. Thank you for YOUR service.
Wholeheartedly agree with your comment James, they do great work and are incredibly friendly and helpful.
I’m not only a patient I use to work at a VA and o never saw any of this. But I agree that those civilian employees are only there for their own benefit. Few practice true patient care or care about the veteran patients.
Ha ha ha,,,another VA joke
Is this free and am I able to get this
If you receive primary care at the VA, ask your PACT provider to enter a Recreational Therapy and/or Whole Health consult to learn more about what is available for Rec Therapy and groups in your area. This is a good place to start. Also, many communities have low cost or no cost programs for seniors. Check to see if there is a council on aging in your city or town, they will have information on programs. Even many local libraries have information. AARP is another place you can check for information. The article is a bit vague but that is partly because every VA has different programs available, as does every community.
I would like to know more about programs and activities.
When did they start this because I am 76 and I did not feel that I received this type of care.
That all sounds great, but how does one do that if your spouse is showing sings of Alzheimer’s and can’t be left alone, and your 54 year old autistic daughter depends on you for most everything?
It is unfortunate that a lot of this promotion info is untrue and simply ” government propaganda. My Med Record and others I know of tell a different story. The VA has many doctors and nurses that are there to collect a paycheck. At the higher level you people write all that but do not actually know what is done on the level of care.