Aging Veterans in the State of Alabama

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study identifies specific target areas (health, healthcare, home stability, food stability, and caregiving status) for serving middle-aged and older military veterans in Alabama.

Methods

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) conducted a survey of Alabama military veterans (n = 556) in 2018 related to health issues, healthcare utilization, home stability, food stability, and caregiving status.

Results

The most prevalent health issue among Alabama veterans was high blood pressure (55.36%), followed by diabetes (30.88%), heart disease (16.49%), and cancer (14.27%). Results showed that 11.06% of veterans used mental health services in the last 12 months. While less than 5% of veterans reported hunger risk, 20.09% of veterans experienced housing instability in the last 12 months, and 9.94% of veterans reported being a caregiver.

Discussion

Veteran support organizations could help the veteran population by addressing health, healthcare, home and food stability, and caregiving issues. Implications and suggested interventions are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregiver
• health
• housing
• rural
• veteran

Author Note

All correspondence regarding this manuscript should be directed to Dr David L. Albright at 670 Magnolia Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL. 35401. Phone: [phone]. Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer

The views expressed within this study are not a reflection of the University of Alabama or the American Association of Retired Persons.

Disclosure Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the University of Alabama’s Institutional Review Board.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by AARP of Alabama.