Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-25
Veterans Over so
Pose Huge.ProbIem
More Than 3 Million
In 20 Years to Need Aid
By Thomas R. Henry

Within the next 20 years there will
be more than million American war
veterans over 60, many already cast
aside by industry, more or less dis
abled by chronic illness, and probably
entitled to enter Veterans Admins
tration hospitals.
This diScouraging prospect was stress
ed in an exhibit before the American
Medical Association at Atlantic City.
Already the country has more than
100000 veterans over so and the num-
Der will increase every year.
AS things stand now, it was ex-
planned, a veteran in this age class
entering Government hospital usually
goes ION a one-way ticket" He is
given excellent routine care but little
so that he can expect to make his own
living.
After all he will be only one of
about million in the country at large
in the same Ak with American in
dustry, acting under false concepts,
unable or unwilling to make place
for him. The financial burden on the
country will be almost intolerable.
New Experiment Is Tried.
With this in view a far-reaching ex-
pertinent at rehabilitation of the men
over so is being carried out at the
Veterans Administration Center at Los
Angeles This was described in the
exhibit arranged by DR.. Bernard Daitz
of Veterans Administration headuarters
in Washington, and Dr. Karl Haase
of the California institution. It operates
on the theory that many of these
disabled men can be made lust as
valuable to industry as younger workers.
TITS only job Of teaching a man
to carry on with what he's got Left"
said DR.. Daitz. After all, the average
younger worker does not operate at
full efficiency on the job. There is a
lot OF reserve that can be called into
action. That is what we are trying to
do with these older men, and some of
the results have been very encouraging.
They become real assets to industry"
The major types of chronic illness
with advancing years are arthritis and
heart disease. Neither are completely
disabling with special training. An ar
thr1tic must be trained to a job where
he need not move around much and
heart victim to one where there Is not
undue exertion or excitement Most i'm
portant Of all is to slow down the course
Of the disease. which may be incurable,
so that man is able to work at least
part time.
Degree of Rehabilitation.
This involves special consideration Of
every case. A board of physicians first
passes on what degree of rehabilitation
Is possible and then a special program
Is started. Already there have been
cases where man who seemed con-
demned to a veterans hospital for the
rest Of his life has been returned to a
paying job within few weeks and has
functioned very well.
The problem is far greater following
the last war than it ever has been be-
fore and will be much greater still after
another war This is because medical
science is keeping persons with chronic
illnesses-and almost everybody over so
has something chronic the matter-alive
longer while industry has not solved the
problem of making use of the elderly.
Once convinced that he cannot earn
living any more, the average chronic
ally-ill veteran soon loses hope and am
hition. He settles down to routine Of
playing checkers with his hospital
cronies. Yet, DR.. Daitz and DR.. Haase
believe, the Los Angeles experiment has
shown that many veterans are willing
to make extraordinary efforts to reha-
bilitate themselves.
Depending on the success of this ex-
pertinent, it is proposed that similar
centers be established all over the
country.