Honoring Veterans with Dementia This Veterans Day
 As we commemorate Veterans Day on November 11th, we honor the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the men and women who have served our nation. Among these heroes are veterans living with dementia, whose stories, values, and sense of duty continue to shape their lives and inspire those around them. While dementia may affect memory, it does not erase a veteran’s identity, service, or spirit.
Honoring these individuals is both an act of gratitude and healing—a reminder that their legacy continues to live on through every salute, every story shared, and every moment of compassion shown.
The Importance of Celebrating Veterans with Dementia
Celebrating Veterans Day with older adults who have dementia helps foster emotional connection, dignity, and belonging. For many veterans, the values of service, loyalty, and pride remain deeply embedded in their sense of self—even when words or details fade.
1. Promotes Emotional Well-Being: Hearing familiar military songs, seeing their service photos, or touching their medals can trigger positive memories and feelings of comfort. These moments can reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and provide reassurance that their service is still valued.
2. Reinforces Identity and Dignity: Acknowledging a veteran’s military history reminds them that they are more than their diagnosis. It affirms their lifelong purpose and restores a sense of pride and self-worth that dementia can sometimes obscure.
3. Strengthens Family Bonds: Families often find it difficult to connect as dementia progresses. Veterans Day offers an opportunity to bridge that gap through shared remembrance—by displaying uniforms, telling stories, or participating in small, heartfelt ceremonies.
4. Encourages Reminiscence and Cognitive Stimulation: Talking about training days, friendships, or deployment experiences helps activate long-term memory and create moments of mental clarity. These conversations strengthen emotional engagement and can even help ease behavioral symptoms.
5. Builds Community Awareness and Unity: Honoring veterans living with dementia reminds our communities of the continued value and humanity of those with memory loss. Hosting events or joining local Veterans Day programs helps build inclusivity, compassion, and understanding.
Meaningful Ways to Celebrate:
- Create a memory display with photos, flags, or medals.
- Play patriotic or branch-specific music that connects to their service.
- Invite grandchildren to write letters of thanks or read poems.
- Share a favorite meal or dessert reminiscent of their service years.
- Hold a quiet reflection or blessing to honor their contribution.
Every expression of appreciation helps veterans feel seen, valued, and remembered.
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Resources for Veterans in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) provides vital programs and support for veterans and their families. DVS is organized into six main service areas:
- Benefits – Assistance with VA claims and entitlements.
- Veteran & Family Support – Behavioral health, housing, and family transition services.
- Veterans Care Centers – Long-term and skilled nursing care with dignity.
- Veterans Cemeteries – Dignified resting places for those who served.
- Virginia War Memorial – A living tribute to the sacrifices of Virginia’s heroes.
- To learn more, visit: www.dvs.virginia.gov
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Support Through RAFT Dementia Services
The RAFT Dementia Support Program meets with individuals and their families or caregivers in their homes, offering personalized education, training, and emotional support to help families successfully manage the challenges of dementia. Through these home visits, RAFT specialists teach essential skills for managing difficult behaviors, connecting to community resources, and developing proactive action plans to prevent crises before they occur.
 Nyrisha Hall (pictured above), one of the RAFT Dementia Support Specialists and a U.S. Army Veteran, is honored to assist veteran families in navigating both dementia care and veteran-related benefits. Drawing from her professional expertise and personal military experience, she helps families access meaningful support — from respite care and adult day programs to state and VA-based resources — ensuring that each veteran and their loved ones receive compassionate, coordinated care.
To make a referral to RAFT, visit: https://www.raftnorthernvirginia.org/Home
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This Veterans Day and Beyond
Let us take time to thank every veteran—not only for what they did, but for who they are. By celebrating veterans living with dementia, we honor their bravery, preserve their legacy, and remind them—and their families—that their service will never be forgotten.
“They may forget the battles they fought, but we will never forget the warriors they are.” - Author Unknown
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