The health and well-being of older Veterans in Canada: A scoping review.

Abstract

Introduction: This scoping review examines the health and well-being of older Canadian Veterans, a population facing distinct aging challenges shaped by military service.

Methods: Guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework, we searched peer-reviewed and grey literature across six databases and multiple Canadian government sources. Eligible sources included journal articles, reports, book chapters, and editorials addressing Canadian Veterans aged 55+ years and their physical, mental, or overall well-being. From 2,229 identified sources, 68 were included. Data extraction captured study characteristics, concepts, participant details, and main findings.

Results: Three themes were identified: 1) health and well-being across all Veteran ages, 2) interventions and programs, and 3) research specifically on older Veterans. Older Veterans experience higher rates of chronic physical conditions but often report greater social support and life satisfaction than younger Veterans. Mental health conditions, particularly PTSD, frequently co-occur with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Interventions exist but are rarely age-specific, limiting relevance for older adults. Research on older Veterans highlighted gaps in long-term care, dementia, caregiving, and experiences of equity-deserving sub-groups, including women, racialized, and LGBTQIA2S+ Veterans.

Discussion: Findings underscore the need for age-specific, intersectional research adopting a life course perspective to understand aging within military contexts. Future work should prioritize inclusion of older Veterans to guide tailored health services, caregiver supports, and long-term care strategies. Addressing these gaps is essential to promote equitable, evidence-informed support for Canada's growing population of older Veterans.