From service to silence: The critical need for research on aging women Veterans' health

Canadian Veterans are an aging population, yet research that examines how women Veterans experience aging is limited. Given the need for high-quality evidence to inform health policy and practice, the lack of knowledge regarding aging women Veterans limits the ability to ensure that systems are designed to support this group as they age. This article discusses ways to support research capacity on aging women Veterans by drawing on insights from two existing bodies of research: civilian aging research and research on the health of women Veterans, primarily at mid-life. These two areas of scholarship offer insights that can support future research directed toward understanding the health and well-being of older women Veterans. The article submission builds on earlier calls for military and Veteran health researchers to adopt gendered and intersectional approaches that reflect the diverse realities of this population. Researchers, funders, and Veteran-serving organizations are urged to prioritize inclusive research that can inform policies and services designed to support the health and well-being of all women Veterans as they age.