Connecting, Competing and Healing: Veterans Restore Independence through Adaptive Sports

GAINESVILLE ‒ Veterans recently gathered at Lake Wauburg's north shore in Micanopy for a day of aquatic sports designed to boost their independence, well-being, and quality of life. Organized by the Adaptive Sports Program (ASP) of the Veterans Health System (NF/SG-VHS), the event offered paddle boarding, kayaking, pedal boating, and canoeing. These activities aim to enhance cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength, underscoring the program’s commitment to improving physical and mental health among Veterans with a disability or a senior Veteran age 55 or older.

The North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SG-VHS) offers countless programs to Veterans throughout North Florida and South Georgia, including ASP. The ASP hosted the sports day where Veterans were able to take part in paddle boarding, kayaking, pedal boating, and canoeing, June 12, 2024. These activities were designed to increase cardiovascular endurance as well as strengthen lower and upper body muscles.

The ASP partners with the NF/SG-VHS Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), which helps fund multi-day clinics for Veterans 55 and older to introduce them to various sports for a week at various locations. As more and more Veterans have learned about the ASP, as many as 25 Veterans have gone on to compete in the Golden Age Games while participating and training in the weekly events that NF/SG-VHS hosts in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Lake City and Gainesville.

“We have found that our Veterans that are receiving this benefit of adaptive sports, recreation and leisure vastly improved their quality of life,” said Katie Blunk, the Adaptive Sports Coordinator for NF/SG-VHS. “And to really demonstrate to the Veteran that they don’t ever have to say that ‘they can’t do something’ when it comes to their physical well-being, we will show them exactly how they can.”

The encouragement of competing and realizing they can participate in these activities is a true testament that Veterans of all ages are able to defy any of their limitations. Through ASP activities, Veterans have improved their individual health, physical wellness, teamwork, empowered leadership, improved self-confidence, and camaraderie.

One such Veteran, Erich Brockmoeller, a former U.S. Marine Corps non-commissioned officer, expressed that he was turned onto the ASP after experiencing a self-isolation phase in life. Participating in the program has helped Erich realize he was not alone. There are many Veterans just like Brockmoeller, and he encourages all disabled Veterans to take part and experience the rewards of the program.

“The connections I made have been monumental, not to mention the physical and mental health of being involved in the adaptive sports program,” said Brockmoeller. “Go one time! Give it a try. One time has turned into more times and now I go multiple times a week.”

An additional benefit of the ASP has been creating or inventing adaptive sports equipment for Veterans to utilize in order to return to their favorite sport. Specialized rehabilitation events have been created with an aim to optimize Veterans’ independence, community engagement, well-being, and quality of life. The programs are built on clinical expertise within the VA, with essential support from Veteran Service Organizations, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and community partners.

Grant programs for ASP are essential for the program. Through these grant programs, various organizations have come together to increase and expand the quantity and quality of sustainable adaptive sports activities that Veterans can participate in to treat mental health, physical injuries, and sustain a healthy lifestyle.

“Adaptive sports in general strives to remove barriers to allow Veterans to engage in activities that bring well-being on physical, mental, and spiritual levels,” said Dr. Carmen Fernandez, the Associate Director for the GRECC at NF/SG-VHS. “The GRECC promotes advances in geriatric care, and we are fortunate to be here to assist the ASP in this endeavor.”

The Veterans participating in the activities all had a great experience enhancing their physical fitness and connecting with their fellow Veterans. The NF/SG-VHS ASP and GRECC staff ensured their day was filled with world-class health care, physical and mental motivation, safety, and camaraderie that these Veterans value and hold dear.

The next multi-day Adaptive Sports Clinic with the GRECC is scheduled for Sept. 17-20, 2024. Veterans with a disability or who are 55 and older should request their primary care provider to place a consult for adaptive sports to receive an application for participation. The deadline for applying is Aug. 16, 2024.

For more information on the Adaptive Sports Program, visit Adaptive Sports | VA North Florida/South Georgia Health Care | Veterans Affairs or VA National Veterans Sports Programs.

For more information on the NF/SG-VHS, visit VA North Florida/South Georgia Health Care | Veterans Affairs.

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