Rockland County Calls for Expanded Services For Veterans Suffering Early-Onset Dementia

Rockland County is standing behind veterans with a call for expanded federal and state services for men and women suffering the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries linked to modern warfare – including a growing wave of early-onset dementia among veterans of the first Gulf War era.

The Rockland County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution urging the United States Congress, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and New York State officials to increase funding for research, treatment, and long-term care for veterans exposed to blast-related injuries during military service, including exposure to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during conflicts such as Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. The measure is supported by the County Executive.

Medical research has increasingly linked repetitive blast exposure and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of early-onset dementia.

“These brave men and women answered our nation’s call and faced dangers many of us cannot imagine,” Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said. “As we learn more about the long-term impact of blast exposure and traumatic brain injury, we need to make sure veterans receive the care, support, and dignity they deserve – throughout their lives. This resolution voices our recognition of the urgent need for expanded treatment options, caregiver support, and specialized long-term care for those living with these invisible, but devastating wounds.”

The resolution highlights the barriers many veterans face in obtaining timely diagnoses and specialized neurological care, along with the growing need for memory care, behavioral health treatment, skilled nursing services, home-based care, and caregiver support programs.

The issue was brought forward by Veteran and Rockland County Veterans Service Agency Director Susan Branam, who said an increasing number of veterans between approximately 48 and 55 years old are now experiencing early-onset dementia connected to their military service, but often have few appropriate care options available.

In one recent case, Branam said a 49-year-old combat veteran was placed in a traditional nursing home ill-equipped to handle the mental health and behavioral challenges associated with combat-related brain injuries in a younger patient.

“Many veterans are struggling with cognitive decline, behavioral health challenges, and now this wave of early-onset dementia connected to their service,” Director Branam said. “We owe it to them to advocate for greater awareness, expanded screening, specialized treatment, and accessible long-term support services.”

She noted that while veterans make tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation, “their families are often the ones left struggling to access the support and resources the veteran needs.”

Rockland County Executive Ed Day, whose two sons served in the Army, also backs the measure.

“Our veterans made tremendous sacrifices in defense of our country, and we have a responsibility to stand with them long after their military service ends,” the County Executive said. “This resolution expresses our beliefs on this issue and sends a strong message that we recognize the lasting impact traumatic brain injuries can have on veterans and their families, and that more must be done to support those affected.”

The resolution also encourages greater collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies, medical institutions, and veterans’ organizations to improve treatment outcomes and long-term support services for veterans living with TBI-related conditions.