It originally was hoped that the new veterans home at Cameron would be ready to accept patients by mid-November. That date has been moved back to January. The Director of the home’s nursing services recently spoke to the Gallatin Rotary Club.
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“Someone somewhere thought of everything,” said Ann Charley, Director of Nursing Services at the new Veterans’ Home in Cameron. Mrs. Charlie provided the program about the Veterans’ home during a meeting of the Gallatin Rotary Club on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
The Cameron facility was originally scheduled to open in September. That date was moved back to Nov. 1. Realistically, Mrs. Charley said, the home will probably open in late December with the first resident brought in in January.
The spoke-shaped 200-bed facility will cover 135,000 square feet and will consist of four 50-bed units. The units are divided according to the level of nursing care required by the residents. One level is a skilled nursing facility, another is for those who require only assisted living, two levels are a mix of care, and another level is a special care unit for Alzheimer and dementia residents.
Built-in services at the VA home include a full-time barber shop, chapel, and a large dining room designed to seem home-like with rockers and recliners. Each unit is further divided into two 25- bed wings. In each wing is a small living area complete with replica fireplace and with a whirlpool tub available. Private and semi-private rooms are spacious, with a desk and chair in each.
More innovative features include a computer lab. The home will start with two computers and purchase digital video cameras so veterans can e-mail pictures and letters to families. Veterans will have access to a hydrotherapy pool with steps and a lift.
In addition, a Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic will adjoin the home. The clinic will be used to provide services to the veterans of the community.
“Our focus is on quality resident care. Our staff will be hired based upon their integrity, dependability and positive attitude,” said Mrs. Charley.
The home will eventually hire 205 employees. Twenty-four-hour skilled nursing care will be provided. There will an RN unit manager and RNs on evening and night shifts. Physical, occupational and speech therapy are part of the overall plan of care.
The home will have its own quality management program with 34 indicators to report to the Commission monthly. As well as monitoring itself internally, the home will have a survey team come out of the VA in Kansas City to inspect the facility.
A medical doctor/director has been budgeted to have an office in the home. He will be required to see every resident at least once every 30 days. There will be an examination room in each unit for the doctor’s use.
To be considered for residency, an applicant must be a resident of the State of Missouri for a period of 180 days, be an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Services or Missouri National Guard, and have a need for nursing home services.
Veterans will have a choice of whether or not to disclose their finances in order to determine fees and charges. The maximum amount that a veteran may be charged currently is $1,270 a month. Those veterans unable to pay will have their financial statement reviewed and will pay as able. No one will be turned away.
There are 70 residents on the waiting list, according to Mrs. Charley. Veterans’ files are sent along to her to determine if the home can provide the services that veteran needs. Consideration is determined by the date the veteran’s name was placed on the list.
Prospective residents may obtain application from social services offices at any of the homes, or from any Missouri Division of Veterans Affairs Service officer. Residents may also pick up applications at the Cameron home’s temporary office at 309 N. Main in Cameron, next to the Ritz Theater.
A statewide centralized list is under consideration for the future. By using such a list, veterans would be able to move to a home closer to where their families are located.
“Missouri is far ahead of other states as far as their alliance with the VA and number of homes built,” said Mrs. Charley. Mrs. Charley grew up in Alabama and knows of only two homes in that state. Missouri has seven homes. The facility at Cameron is the sixth of the seven homes built. The other homes are located at Mt. Vernon, Mexico, Cape Girardeau and St. Louis. In 1996 a new and modern facility was built to replace the 100-year-old “Soldiers Home” in St. James. A veterans home at Warrensburg is projected to open in the year 2000.
“We owe a debt of appreciation to our veterans that the commission and people of Missouri recognize,” said Mrs. Charley.
Six veterans were present at Tuesday’s Rotary meeting.