Vets home to consolidate skilled-nursing buildings
The Wisconsin Veterans Home in King will consolidate its skilled-nursing buildings.
Currently, there are four skilled-nursing residential buildings at vets home.
In response to a shrinking demand for skilled care at nursing homes, and a shortage of nurses, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) will begin concentrating its operations into three residential buildings through the next several months.
“Ensuring the safety and comfort of our members by providing high-quality skilled nursing care is of utmost importance,” WDVA Secretary-designee Mary Kolar said. “Consolidating operations will enable our dedicated staff to continue to deliver top-rated skilled nursing care in a more efficient manner. We will work closely with members and families throughout this transition.”
The WDVA received approval from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services following its request to relocate the 124 members currently residing in Stordock Hall on King’s campus to the other three licensed buildings — Ainsworth Hall, MacArthur Hall and Olson Hall.
The consolidation reflects the same trends experienced in long-term care facilities throughout the nation, as seniors are increasingly opting to forego care at nursing facilities in favor of aging at home.
“We have an overarching goal of maintaining a safe, satisfying place for our members to call ‘home,’ and our incredible employees to call their workplace,” Kolar said. “As the WDVA continues to adapt to changing demographics and the desires of Wisconsin veterans and their families, we remain focused on our staff, our members, and their families.”
Earlier this year, construction began on John R. Moses Hall, a state-of-the-art facility designed to replace 50-year-old Stordock Hall.
The building will feature 192 beds with the most advanced nursing technology, increased dementia care capabilities, modern food service, and much more in a home-like setting. Work on Moses Hall is scheduled to be complete in late 2021, or early 2022.