State VA chief pushes long-term care center At best, Walla Walla could get the $15 million, 80-bed facility within two years, he says.
By Vicki Hillhouse of the Union-Bulletin
The head of the Washington state Department of Veterans Affairs is pushing for a long-term care facility for veterans in Walla Walla, a move local officials believe could help ensure the federal VA's presence here.
``I can tell you for sure as we look to the budget for the next biennium, this will be a priority,'' John Lee, director of the state VA's operations, said Thursday.
Lee was in Walla Walla for a meeting of the Governor's Veterans Advisory Council, at which he said plans are moving forward on a $15 million, 80-bed veterans home for the community.
Construction costs would be shared by the state and federal VA systems. The federal VA pays about 65 percent, and the state pays the rest.
Local officials say the key to federal funding is to first secure state money. Lee said the state's cost would be about $5 million.
He said he will approach the Legislature for the funding in 2008, which might be difficult given that lawmakers generally don't deal with such appropriations during nonbudget-writing years. However, Lee said he is optimistic because of the support that's been shown by Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla.
The project would take a year to design and a year to build. Under a best-case scenario Walla Walla could have such a facility in two years, Lee said.
Though numerous details remain, the facility would be on the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center property. Lee said the number of beds could rise based on a needs analysis.
Local officials, who have worked to secure the federal VA's presence here, were thrilled by the news Thursday.
``This is a big deal,'' said Walla Walla City Manager Duane Cole, adding that a veterans home is a ``much-needed facility.''
Walla Walla County Commissioner Greg Tompkins said the presence of a state-operated facility could be a hint of things to come with the federal VA.
``The fact that (Lee's) even talking about moving it forward in this time frame is good for the possibility of keeping the (federal) hospital here long-term,'' he said.
Walla Walla's veterans hospital had been slated for closure in recent years. But local efforts to retain services have helped spur new investment ideas, including a multilevel, state-of-the-art federal outpatient clinic.
Lee said the local enthusiasm also is a reason for locating the state veterans home here.
``I think this is what people expect government to do,'' he said.
The state reportedly has wanted to build a veterans home in Southeastern Washington so that it would have one in every major portion of the state. The new facility is expected to relieve some of the financial burden of long-term care from the federal VA system.
Walla Walla's Wainwright facility has 30 long-term care beds, said Wainwright facilities planner Roxanne Sisemore.
With aging populations of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, Sisemore said demand for more beds will surpass what the federal facility has to offer.
``I think generally speaking, the demand for nursing home beds does not go down,'' she said.
At the same time, at least 500 more veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are enrolled in the VA system served by the Wainwright facility, she said.
The state veterans home would serve honorably discharged veterans and, on a limited basis, their spouses. Members of the National Guard also would be eligible.
Washington's state veterans homes offer long-term care for nursing home, assisted living and independent levels of care.
End-of-life care, including hospice care, is provided. The facilities have full-time doctors, nurse practitioners and occupational, physical and speech therapy professionals.
Lee said Thursday the facility would be open to veterans from Idaho and Oregon, as well. However, those states will not be asked to help fund the project because it could complicate budgeting for the facility.
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