Veterans have put their lives on the line for the sake of the country, but once they come home, it can be difficult to provide them with the care they need. Often they are left struggling as they adapt to society, even as they reach old age. However, the Long Island State Veterans Home has been striving to give veterans and their families a place to provide them with the services they deserve.
The Long Island State Veterans Home has long been the home to many veterans who served throughout World War II. It was established during the early 40s when the Nazis were marching towards global domination. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, then-president Roosevelt was forced his hand and set out to put an end to their mission.
Many soldiers were deployed in the years that followed, and millions of them chose to reside on Long Island for convenience. By then, many of them started families. Upon securing their victory, the veterans made their Long Island residency permanent. The years rolled by, and age set in. Nearly forty years later, the veterans were nearing their sixties and raised the concern for long-term care services. Seeking out a solution, veterans’ concept of a home entered the fray, driving local veterans and legislators to create what would become the Long Island State Veterans Home.
Established in 1991, the veterans’ home can be found along the coast of Long Island. Sharing its grounds with Stony Brook University, the Long Island State Veteran Home provides these war heroes with the highest-quality and comprehensive health care services. Additionally, it acts as a model site where research and education can improve long-term care for the elderly. By working alongside the university, the Long Island State Veterans Home has continually innovated its methods and standard of care.
The members of the facilities commit themselves with full responsibility to care for their residents, paying respects to their services. To provide comprehensive care, the teams encourage active participation regarding their clinical and support service disciplines as they strive to maintain and enhance the functional abilities of their residents. Long Island State Veterans Home puts their residents’ welfare ahead of everything. To accomplish this, they provide their employees with an environment that promotes mutual respect, accountability, individual growth, and development.
Since the onset of the global pandemic, the facilities’ mission has been strained, making it difficult for them to carry out their responsibilities. However, they continue to push on, determined to carry out their mission. The staff pays close attention to the situation, learning how to adapt to the roadblock and finding ways to reach out to veterans.
Long Island State Veterans Home has provided transportation to bring citizens to the facilities, launching physical and speech therapy programs and helping them with daily tasks like cooking and bathing. Additionally, Long Island State Veterans Home has recently launched home-based programs to continue their mission, sending essential items like toilet paper, towels, and soap. As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, the facility has taken it upon themselves to make the best of what they can.
References:
https://veteranshome.stonybrookmedicine.edu/about/history
https://tbrnewsmedia.com/tag/long-island-state-veterans-home/
