Missouri Veterans Homes Open for New Admissions

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) announces all seven Veteran Homes are taking applications for new admissions. The homes are located in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis, and Warrensburg. At full capacity, the homes have a total of 1,238 beds that provide long-term skilled nursing care.

"We are excited to be taking applications for new admissions into all seven of our Veteran Homes,” MVC Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff said. “The Missouri Veterans Commission is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care for Veterans. We have protocols in place to ensure an easy and safe transition for Veterans."

Kirchhoff said six of the seven Veteran Homes have waiting lists but that it is important to keep the lists active and updated as openings become available in the Homes.

There have been no COVID-19 cases among Veterans in any of the seven Homes since January 29, 2021. In addition to complying with infection control guidance set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), MVC has implemented daily COVID-19 testing protocols for all staff and Veterans along with continual infection control training. MVC has created a phased reopening approach based on real-time monitoring of the coronavirus in each Home and each community's positivity rate.

Each Missouri Veterans Home employs a licensed nursing home administrator and is staffed by registered nurses 24 hours a day. Each Home provides physician care; physical, speech, occupational and recreational therapy; medications; maintenance, environmental and social services, and dietary specialists; and cosmetology services to support the dignity and self-respect of Veterans. Each Home has a secured dementia unit that includes a dining room, activity area, and an enclosed courtyard.

To be eligible for admission to a Missouri Veterans Home, an individual must meet the criteria for Veteran status established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and require 24-hour skilled nursing health care services. Eligibility and admission decisions are made by a team comprising the Home administrator, physician, director of nursing, social worker, Veterans Service Officer, and other professionals as needed. The following are also requirements for eligibility.

The Veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable;

The Veteran must be a resident of Missouri who has maintained a physical residency in Missouri for 180 consecutive days (6 months) immediately prior to application for placement in a Veterans Home;

The Veteran must have documentation from a physician that he/she needs skilled nursing home care;

The Veteran's health condition must be such that the Home has the resources to care for him/her.

Veterans must obtain a negative PCR test prior to admission. MVC strongly encourages all Veterans to be fully vaccinated before admission to avoid a mandatory two-week quarantine upon arrival for non-vaccinated Veterans.

For questions about the admissions process, visit mvc.dps.mo.gov/homes or call (573) 522-4227.