By K.D. Norris
The Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, a local facility previously called the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, will hold an open house of the new new facility on July 22 from 3-7 p.m., and the public is invited.
The Michigan Veteran Homes GR is located at 2950 Monroe Avenue, NE, Grand Rapids. (For a WKTV Journal story, video and photographs on the new facility, visit here.)
The event is hosted by the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, Michigan Veteran Homes and the Michigan Veterans Facility Authority Board of Directors.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our community members, veteran service organizations, and other stakeholders to take a 30-minute tour of the new Home,” Tiffany Carr, Michigan Veteran Homes, said in supplied material. “Although our current members and their families have had the opportunity to tour the new home, we felt that it was also important to provide our community partners with the opportunity to see what we’ve been working on.
“We’re looking forward to the chance to meet with those curious about the new Home, as well as provide information about admissions, volunteer opportunities and other ways the community can help support our Heroes.”
Those interested in touring the home should RSVP by July 19 at this link or to email her at CarrT1@michigan.gov.
Construction on the new home began in April 2019. Funding for the project came from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs State Home Construction Grant Program, which contributed $40.9 million, and the state of Michigan, which covered the remaining $22 million for a total project cost of $62.9 million, according to supplied material.
The facility, which will serve 128 veterans and dependents in need of skilled nursing care, occupies 153,000 square feet and consists of four unique neighborhood buildings and a community center.
The new building is designed to provide care in a more “home-like” environment rather than the older more institutional setting that used to exist. The neighborhood buildings contain private-resident rooms with ensuite baths and feature shared living and dining spaces.
The adjacent 33,000 square foot community center is the centerpiece of the home and features therapeutic facilities for behavioral, occupational, physical and group therapy, an exam room, chapel, barbershop and salon, café bistro and gift shop. Residents will also have access to outdoor courtyards which will allow them to observe the natural surroundings the campus has to offer.
The Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH), according to supplied material, is the entity that provides day-to-day operational oversight of the state’s veteran homes on behalf of the Michigan Veterans Facility Authority and is a branch of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The MVH operates the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, the Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti in Marquette and the new Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township.
For more information on the MVH visit: michigan.gov/mvh.
