1/16/2024 8:00:00 AM
After more than a decade of advocacy and planning - and more than two years following their groundbreakings - new State Veterans Homes in Preston, Montevideo and Bemidji are kicking off 2024 with openings in their respective communities.
Following a number of pre-opening tours for Veteran Service Organizations and long-term allies, the Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston (a 54-bed Home located at 1864 First Minnesota) admitted its first Residents on Wednesday, Jan. 3. Four Veterans who served in eras from Korea to Vietnam came through the Home’s front doors expressing excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to live in this skilled nursing environment. For Preston community member, Walter Hanson, it was the perfect way to celebrate his 91st birthday.
“It takes a lot of people to put this together,” said Hanson, an Army veteran who served in Korea in the 1950s. “It’s going to be quite a shot in the arm for Preston and the area. This is going to be a nice place to live. I’ll find out soon enough!”
Home Administrator Dave Dunn noted how privileged he and his staff feel in serving those who have served and delivering the care that aging Veterans need. “Not only is the facility absolutely beautiful, but our team members are thrilled to be creating a supportive, positive culture from the ground up to provide the best experience for Residents, families, employees and volunteers. This is really a meaningful day for our community and all of southeastern Minnesota.”
During the next few weeks, the Home will continue to admit up to 24 new Residents. The Home must then complete a recognition survey from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Federal VA). Once that Federal VA survey is completed, the Preston Veterans Home will continue to admit additional Residents and hire the remaining staff required to care for a full facility.
While the Home has hired most of the staff needed for the first month of operation, additional employees will be needed as more Residents are admitted, according to Gabby Kinneberg, Preston Veterans Home Public Affairs Coordinator. “We still have a few staff positions open right now. We want to let everyone know that once we get to full capacity, we will be hiring additional employees. I encourage community members to keep an eye out for new job openings soon.” To learn about employment opportunities in our New Homes markets, visit /mdva/about/work-for-mdva/index.jspMinnesotaVeteran.org/Careers and click on Current Jobs, then search by location.
The Minnesota Veterans Home in Montevideo (a 72-bed Home located at 2190 William Avenue) is scheduled to begin admitting Residents the week of January 22. In the meantime, Home leaders have been busy hiring and onboarding new employees while providing a number of scheduled occasions for the community to learn more about the new Home. On Tuesday, Jan. 2, the Home welcomed more than 200 guests to a planned stakeholder, Veterans Service Organization (VSO) and County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) event. On Thursday, Jan. 4, nearly 125 business professionals attended a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at the Home. And on Saturday, Jan. 6, approximately 600 guests came to the Home for scheduled tours, information about employment and volunteer opportunities and the chance to connect with other Veterans Home supporters.
Like Preston, Montevideo has hired most of the staff required for the first month of operation and will continue to recruit for employees in phases as additional Residents are admitted. Cindy Wilkens, Public Affairs Coordinator, and Dawn Gregoire, HR Business Partner, encourage individuals to check the website regularly for new postings. “We’re actively seeking individuals who are passionate about finding meaning in what they do and want to contribute to a culture where people genuinely enjoy coming to work every day. We firmly believe our Montevideo Veterans Home offers that kind of fulfilling environment.”
The Minnesota Veterans Home in Bemidji (a 72-bed Home located at 920 Anne Street N.W.) is scheduled to begin admitting Residents within the next few weeks. On Tuesday, Jan. 9, the Home hosted an official flag-raising ceremony.
Honor guards from the local American Legion and VFW posts—along with several area Veterans who have been very involved in advocating for this Home for over a decade and the local County Veterans Service Officer—participated. Bemidji Veterans Home Administrator Kevin Gish provided introductory remarks as the flags were silently marched to the flagpoles.
Post Commanders raised the American Flag to “Raise the Flag” that was performed on the bugle, local Veteran Joe Vene sang the Star-Spangled Banner, and guests recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Finally, the POW/MIA and Minnesota state flags were raised in unison, followed by the armed forces branch flags.
Bemidji joins Preston and Montevideo in recruiting dedicated, talented employees to join its team. The Home has hired most staff needed for the immediate future; a variety of caregiving, skilled trades and support positions will be posted over time as additional Residents are admitted. Maryhelen Chadwick, Public Affairs Coordinator, and Peter Paquette, HR Business Partner, share that opportunities will continue to arise as the Home begins operations. “There is no more noble work than caring for Veterans,” Paquette noted. “We’re confident that people looking for professional purpose in what they do will find it here at the Bemidji Veterans Home.”
Note: Formal, large dedication events will be planned for late spring/early summer 2024 in all three communities.
“The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is honored to expand our Veterans Homes across the state this month,” said MDVA Commissioner Brad Lindsay. “As our 294,000 Minnesota Veterans age, it is more important than ever that we can care for them in their final years. Passion, integrity and trust will inform that care as we work to exceed all expectations.”
