Silver Bay, Minn. – Today the Minnesota Veterans Home - Silver Bay is under new leadership as Administrator Daren Rife assumes his new role.

Rife, LNHA, joins the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs from Good Samaritan in Jackson, Minnesota, with more than eight years of experience with that organization where he served at two different locations in southwest Minnesota.

“Daren has successfully served for over eight years as the administrator of two Good Samaritan care facilities in Southwest Minnesota,” said Douglas Hughes, MDVA Deputy Commissioner - Veterans Healthcare. “Daren will continue his successful career as a long-term care administrator at the Silver Bay, Minnesota State Veterans Home. He and his family are looking forward to moving into the area and becoming part of the community.”

Rife is looking forward to moving his family to the Silver Bay area, leading and continuing the outstanding service to Residents, families and staff at the Veterans Home. He is also looking forward to continuing to coach his two young boys in hockey.

The previous Silver Bay Veterans Home Administrator Carol Gilbertson retired in early September after serving for 12 years. Since her departure, the home has benefitted from the leadership of Interim Administrator Craig Smith, LNHA. Craig successfully filled in at the Minnesota Veterans Home - Hastings in the past.

The Silver Bay Veterans Home recently received very positive feedback from the Minnesota Department of Health staff who completed a survey focused on infection control and COVID-19. The survey results included a rating of “total compliance” with “no deficiencies.” “MDH staff were very complimentary,” Hughes said. “We are doing the right things and taking the right precautions in keeping Residents safe.”

The Minnesota Veterans Home - Silver Bay is a skilled nursing facility with a focus on memory and dementia services that cares for up to 83 Residents and employs approximately 150 staff.

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About MDVA
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is a cabinet-level state agency dedicated to serving Minnesota Veterans and their families. In addition to overseeing the five State Veterans Homes, MDVA helps eligible Veterans and families secure state and federal benefits and provides programs and services relating to higher education, benefits, burial, claims, outreach and Veterans employment. Veterans and their families are encouraged to visit www.MinnesotaVeteran.org or call 1-(888)-LinkVet for more information about benefits.