Gov. Beshear Celebrates Progress on Radcliff Veterans Center

Visit highlights governor’s commitment to support veterans; 4th veterans nursing home to open in 2016

Governor Steve Beshear today toured the Radcliff Veterans Center (RVC), which is nearing completion and will become the state’s fourth state veterans nursing home.

“This state-of-the-art facility is a huge accomplishment for Kentucky, and I am proud to have been able to secure matching funds for its construction,” said Gov. Beshear. “We remember the brave men and women who have served our country in the armed forces, and we ensure that they receive the very finest care when they need it.”

The new nursing home will be near the Louisville and Fort Knox areas. It is being built on the Community Living Center Model, which features four neighborhoods of three 10-bedroom homes each. The design provides 120 veterans with a private room and bath and family-style living room, dining room, kitchen and patio. A separate administration building will house recreation, therapy and other services. The center will employ about 170 staff.

“We have been working a long time to open this new veterans nursing home in the center of Kentucky’s largest concentration of veterans,” said Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA) Commissioner Heather French Henry. “We are grateful for the steadfast support, assistance and patience from Gov. Beshear and the Commonwealth’s veteran community.”

“Having been raised in a military family, I understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by all the men and women who serve our country,” said Sen. Dennis Parrett, of Elizabethtown. “There is never enough that we can do to repay their service. However, the veterans’ nursing homes do serve a great purpose for these men and women at a time in their lives when they need us to help care for them. I am pleased that the Radcliff facility is nearing completion and thank the Governor for his support in this project.”

“I want to thank Gov. Beshear for coming here today to highlight the progress of the Radcliff Veterans Center, which will be an outstanding addition to our region once it’s up and running,” said state Rep. Jeff Greer, of Brandenburg. “This would not be possible without support from him, my fellow legislators and those of us in our community who fought so hard to have this state-of-the-art center built here. The veterans who will benefit from this and their families deserve no less.”

The funding of the Radcliff Veterans Nursing Home is but the latest in a seriesof actions taken by Gov. Beshear to support Kentucky’s approximately 331,000 veterans throughout his administration.

For example, Gov. Beshear, state and federal officials this year announced the launch of telemental health services out of the Joseph “Eddie” Ballard Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, part of an effort to expand mental health services to veterans in western Kentucky. In addition to the Radcliff facility under construction, KDVA operates three state veterans nursing homes.

Kentucky is also celebrating 2015 as the “Year of the Woman Veteran,” supported by a statewide conference, public outreach and the hiring of a women veterans coordinator. Gov. Beshear proclaimed March 30, 2015, as Vietnam Veterans’ Day in Kentucky, as part of Kentucky’s partnership in the 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration. A July public exhibit of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute wall at the Kentucky Horse Park was sponsored by KDVA, through a grant from the Kentucky Veterans Program Trust Fund.

In September 2014, veterans, family and friends commemorated that anniversary in a ceremony at the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort.

Kentucky now has an “I Support Veterans” license plate, gives veterans preference for hiring in state government and placed a plaque in the Capitol Rotunda to honor Medal of Honor recipients from the Commonwealth. KDVA has partnered with the Transportation Cabinet to establish “VetConnect,” a vital service that helps veterans get to medical appointments. And the Kentucky Veterans Program Trust Fund Board funded a veteran entrepreneurship program at the University of Louisvlle.

KDVA also co-sponsored veteran job fairs with the “Hiring our Heroes” U.S. Chamber of Commerce campaign. The state veterans agency also recently partnered with the federal VA to establish a seamless, electronic claims system that expedites the benefits claims process.

When the Radcliff Veterans Center opens, Kentucky will have four state veterans nursing homes. Thomson-Hood Veterans Center opened in Wilmore in 1991, and the Paul Patton Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center in Hazard and the Joseph “Eddie” Ballard Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson both opened in 2002.

A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony is being planned for the Radcliff facility this spring Admission applications will be accepted beginning February 2016. For more information visit: http://veterans.ky.gov/nursinghomes/Pages/default.aspx.