CalVet West L.A. Home Prepares to Accept Vets in Transition

The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) West Los Angeles Veterans Home will soon convert 84 currently-vacant skilled nursing facility beds to independent living beds to temporarily accommodate displaced veterans.

A majority of these veterans currently reside at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) West Los Angeles Domiciliary and receive treatment there. 

“CalVet works to serve all California veterans,” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett in a press release. “This program will allow CalVet to provide care to a broader spectrum of deserving men and women from throughout California who selflessly served our country."

Gravett applauded Governor Jerry Brown’s effort to help the West L.A. Veterans Home from the funding set aside in the fiscal 2013-14 budget.

CalVet and the (USDVA) have formed a partnership to make the conversion possible.

The West Los Angeles Veterans Home cost $253 million to build and opened in June 2010 with a capacity of 396 beds. Currently, the home is licensed and budgeted to care for 156 veterans (84 in residential Care for the elderly, 42 in skilled nursing, and 30 in memory care). Ninety-five percent of the licensed/budgeted beds are occupied.

The veterans who move to the home will receive a combination of service. Some will come from other partnerships that CalVet has with other community organizations, and others will continue to be provided by USDVA. Some will include vocational rehabilitation, job training, social services and other services necessary to prepare veterans for community living when they no longer live at the Home.

Gravett said CalVet will work closely and cooperatively with USDVA and its community partners to provide the continuity of care needed by the individual veterans, as well as assist veterans’ to successfully transition to employment and other permanent, community supportive housing or to remain at the home if on-going medical and support services are necessary.

CalVet is currently hiring and preparing staff in anticipation of admitting veterans under this program in September. USDVA staff and CalVet Home staff will ensure veterans applying to the program meet the required criteria, which includes honorable discharge status.

For more information on CalVet, visit its website.