Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
1.0 NARRATIVE
setting, both short stay and long stay
1.1
General
resident care are to be accommodated.
Considerations
1.1.1 General Trends in Nursing
The Department of Veterans Affairs
Home Care Design
(VA) provides Nursing Home care in
three settings:
Historically, design layouts for Nursing
Homes were derived from hospital
1. VA Nursing Home Care Units
design models with the understanding
(NHCUs)
that care mimicked hospital care but
These are owned and operated by the
was less intense. There was little to no
Department of Veterans Affairs. These
clarity about the possibility of engaging
facilities provide all levels of care with a
the resident in life as fully as possible.
focus on short stay including skilled
This applies even to those with
nursing and rehabilitation. Eligibility
significant functional disability or
requirements must be met.
impairment, permanent or temporary.
2. Community Nursing Home Program.
The profile of today's Nursing Home
These are community based facilities
resident is that many, or most, are
owned and operated by private
physically active in the facility. VA
enterprises. They provide all levels of
Nursing Home should be viewed from
care with a focus on long stay residents.
the perspective of a residential
Services for veterans may be contracted
environment rather than a hospital. The
by the VA Medical Center of jurisdiction.
interior of the Nursing Home facility
Eligibility requirements for VA contracts
should include features that serve the
must be met. Medicaid/Medicare or
needs of the residents and should
private pay are payment options for
reflect that extended periods of time are
veterans not under VA contract in
spent indoors. VA Nursing Homes have
community Nursing Homes.
committed to transforming the culture of
Nursing Home care to embrace a more
3. State Veterans Home (SVH)
home-like environment. This culture
Program.
should remain constant and evident
The State Veteran Home Program is a
throughout the design of the Nursing
grant program whereby VA contributes a
Home care facility.
portion of construction and per diem
costs. SVH's are owned and operated
In addition to providing for residents'
by the states. Quality oversight is
healthcare needs, Veterans' Nursing
provided by VA. Eligibility is limited to
Homes should include a variety of social
veteran status.
activities. These activities should be
located both on and off the unit, and
Typical stays in State Veterans Homes
should be customized according to
and in the Community Nursing Home
mental and physical needs.
Program are generally longer than in VA
facilities. However, regardless of facility
Office of Facilities Management
1-1
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