State's newest nursing home for vets should ease need for care [Jeb honors vets]

AP ^ | June 18, 2002 | AP

[summer]

"This home is just one more way we can honor the Americans
who have fought to defend our country with pride and valor,"
said Gov. Jeb Bush.

State's newest nursing home for vets should ease need for care

Tuesday, June 18, 2002

Associated Press

PORT CHARLOTTE - The waiting list hasn't even been started, but there's already plenty of interest in the state's newest nursing home for veterans, officials said Monday.

At a groundbreaking ceremony for the Douglas T. Jacobson nursing home in Charlotte County, state officials said they expect all 120 beds in the facility to be filled a year after accepting its first residents in 2003.

The new facility will ease - but not solve - a lack of state facilities for thousands in need of regular medical treatment, veterans and officials said.

"We have so many veterans who are not being taken care of," said Devern Little, a vet who recently stepped down as chairman an ex-POW group. "A lot of them have only a 10-, 20- or 30-percent disability. A lot of them are at home, many of them bedridden, with no place to go. They can't afford (private nursing homes)."

The new facility, which sits on land donated by Charlotte County and is expected to be completed in April, is similar to nursing homes in Tampa, Pembroke Pines, Daytona Beach, Land-O-Lakes and one planned for Springfield in Bay County.

The $11 million, 69,000-square-foot facility will be run by 150 workers and a $6 million annual budget. It also will house 120 veterans, including 60 suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Residents will have access to a cafe, library, pharmacy, barber shop, and living, dining and physical therapy rooms, as well as outdoor patios, gardens, courtyards and walking paths.

There are no plans for another state facility. So putting veterans on waiting lists is a problem state officials said will not be solved until the federal government changes the way it distributes money for veterans.

They said the Veterans Equitable Resources Allocations are anything but equitable because the money goes to states where veterans list their permanent residences, discounting the fact that many live in and seek medical attention in Florida much of the year.

The Sunshine State's 1.8 million veterans is second only to California.

"It's going to have to come from the federal level to change the allocation," said Jennifer Carroll, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.

The new facility will begin accepting residents in August 2003.

It was named for a U.S. Marine who assumed the duties of a dead bazooka man at Iwo Jima during World War II and killed 75 Japanese soldiers and destroyed the 16 positions they were protecting.

"This home is just one more way we can honor the Americans who have fought to defend our country with pride and valor," Gov. Jeb Bush said.


FL Gov. Jeb Bush attends the groundbreaking ceremony for
the new Douglas T. Jacobson vets' nursing home, Port Charlotte, FL.

[summer]

FYI. And, a big THANK YOU to all our nation's vets! :)

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

I think they hired a better photographer here... :)

[summer]

Check out the 2nd photo above. Is that photo possibly the best photo ever of Gov Jeb Bush? I am thinking maybe it is. Perhaps this is the one they should plaster all over the state.

[Joe Brower]

A-yep, it's a good one.

[summer]

FYI! :)

[summer]

By the time these tv debates roll around, Gov Bush is going to look so picture-perfect against whomever he's running against, that I already feel sorry for that other person. Well, sort of. LOL... :)

[GatorGirl]

Thanks, Summer. One of the existing homes is just down the road from me and it's a great place to go and visit with some true American heroes! God Bless them! GG

[GatorGirl]

Oh, yeah--God Bless our Governor, as well! ;-) GG

[GatorGirl]

Thanks to our new "open primaries" here--I'll be voting for Old Janet, just to be sure I can vote against her in November.

[MeekOneGOP]

Bush bump!

[katherineisgreat]

Frankly, I like the ones where he's smiling better!

[summer]

He IS smiling in that 2nd photo! :)

[summer]

Well, you're right -- it's more of a muted smile. But, I still see it! :)

[summer]

I guess to me he just looks very much the part of "GOVERNOR" in that 2nd one. If you were casting a movie with a lead role for a GOVERNOR, wouldn't you want THIS guy??? :)

[summer]

bttt

[summer]

caltrop, see GatorGirl's post #10 - "open primaries" in FL????

[summer]

BTTT to your good wishes and thoughts here! :)

[mafree]

GO JEB!!

[surely_you_jest]

BTTT