‘Operation Rejuvenation’ Launches at Stony Brook University
Long Island State Veterans Home breaks ground for major renovation
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Fred S. Sganga, Executive Director of the Long Island State Veterans Home was joined by (left to right) Colonel Eric J. Hesse, US Army (ret.), Director of New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs, Kenneth Kaushansky, MD, MACP, Senior Vice President, Health Sciences, and Dean, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Assemblyman Steve Englebright (4th Assembly District), Congressman Tim Bishop (1st Congressional District, New York), Frank Demarco, Chairman of the Long Island State Veterans Home Veterans Advisory Board, New York State Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District), Thomas Ronayne |
STONY BROOK, NY, May 23, 2014 – The Long Island State Veterans Home broke ground for a new facility at a ceremony on May 2. This event kicked off ‘Operation Rejuvenation’, a project that will help renovate the interior of the existing facility in order to enhance the safety and comfort of those veterans who reside at the Home.
“The Long Island State Veterans Home has always made a commitment to be the premiere provider for long term care services to our nation’s heroes,” said Fred S. Sganga, Executive Director of the Long Island State Veterans Home. “‘Operation Rejuvenation’ will assure that our frail, elderly veterans are living in the finest facility in the country.”
“Our veterans were willing to put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect our freedom and way of life,” said Congressman Tim Bishop. “We owe it to them to make sure the facilities that care for our veterans are in the best condition possible to meet their needs. The work being done at the Long Island State Veterans Home will help accomplish that goal, and I commend the leadership and staff for undertaking this project.”
This project was made possible by a $12.5 million VA Construction Grant that was awarded to The Long Island State Veterans Home last October. The VA Construction Grant program is one of the oldest partnerships between federal government and the states. Each year, though the support of Congressman Bishop, the Federal government allocates approximately $85 million to fund the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program. Through this initiative, individual states compete for funding which must be used to either construct or renovate designated State Veterans facilities that provide skilled nursing or domiciliary care. The federal government appropriates 65% of the construction costs provided that each state makes a commitment of 35% in state matching funds, for which Senator John Flanagan has been instrumental in helping the LISVH secure.
“Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who have protected our way of life and cherished freedoms,” said Senator John Flanagan. “One way we can say ‘thank you’ to them is by making sure these brave men and women have a comfortable living environment. The Long Island State Veterans Home has been a great resource for our veterans and their families and this project will help ensure that it continues to be a place that our heroes are proud to call home,” said Flanagan.
The new 9000 square-foot building will be completed in 2015. This facility will be used to house residents as the existing veterans home, which was built in 1991, is renovated into a modern, spacious residence that our nation’s heroes will be proud to call home.
“We are really excited about this project because it represents the recommitment of Stony Brook University to Long Island’s veterans and their families,” said Sganga.
After the renovation project is complete, this new building will be the home to the Long Island State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Program; a program that provides comprehensive medical, nursing and personal care services combined with engaging social activities for physically or cognitively impaired adults. The program accepts honorably discharged veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces and open to all veterans regarding of the period of service, service connected disability or location in which the veteran served our nation. The LISVH Adult Day Health Care programs also accepts the spouse or widow of qualifying veterans, as well as Gold Star Parents who require adult day health care.
About the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University:
The LISVH at Stony Brook University is a 350 bed skilled nursing facility that also operates a 40 registrant medical model Adult Day Health Care program. It is one of 146 State Veterans Homes in the United States and Puerto Rico. The LISVH operates under the auspices of Stony Brook Medicine and remains one of only nursing homes in the country that is fully integrated into the health and educational mission of an academic medical center. Since opening its doors in October 1991, the Long Island State Veterans Home has provided care to more than 5,000 of Long Island’s veterans. For more information, please call (631) 444-VETS.
