GEORGETOWN – Stan Weigman, Director of the Ohio Veteran's Home in Georgetown, told the Brown County General Hospital Auxiliary on Monday, March 15, that, contrary to rumors, the Veteran's Home is not filled to capacity. He said the home started with a waiting list, but after the opening the original numbers dwindled.
Many of those who applied for residency, anticipating that they would want space in the new home, did not actually need the service when the space became available. Some applicants did not qualify and several deaths reduced the numbers further. The home currently has 27 residents and 15 new applications are now being processed. The standard and special care units that are currently open can accommodate an additional 57. The first female resident was admitted on March 10.
Weigman said that, due to state budget cuts, no staff will be hired for the two units that are not in operation until enough new residents are approved to nearly fill the additional beds available in those units. No layoffs are anticipated because of the budget crunch.
He told the group that fees are based on the ability to pay and that at least two-thirds of the cost is absorbed by the state and federal government. The resident only pays for personal expenses, telephone, tv, and barber or beauty shop.
Discharge papers are extremely important in any application for federal or state veteran's benefits and Wiegman urged those with family members who are veterans to be sure the papers are available. It can take as much as six months to get duplicates from the federal government.
According to Weigman, volunteers are still needed to read to residents and to help with the gift shop, switchboard, and library.
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