Caring for America’s heroes

By REBECCA HATTAWAY

June 21, 2008 02:17 pm

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On Friday, June 20, the Claremore Veterans Center celebrated a milestone — its 20th anniversary.
When it opened in 1988, it was the only facility in the state to have been built for the purpose of being an Oklahoma Veterans Center.
“Other centers had been set up in converted buildings,” said Cindy Adams, administrator since 2000. “Sen. Stratton Taylor was instrumental in getting the land donated from (Rogers State University). He saw the need for a Veterans Center in Northeastern Oklahoma.”
The then 250-bed long-term nursing care facility hired its first employee in January of ‘88.
“It was interesting setting up an operation from just an empty building,” Adams said. “We hired the employees, ordered the equipment and supplies, did training, and wrote policies.
“It’s gone by really fast. I remember those first days — most of the phone calls we received were from people wanting jobs. We spent all day telling people how to apply. Our days were so busy they flew by — and now it’s 20 years later.”
That June, the center welcomed its first resident.
Of the 288 current residents, only one who was admitted in 1988 is still living, according to Adams.
“The biggest difference we see in the residents now is that they’re sicker than those we saw when we first opened. They have more chronic illnesses and need more nursing care. It seems hospitals are discharging them quicker to long-term care facilities rather than home,” she said.
Providing 24-hour medical and nursing care, the Claremore Veterans Center includes a laboratory, X-ray services, rehabilitation, a pharmacy, social services and recreation, dietary services and housekeeping.
There are 366 full-time staff.
“Our residents are special — our veterans are special,” Adams said. “Our employees have to have a special place in their hearts for the residents in order to provide the level of care that they do.”
In response to demand for specialized care of Oklahoma veterans with dementia, a new 52-bed special needs unit for Alzheimer’s/dementia patients opened in December 2002, expanding the center’s total beds to 302.
“We had converted one of our units into a locked unit for dementia residents in 1993, so when the time came to build the new unit, we had the opportunity to use what we had learned — what worked and didn’t — and incorporate it into the design. The staff actually had input.”
The special needs unit offers lots of natural light and plenty of space for residents to walk around. Each wing is a different color to help residents locate their rooms. Two nurses stations are positioned to view the entire unit. Pet therapy is provided by a cat, dog, fish and birds.
With the construction of the special needs unit, the center doubled its Rehabilitation Department and added a new auditorium.
“The auditorium gets so much use,” Adams said. “Before, we had everything in the cafeteria so activities had to be scheduled around meals and cleanup. Now we have space for Bingo, parties, and singing groups. Especially around Christmas there are lots of parties.”
Center activities also include rodeos, arts and crafts, pool tournaments, field trips, and fishing in a fully-stocked pond.
“We have fishing tournaments and we keep fishing poles and bait for visitors,” Adams said. “We try to keep our residents as active as possible. Our goal is to get them doing some kind of activity.”
A large covered pavilion is available for resident and family activities. It is surrounded by raised flowerbeds so residents can tend the plants.
Seventeen employees that were hired when the center opened are still on staff.
“We are dedicated to giving our residents quality care because we think they deserve it,” Adams said. “It’s not just a job for us — it’s something we give back to veterans who fought for our freedoms.”

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