Foster homes give veterans options
Published 10:33 am Tuesday, January 19, 2021
- Photo by Veterans Administration
Medical foster homes offer long-term care options for veterans in Brookhaven.
The first Mississippi Veterans Administration Medical Foster Home opened in Brookhaven in 2010. MFHs are private homes in which a trained caregiver provides services to a few individuals. Some, but not all, residents are veterans. VA inspects and approves all MFHs.
The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center’s MFH Program provides an alternative for dependent, chronically or terminally ill veterans with limited family support who prefer a family setting for their long-term care.
The program promotes safety and improved quality of life in a nurturing environment as an alternative to nursing home placement. Veterans live in a private home setting with a caregiver who is responsible for their care. The veteran pays the caregiver directly for care, supervision, room and board, and may apply for VA benefits to supplement the cost. Each enrolled veteran receives home-based primary care services from a nurse practitioner and monthly coordinator visits in the home.
There are currently two approved MFHs in Brookhaven, with five private bedrooms available. Both homes are owned and operated by nurses who have many years of experience in a variety of settings. Veterans are taken to VA for any doctor visits needed.
To refer a veteran or to find out how the program works, contact Yolanda Davis, MFH program coordinator, at 601-882-2707.