Veterans home seeking recreational volunteers
The Arkansas State Veterans Home at North Little Rock is seeking individuals and organizations to assist in activities with the veterans residing there. Chris Dow, recreational activities director, stated volunteers are needed for bingo to gardening and everything in between.
Meeting with Mary Ellen Laursen, the United States Daughters of 1812 state veterans chair, he explained that recreational activities are imperative so that social interaction is encouraged for the residents. Dow currently has no staff and is seeking volunteers to assist in fishing derby’s, receptions, holiday events, ice cream socials, cookouts and any events that stimulate social interaction. Laursen committed to taking the needs of the facility back to the state membership.
There are currently 72 veterans residing there, including nine women.
Officials broke ground for ASVH-NLR on July 29, 2015. It is the first veterans home in Arkansas developed from the ground-up for the sole purpose of long-term care for veterans. ASVH-NLR is a “small home” design with eight individual homes that serve 12 residents each. Each resident has a private room and private bathroom. Less than 1 percent of long-term care facilities across the nation are built and operated as small homes. The small home concept seeks to de-institutionalize care and provide a warm, homelike environment in a setting that encourages social activity. As a result of the design, the operating model differs substantially from that of a traditional skilled nursing facility.
For information regarding volunteer needs at ASVHNLR, call Dow at 501-683-3326 or email chris.dow@arkansas.gov. For information regarding the veterans activities of USD 1812, call Laursen at 922-4802.