VETERANS

opment meetings with city staff. ADVS is currently targeting mid-May for start of construction.

During a Dec. 18 work session, Mayor Doug Nich- olls noted that for five years the city has been working, with help from the late Sen. John McCain and his staff, to bring a veterans home to Yuma.

Councilman Edward Thomas asked whether the current government shutdown would affect the construction timeline. City Administrator Greg Wilkinson replied that the project has already been funded “so a shutdown wouldn’t affect this at all.”

When first proposed, plans called for 60 beds. ADVS later changed that to an 80,000-square-foot facility with 80 beds, including four 16-bed long-term care units and a 16-bed memory care unit.

Gov. Doug Ducey announced in April that the VA’s State Home Construction Grant Program had approved construction costs for veteran nursing homes in Flagstaff and Yuma. The governor’s office did not specify the dollar amount of the federal grant. However, Ducey noted that the federal grant will fund 65 percent of the construction costs for both Yuma and Flagstaff homes. The state is responsible for the other 35 percent.

The facility staff will provide 24-hour/sevendays-a-week skilled-nursing care for geriatric and chronically ill veterans, dependents and surviving spouses. It will be designed with a Southwestern theme and in accordance with the Community Living Center concept, which includes housekeeping and laundry services, gift shop, meditation room, barber/beauty shop and more. Each room will be furnished and private.

Veteran benefit counselors will be available to assist residents. Social services will also provide support for residents and their families.

The facility has been long-awaited by the community. The nearest facility is currently more than 180 miles away in Phoenix.