VA Medical Center finding foster homes for veterans

The VA Medical Center here in Grand Junction is looking for your help in caring for our veterans and you could even make some cash while doing it.

The VA Medical Center is starting a new Medical Foster Home Program. It's looking for people to become caregivers and allow veterans into their home.

"I think it's an excellent program and I'm all for it" said John Sheeks, a veteran.

The Medical Foster Home Program will be an alternative to being placed in a nursing home.

"It's a program that helps veterans stay out of nursing homes by placing them into private homes where the homeowner can take care of them and they pay for their care in the home" said Paul Sweeney, Public Information Officer for the VA Medical Center in Grand Junction.

In other parts of the country where similar programs are in place, veterans have expressed an improved quality of life.

"We find that veterans that are living alone versus the medical foster home… that providing them with three square meals a day, providing them with their regular medications, and helping them with their daily tasks, that they really thrive in this environment" explained Melinda Roberts, coordinator for Veterans Medical Foster Home.

Sheeks, a veteran living alone now, says that this program would be a great improvement for him.

“You have your own living space. You have your own privacy and it’s more personal" said Sheeks.

Officials from the program would go out to homes and conduct inspections. They would also make sure it would be a good match between caregiver and veteran.

"We do need to find caregivers that really have the heart for caring for our veterans who served for us. Caregivers will be compensated financially based on the care needs of the veteran" said Roberts.

This program is just starting and needs your help. If you'd like to be a caregiver and provide a foster home to a veteran, you can call the program coordinator at 263-2854.