The Iowa Veterans Home has developed a Master Plan to construct new buildings and renovate existing structures to facilitate a shift from an institutional environment to a more home-like atmosphere (household concept). These improvements will further develop three core principles the IVH has traditionally embodied:

 

Care – Implement a “Person Centered Care” environment with a facility design to focus on care resources around the individual resident.

 

Respect – Improve residents’ quality of life, privacy and dignity by providing more private bedrooms and baths, as well as provide access to natural light and temperature controls within each resident bedroom.

 

Choice – Provide direct access to the exterior at ground level for ease in mobility; construct new facilities to create a flexible and adaptable environment for the changing needs of the next generation of residents.

 

Funding from the State of Iowa and the Federal Veterans Administration Construction Grant Program was approved in 2008 to begin Phase 1 (broke ground Spring 2009) of the IVH Master Plan incorporating 15-person households where each person has a private bedroom, private bath and shower around a shared central living/dining/kitchen area. Phase 1 includes:

 

~ Construct a 120-bed Pavilion (eight households); and

 

~ Construct a 60-bed Pavilion (four households), with flexibility to accommodate the Person Centered Care environment for a variety of programs and care levels.

 

Future Phases of the IVH Master Plan include:

 

Phase 2 - Construct a second 60-bed Pavilion (four households).

 

Phase 3 - Remodel Sheeler Building to accommodate administrative and therapeutic functions in a centralized location; relocate the front driveway; and construct a new main entry on the current Loftus Building site.

 

Phase 4 - Convert Dack Care Facility into the domiciliary, which would allow for the construction of a third 60-bed Pavilion (four households) on the current Heinz Hall site.

 

Funding for Phases 2, 3, and 4 has been approved by the Iowa Legislature for the State share of the project ($22.5 million) and awaits bonding certification (Summer 2009). The IVH has made application to the Federal VA Construction Grant Program for the remainder of the funding. The VA has approved the project concept statement, but the project cannot be considered for federal funding until the State match is in place. The total project cost for all four Phases of the IVH Master Plan totals more than $108 million.
 

 

IVH Master Plan color-coded by phase 

 

 

 Bird’s Eye View of Future IVH Campus (after completion of Phases 1-4)

 

Artist’s rendition of pavilion exterior

 

Artist’s rendition of household interior (dining and kitchen area)

 

 

Artist’s rendition of household interior (hearth area)