DMVA to Make Housing Changes at Gino J. Merli Veterans Center

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Brig. Gen. (PA) Mike Gould, deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs, today announced that the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton will convert its current 16-bed personal care unit to a 16-bed skilled nursing care unit next month.  

"The waiting list at the Gino Merli Veterans Center clearly shows that there is a higher demand for skilled nursing care in the Scranton area so it makes sense that we tailor our services to help the veterans who have the greatest healthcare needs," Gould said.

"We're always looking for ways to better serve Pennsylvania's veterans at our homes by identifying trends, recommending efficiencies, and implementing best practices. At Gino Merli, we determined that we need to increase the number of beds in the skilled nursing care unit in order to serve veterans who require more hands-on care."  

Several of the current personal care residents are eligible for admission into the skilled nursing care unit at GMVC. Other residents, according to their wishes, will be offered a transfer to a personal care unit at one of the other state veterans homes or an appropriate facility in the local area. Staff levels will remain the same.

The Merli Center, which opened in 1994, currently provides 200 beds, including 160 for skilled nursing care, 24 for dementia care, and 16 for personal care. The major difference in the types of residency is the level of care required.

• The personal care unit provides food and shelter, medical care, ancillary therapeutic services and recreational activities. Residents receive a supervised, protected environment. When needed, assistance is provided for eating, bathing, shaving and other activities of daily living which do not require constant skilled nursing care.
• The skilled nursing care unit provides 24-hour care, seven days a week. Residents receive a complete range of clinical services under the direction of physicians, nurses and other licensed health care professionals.
• The Dementia/Alzheimer's unit provides veterans suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease with long-term care in a safe and secure environment.

DMVA's six homes serve more than 1,500 eligible veterans and their spouses. In addition to the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton, the other homes are: the Delaware Valley Veterans Home in Philadelphia, the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home in Hollidaysburg, the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie, the Southeastern Veterans Center in Spring City, and the Southwestern Veterans Center in Pittsburgh.

For more information about veterans home eligibility or volunteer opportunities, visit www.paveterans.state.pa.us or follow DMVA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/padmva.

Media contact: Joan Z. Nissley, 717-861-8720

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs