Ribbing-Cutting Ceremony Marks Major Milestone for Northern Nevada State Veterans Home

By Josh Loftis
On Monday night, December 17, more than 600 people, including veterans, their families, elected officials, and community supporters, gathered into the foyer of the new Northern Nevada State Veterans Home at 36 Battle Born Way in Sparks, Nevada.

“This home is a long-time coming” said Governor Brian Sandoval. To underscore the point, Director Miller noted, “This project started with then-Director of NDVS, Tim Tetts, who submitted the grant request to the federal VA for a two-thirds match to fund the construction of the new home.” The year was 2006.

The location of the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home was an abandoned softball field on the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services’ campus. At the Home’s groundbreaking event in July of 2017, Governor Sandoval stated construction crews would turn “sagebrush to service” in 18 months.

The evening gave those attending an opportunity to see the state-of-the-art home that will be the model for other State Veterans Homes. When completed, the Home will house 96 residents in 3 neighborhoods, each with their own skilled nursing specialty.

One neighborhood, named Wilderness, will provide long-term skilled nursing care. The Sierra neighborhood will provide short-term therapy care. The Reflections neighborhood will provide memory care services. The home also provides many wonderful services and amenities, including communal kitchens in each neighborhood, a coffee shop, a full dining room where visitors can order off a menu, and even a sports bar.

The evening started with self-guided tours to explore the Home, and then speeches by Director Miller and Governor Sandoval. The evening also included a very special private dedication ceremony of the Home’s chapel in honor of Governor Sandoval’s father Ron Sandoval, a Cold War veteran.

Governor Sandoval became emotional as he addressed the crowd and specifically, his father, as he mentioned,“This home is for you, dad…and for all who have served the greatest country in the world.” He added, “We wish to thank you all for your support of the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home – from lobbying, to your donations, and, simply being there to show that Northern Nevada needs, and wants, a veterans home. Governor Sandoval ended the thought saying, “We hope that as the Home opens fully and starts to care for Northern Nevada’s veterans, that it can be a place to, truly, call ‘Home.’”

The Home is expected to be fully open and accepting residents by spring 2019.

For more information, or to submit an Application of Interest, visit: https://veterans.nv.gov/benefits-and-services/northern-nevada-state-veterans-home-sparks-nv/