Care Management & Social Work VA Fisher House and Family Hospitality Program Community Partner Update

Jennifer Koget, MS. LCSW. BCD.

National Program Manager

VA Fisher House and Family Hospitality Program

Objectives

Discuss the eligibility criteria for VA Fisher House accommodations

Review VA Fisher House Program Status

Discuss the importance of Fisher Houses as a resource for Veterans, Active Duty Servicemembers, their caregivers and family members

VA-Fisher House program/Community Partner Relationship

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Setting The Healthcare Hospitality House Standard

VA Fisher House Program promotes the highest level of community engagement at all levels of the organization

The VA Fisher House Program part of the largest healthcare hospitality program in the country with 32 houses

The VA Fisher House Program was selected for inclusion in the Secretary’s book, “Best Care Everywhere.”

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VA Fisher House Program Regulatory Authority

Section 221(a) of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419) gave VA authority to furnish temporary lodging in Fisher Houses constructed and donated by the Fisher House Foundation to Veterans, families and Caregivers in connection with the Veterans' examination, treatment or care. This provision addresses temporary lodging and VA Fisher House eligibility criteria. This provision has been codified at 38 U.S.C. 1708 and is administered by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

VHA Directive 1107: VA Fisher Houses and Other Temporary Lodging provides guidance for the VA Fisher House and Temporary Lodging Programs. The Directive also includes criteria for new VA Fisher House site selection and information on the Fisher House application process.

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VA Fisher House Eligibility Criteria

Commute at least 50 miles to the VA Medical Center for treatment

Must be visiting a hospitalized Veteran or Active Duty Servicemember; May stay if the Veteran is receiving care in a community hospital coordinated by VA.

Veterans/Active Duty Servicemembers undergoing long-term outpatient treatment may stay at the Fisher House only if accompanied by a family member/Caregiver

Must be medically stable and capable of self care

Fisher House is a non-clinical environment

There is no charge to stay in a VA Fisher House

There are no time limits placed on VA Fisher House stays

Must not be homeless or in need of transitional housing

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National VA Fisher House Program Status

32 active VA Fisher Houses located at 29 VA Facilities

22,881 families accommodated in VA Fisher Houses

32,574 individual guests were accommodated in VA Fisher Houses

Over 3 million dollars in lodging costs saved for VA Fisher House Guests

82% average VA Fisher House occupancy rate

6.1 days average VA Fisher House length of stay

8,083 volunteers provided 44,902 hours of service

to support VA Fisher Houses

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VA Fisher House Program Locations

Albany, NY.

Augusta, GA .

Bay Pines, FL.

Boston, MA.

Chicago, IL.

Cincinnati, OH.

Dallas, TX.

Denver, CO.

Gainesville, FL.

Greater Los Angeles, CA.

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Houston, TX. (3 houses)

Las Vegas, NV.

Long Beach, CA.

Miami, FL.

Minneapolis, MN . (2 houses)

Milwaukee, WI.

Murfreesboro, TN.

Palo Alto, CA.

Pittsburgh, PA.

Portland, OR.

Richmond, VA.

Salt Lake City, UT.

San Antonio, TX.

Seattle, WA.

St. Louis, MO.

Tampa, FL.

Tucson, AZ.

Washington, DC.

West Palm Beach, FL.

Fisher House Foundation constructed and donated 32 Fisher Houses to VA located on the grounds of 29 VA Medical Facilities:

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VA Fisher House Program Expansion

Bronx VAMC, NY.

Tampa VAMC (2nd House), Tampa, FL

Orlando VAMC, Orlando, FL.

West Haven VAMC ,West Haven, CT.

Charleston VAMC, Charleston, SC.

New Mexico HCS, Albuquerque, NM.

Eastern Colorado HCS, Denver, CO.

Palo Alto VAMC (2nd House), Palo Alto, CA.

VA Caribbean HCS, San Juan, PR.

Nebraska/Western Iowa HCS, Omaha, NE.

Cleveland VAMC, Cleveland, OH. ** under construction

VA Maine HCS, Togus, ME.

Dayton VAMC, Dayton, OH.

Lovell FHCC, North Chicago, IL.

Lexington VAMC, Lexington, KY.

Birmingham VAMC, Birmingham, AL.

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Charleston, SC. Fisher House

VA Fisher House Program Expansion cont.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (second house), Bay Pines, FL.

Hunter Holmes Maguire VA Medical Center (second house), Richmond, VA.

Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO.

Perry Point VA Medical Center- VA Maryland Health Care System, Perry Point, MD. South Texas Veterans Healthcare System (second house) San Antonio, TX.

Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA. Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO.

VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, Montrose, NY.

Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA.

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI.

White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT.

Huntington VA Medical Center, Huntington, WV. William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC.

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VA Fisher Houses: Supporting Access to Veteran-Centered Care

Promote access to care for Veterans/Active Duty Servicemembers traveling long distances to VA facilities

Provide a mechanism for family and Caregivers to participate and maintain a consistent presence at the bedside

Decrease the financial burden related to out of town accommodations for those traveling to visit hospitalized loved ones

Improve patient outcomes and reduce inpatient length of stay

• Accommodate Caregivers while they receive training

to support transition to home

• Consistent Caregiver/family presence positively

impacts patents’ ability to cope with illness

and hospitalization

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Fisher House Family Support System

Families create an informal support system, caring for one another and sharing similar experiences

Support network continues after families leave the Fisher House

Families care for one another:

• Organize baby showers, birthday parties,

even weddings for Fisher House Guests

• Cook communal meals

• Form a peer support network

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VA Fisher House Construction

Fisher House Foundation (FHF) issues a Proffer to SECVA

The Fisher House is accepted by SECVA as a gift to the Federal Government from FHF

FHF builds the house with their General Contractor. VA issues a revocable license for construction

FH G.C. builds the house and turns it over to VA. It becomes a Federal Building

Facility is responsible for funding all site prep. to support the Fisher House construction

• Land acquisition/due diligence

• Pulling utilities to the site

• Grading/retaining walls when required

• Section 106 Consultation process

• Backup generator (if applicable

• Installation of all IT: Phones, security cameras, cable and Wi-Fi service

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VA Fisher House Operations

Each VA Fisher House must have a full time Manager to oversee the functions of the local Fisher House Program. FH staff are VA employees

VA Medical Facility is responsible for providing appropriate number of staff to support FH operations (i.e. Housekeeping, Program Support, Asst. Manager)

The VA Medical Facility funds day-to-day operation costs, including utilities, appropriate number of staff and general upkeep

Annual Fisher House Refurbishment funded

through VACO Centralized Funding

VA is committed to maintaining Fisher

Houses in pristine condition

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VA Fisher House General Post Funds

All VA Fisher Houses are required to establish a Fisher House GPF for the purpose of accepting donations for the local Fisher House. GPF Accounts are those accounts which have been established for monetary donations.

Established after the house is turned over to VA

Fisher House GPF accounts are earmarked accounts set up to receive donations specifically to support the needs of the Fisher Houses and Fisher House families only. They cannot be used to support other facility programs.

Donations received by the medical facility to support the local Fisher House must be accepted in accordance with federal Regulations and VA policy in collaboration with VA Voluntary Service (VAVS)

Donations received by VA must be deposited into the Fisher House GPF

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Community Support for VA Fisher Houses

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Total Number of Volunteers 1,263 1,587 2,389 2,673 4,464 4,742 6,215 8,083

Total Volunteer Hours 14,232 13,602 18,584 20,431 25,989 27,273 31,845 44,902

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

VA Fisher House Volunteer Service

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Community Support for VA Fisher Houses

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

$4,000,000

$4,500,000

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

VA Fisher House Monetary Donations

Monetary Donations

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VA Fisher House Program Community Partners

Assist in providing food and supplies for the house – either purchasing it directly or providing the manager with gift cards to purchase items

Support lodging of overflow guests when the Fisher House is at capacity

Fund for bottle water/water service

Contract with local transportation company to assist with rides to/from airport, to the store (e.g. Uber, Lyft, Yellow Cab)

Apply for grants, depending on eligibility

Support special events/parties and help coordinate volunteers for meals

Assist with funding enhanced cable and Wi-Fi services

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VA Fisher House Program Community Partners

Help fund construction of storage sheds; pergolas (please note that any structural modifications or additions to VA Fisher Houses must receive approval from VA Central Office and Fisher House Foundation.)

Purchase new/replacement appliances, furniture, etc.

Fund “deep” cleaning of the house

Support for families self care activities outside of the

house (i.e. manicures, pedicures, dinners)

Speak at events to raise awareness and help

raise money for the house

Assist with pet lodging for FH guests

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VA Fisher House Program Community Partners

• Provide funding for anniversary/special parties

• Fund landscaping services and garden improvements

• Spring clean up

• Fall clean up

• Trimming bushes

• Planting flowers

• Power wash the patio, shutters

• Organizing/cleaning the shed

• Construct raised garden beds

• Build some kind of waterfall feature for out back

• Trash pick-up and weeding around the yard

• Update mulch/bark in the yard (will need to get it donated and pick it up)Sweep, organize and wash off all patio and walkway areas outside

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VA Fisher House Program Community Partners

• Wash baseboards/woodwork

• Organizing/cleaning/washing kitchen cabinets

• Wrapping Christmas presents

• Cooking/baking

• Donation drives (see wish list)

• Assemble toiletry bags for each room

• Sponsor pampering night (i.e. facials, hand treatments, make-up, massages, and nails)

• ”How to classes” (i.e. teaching the families how to scrapbook, cook, crotchet)

• Make sack lunches or pre-made meals the families can heat up later.

• Sponsor an event (meal, activity) for the families

• Make and bring in a holiday gift for each family

• Make and bring in blankets for each family; bring in supplies and make them with the families

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We Are Grateful Partners

This is home of our Fisher House guests. Community partner visits and activities should be scheduled in advance with the Fisher House Manager or designee; and offer minimal disruption to the house . Unannounced visits may lead to increased stress for families and take the FH Manager away from meeting the needs of guests/program management responsibilities.

Communicate requests for house access in email when possible. Clearly state the purpose for the event, anticipated number of attendees, anticipated media coverage.

FH Managers welcome suggestions for donations (e.g. pergolas, grill, gazeebos, storage). The final decision on accepting the donation is made by the VA facility in collaboration with the national VA Fisher House Program Office.

FH Managers use a gift card tracking system and should provide use information back to the community partner.

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VA Fisher House Guest Feedback

“Thank you for making a difficult time in my life much better. Your care and concern for me and my brother was felt very deeply. Your facility and services made available during my short stay could not have been more perfect. Bless you all for providing this service to Vets and their families.” ~ Donnie Carter

“You made a difficult situation tolerable by taking away a stressful situation as to where to stay. Larry is progressing well. Thank you so much, God Bless all you do.” ~Sharon Heckle

“Words cannot come close, I am unable to articulate how important you were to me. Thank you is not enough, but I do not believe there have been words invented to describe my level of thanks. All I can say is thanks from the bottom of my heart! Thank you!!.” ~Mark Babson

“ I was afraid and you gave me safety, quiet and beauty. I was tired and you gave me rest. I am a story teller and you gave me a story of completely unexpected magnificence.” ~Jan B.

“I would have never imagined that there would be a place like this to support me and my family during my son’s recovery.” ~The Roger family

“Thank you so much for the accommodations at the Fisher House. It is a relief not to have to bear a financial burden while my husband is being treated at the Spinal Cord Unit. “ ~The Gragg Family

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“J” and Hope~ A Puget Sound Fisher House Story

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For 4 year old J., being in the Fisher House was an adventure. She had her auntie to watch her, lots of new toys to play with and a staff that fussed over her. She was bright and vivacious, a sharp contrast to the heavy looks on Auntie and Mommy’s faces. J. was blithely unaware of how close she was to losing Daddy. J’s mom was convinced that having his little girl so close by is a big part of what helped her husband bounce back. We took a picture of her kissing our pig, Hope, and she gave it to Daddy. He was discharged the next day. It wasn’t the picture that did it, of course. But seeing J. every day and feeling her love most certainly helped Daddy, a real life example of the Fisher House Foundation motto that “a family’s love is good medicine”.

For More Information

VA Fisher House and Family Hospitality Program

Care Management and Social Work (10P4C)

VA Central Office

Phone: 724-966-2717

www.socialwork.va.gov/Fisher_House_Locations.asp

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Jennifer Koget, MS. LCSW. National Program Manager Jennifer.Koget@va.gov

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On behalf of the VA Fisher House Program, and the Veterans, Active Duty Military, families and Caregivers we serve: