<p>I don't claim to know anything about military hospitals, but have experience with one of the Veterans Homes in Illinois, the one in Qunicy to be exact.</p>
<p>My father, a Korean veteran, the outgoing, strong, able-bodied, respected, and successful man of my youth is now a shell of a man suffereing from Parkinson's Disease and dementia. There's a reason this is called "the long good bye."</p>
<p>After many months of medical "emergencies," reseulting mainly from falls followed by hospitalization and rehabilitation, we were forced to find a long term care facility for him, as it was no longer possible for my mom to keep him at home. A heart wrenching decision. He went to live in a private special care facility designed specifically for those with dementia and related disorders. </p>
<p>During this process I stumbled on to the Illinois Veterans Home at Qunicy, IL and went to investigate.</p>
<p>The initial impression was not good. Old buildings on a cold, gray day coupled with a job that I didn't want to do. However, after being given the "grand tour" by a veteran who lives on the grounds in an independent apartment, I was duly impressed and applied for care for Dad. </p>
<p>There was certainly a lot of paperwork to get through, but none of it daunting. There was also a wait of over a year before a spot opened up. The facility is large enough to house many more men than are currently there, but the funding to staff the facility is not.</p>
<p>On another cold, gray day a little over a year later, not too long ago, I took my dad and drove for 2 hours to Qunicy. Much farther away than I would have liked him to be, but things are what they are.</p>
<p>Now my real point is that the people who work there and provide care for our veterans are, indeed, angels here on Earth. Each and every resident at the facility not only receives the care they need exactly when they need it, they are each treated with the utmost dignity and respect, which was not always the case with many of the facilities I investigated. I would have to imagine this is very hard to do day in and day out given the physical and cognitive issues surrounding many of the residents.</p>
<p>So although some of the buildings are old, the Administration building having ricketiy stairs and water spotted ceilings, the old adage about judging a book by the cover certainly applies here. Had I not looked beyond the cosmetics of the facility I would not have found what is the best option for my father; the place where he is safe, cared for, and treated with the respect he deserves. </p>
<p>Having been a contributing member of society for many years, and having served his country during a time of war, he deserves nothing less.</p>
<p>As an aside, I would encourage all of you to find a Veterans home in or near your area. Many of the men (and women) who live in these facilities are economically disadvantaged and the Veterans homes welcome donations of clothes, blankets, visits. The gentleman who showed me around during my initial visit craves fresh fruit, something that is difficult to get in such a setting (and he cannot afford to buy it and doesn't have a car to get to the store anyway) but certainly not rocket science if one simply takes the time. Many are alone and a friend on the "outside" would be welcome. How about Sunday dinner, a trip to the store or a movie? Or, the next time you send boodle to your cadet, send some boodle to a veteran living at a home.</p>