Machias to get new veterans care facility

By Diana Graettinger

Of the NEWS Staff

MACHIAS – Maine Veterans’ Homes will build a 30-bed residential care facility for veterans on the grounds of Down East Community Hospital, state officials said Tuesday.

The $4 million unit will be designed for people suffering from the early stages of dementia.

It will be paid for with $2.6 million from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and $1.4 million in private financing raised by Maine Veterans’ Homes, a state corporation established in 1977.

The corporation provides Maine veterans, their spouses, widows or widowers, and parents of children killed in action with residential care.

So far, the organization has homes in five locations: Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Scarborough and South Paris. Last weekend, a 30-bed residential care unit was dedicated at the Bangor facility. It gives the Bangor home 150 beds.

Maine Veterans’ Homes launched its expansion in 1999. Scarborough opened its residential wing this past winter, and Caribou and Augusta wings are scheduled to open facilities later this year.

The organization is authorized to operate 610 nursing and residential care beds statewide under a program administered jointly by the state and the VA, according to information from the Governor’s Office.

Gov. John Baldacci cited the efforts of former state Sen. Harry Vose, former state Rep. Maynard G. Conners and the current Washington County legislative delegation. No state appropriations will be used.

Machias was chosen by the Maine Veterans’ Homes board as the location of the proposed facility because the economics of locating the facility on the grounds of Down East Community Hospital. The units will be arranged around common living areas, which include kitchen, dining and sitting rooms, patios and enclosed gardens.

Vose, D-Eastport, introduced legislation more than five years ago to locate a residential care facility in Machias. “As a result of a bill that I presented … then-Senator John Baldacci and I made a compromise that, if I supported the Bangor and South Paris homes, he and the board of trustees would support a facility in Washington County,” Vose said Tuesday afternoon. “Today Governor Baldacci and the Veterans’ Homes board of trustees, true to their promise made to me, voted to construct a veterans residential care facility in Machias. I am very, very happy and pleased that promise has been fulfilled.”

Calais Mayor Judy Alexander and more than a dozen area residents had pursued state and federal officials about having the facility built in Washington County’s largest community.

Alexander said Tuesday that, although she was disappointed Calais wasn’t picked, she was pleased that a facility will be built in Washington County. “We’re still happy that there is one going to be built in Washington County because there is a severe need for one here,” said Alexander, a former U.S. Navy lieutenant.

State Rep. Ed Pellon, D-Machias, was present for the announcement Tuesday morning. Pellon, who also is a Machias selectman, said that when the issue first came up nearly nine years ago, the Machias Board of Selectmen favored having the veterans facility built there.

Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien said she learned of the good news Tuesday. “I am absolutely thrilled that they’ve selected Machias because Washington County has a high number of veterans.”

MACHIAS – Maine Veterans’ Homes will build a 30-bed residential care facility for veterans on the grounds of Down East Community Hospital, state officials said Tuesday.

The $4 million unit will be designed for people suffering from the early stages of dementia.

It will be paid for with $2.6 million from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and $1.4 million in private financing raised by Maine Veterans’ Homes, a state corporation established in 1977.

The corporation provides Maine veterans, their spouses, widows or widowers, and parents of children killed in action with residential care.

So far, the organization has homes in five locations: Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Scarborough and South Paris. Last weekend, a 30-bed residential care unit was dedicated at the Bangor facility. It gives the Bangor home 150 beds.

Maine Veterans’ Homes launched its expansion in 1999. Scarborough opened its residential wing this past winter, and Caribou and Augusta wings are scheduled to open facilities later this year.

The organization is authorized to operate 610 nursing and residential care beds statewide under a program administered jointly by the state and the VA, according to information from the Governor’s Office.

Gov. John Baldacci cited the efforts of former state Sen. Harry Vose, former state Rep. Maynard G. Conners and the current Washington County legislative delegation. No state appropriations will be used.

Machias was chosen by the Maine Veterans’ Homes board as the location of the proposed facility because the economics of locating the facility on the grounds of Down East Community Hospital. The units will be arranged around common living areas, which include kitchen, dining and sitting rooms, patios and enclosed gardens.

Vose, D-Eastport, introduced legislation more than five years ago to locate a residential care facility in Machias. “As a result of a bill that I presented … then-Senator John Baldacci and I made a compromise that, if I supported the Bangor and South Paris homes, he and the board of trustees would support a facility in Washington County,” Vose said Tuesday afternoon. “Today Governor Baldacci and the Veterans’ Homes board of trustees, true to their promise made to me, voted to construct a veterans residential care facility in Machias. I am very, very happy and pleased that promise has been fulfilled.”

Calais Mayor Judy Alexander and more than a dozen area residents had pursued state and federal officials about having the facility built in Washington County’s largest community.

Alexander said Tuesday that, although she was disappointed Calais wasn’t picked, she was pleased that a facility will be built in Washington County. “We’re still happy that there is one going to be built in Washington County because there is a severe need for one here,” said Alexander, a former U.S. Navy lieutenant.

State Rep. Ed Pellon, D-Machias, was present for the announcement Tuesday morning. Pellon, who also is a Machias selectman, said that when the issue first came up nearly nine years ago, the Machias Board of Selectmen favored having the veterans facility built there.

Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien said she learned of the good news Tuesday. “I am absolutely thrilled that they’ve selected Machias because Washington County has a high number of veterans.”