Senator Flanagan And Congressman Bishop Work Together To Secure Funding For The State Veterans Home

Senator John J. Flanagan (2nd Senate District) and Congressman Timothy Bishop (1st Congressional District)joined residents of the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University to formally announce their success in securing $2.4 million in funding. The money, which will be used for facility upgrades, was announced at the Long Island Veterans Home's 15th Anniversary Dinner.
According to the administration, the funding will be utilized to renovate the kitchen area, replace the laundry facilities and to install a service elevator.

The funding secured by Senator Flanagan and Congressman Bishop represents a state and federal partnership under the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program. In accordance with this initiative, states such as New York compete to obtain available federal funding by providing 35% of the funding for projects.

Senator Flanagan secured over $848 thousand in state funding for the projects. This amount then triggered the remainder of the $2.4 in funding from the federal government through the efforts of Congressman Bishop.

"Our veterans deserve the best care possible as a thank you for all they have done for our country. This funding will provide them with the best care and the best facilities possible and they deserve nothing less," stated Senator Flanagan. "The Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook is an important part of our community and I am proud to be able to assist them with their important work."

"The VA Construction Grant program is a great example of a successful partnership between the Federal and State government. This program has enabled the Long Island State Veterans Home to improve its physical plant and provide a safe environment for the frail, elderly veterans we serve. We are truly grateful to Senator Flanagan for his unwavering support and steadfast commitment to our aging veterans," said Fred S. Sganga, Executive Director of the Long Island State Veterans Home. "Senator Flanagan has always been there for us with New York State matching funds. Through his efforts, the Veterans Home has been able to secure over $5.7 million in Federal and State funding over the past four years."

"As a nation, we owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans and their service that we can never repay," Congressman Bishop said. "Securing this funding for the Long Island State Veterans Home is a small way of improving their quality of life and saying 'thank you.'"

This funding continues an annual joint effort to deliver funding to ensure that the veterans who are served by the Long Island Veterans Home get the highest quality of care possible. In 2004, the Long Island State Veterans Home received a combined grant of over $1.13 million which will be used to replace outdated electrical equipment, install a new roof, catch basins and air conditioning, improve security measures, and replace a fuel tank.

In 2005, the Home received $1.12 million to enhance the Home's information technology system including its Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and pharmacy tracking systems and also provided digital cable access to community and individual residents' rooms, as well as upgrade the overall communications within the facility.

Opened in October 1991, the Long Island State Veterans Home is a 350-bed skilled nursing facility located on the campus at Stony Brook University.

In addition to skilled nursing care, the Home also provides a medical model Adult Day Care program, round-the-clock nursing and medical services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, as well as therapeutic recreation and nutritional counseling. The Home is open to all honorably discharged veterans and their spouses who reside in the New York State area. For more information, call (631) 444-VETS or visit their web site at www.listateveteranshome.org/lisvh.