MN Veterans Homes honored as some of the country’s best

Millions of Americans will be honoring veterans this Veterans Day, and MAPE members working at Minnesota’s State Veterans Homes will be joining family members and others celebrating the veterans living in their facilities. The State operates eight veterans homes which are ranked some of the best nursing homes in the country.   

For the seventh year in a row, four Minnesota Veterans Homes have received the Customer Experience Award from Activated Insights in the Skilled Nursing Facility category. The four skilled facilities receiving this recognition include Fergus Falls, Luverne, Minneapolis and Silver Bay. The three newer homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston will be eligible to earn this recognition next year.  

The results are compared to others in the industry, and the Minnesota Veterans Homes have been identified as “best in class.” 

Local 1102 President Brian MacNeill said, “MAPE members are critical in maintaining such a high rating.” MAPE positions include recreation therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, chaplains, behavior health staff, dieticians, safety officers, social workers, admissions coordinators and reimbursement/finance specialists who help residents and families with finances. 

MacNeill, a behavior analyst at the Minneapolis Veterans Home, also noted that “The strength of the Minnesota Veterans Homes is built with union workers from MAPE, MNA, AFSCME and MMA.” 

“The Activated Insights survey results represent the overall quality our Homes provide to our Residents by our staff,” said Eric Meittunen, Deputy Commissioner - Veterans Healthcare. “We are very proud of the level of care that is provided and appreciate the work of all employees to provide this experience to residents and families.” 

This year, U.S. News & World Report evaluated nearly 15,000 nursing homes, recognizing fewer than 20% as “Best Nursing Homes” for short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, or both. There are 343 nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities in Minnesota. Of these, 57 received an overall rating of 5 out of 5; three of which are Minnesota Veterans Homes in Fergus Falls, Luverne and Minneapolis.  

Minnesota Veterans Homes serve a handful of WW II veterans, and a wide spectrum of others who served in the Korean war era, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.   

“It is an honor to have provided support to all these veterans from these different times. The first vets who lived on these grounds were Civil War vets. As caregivers, we must continually work to be on the cusp of best practices. Vietnam veterans have experienced a lot of Agent Orange, and we’re seeing a big group with Parkinson’s Disease moving in. These medical challenges require adaptive strategies to best meet their needs.”