Washington National Guard Dispatched To Help Local Veterans Homes

WASHINGTON — The pandemic may be waning, but work shortages in health care and long term care facilities continue to be a problem across Washington. In an effort to address the issue, 21 members of the Washington National Guard have been dispatched for a two-week stint helping residents and staff at three veterans homes: the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard, Washington Soldiers Home in Orting, and Spokane Veterans Home.

“One of the coolest things about having the National Guardsmen out here is the reaction they get from the residents," said Nikolas Jennings, staff development coordinator for the Washington Veterans Home. "The residents will see them in uniform and they ask them about their service and they ask them what they’re doing, and the immediate interaction between the two generations is really, really neat to see. They’re being fantastic for helping out the nursing staff and they’ve been really efficient in any jobs we’ve given them.”

According to the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) all three homes have struggled with staffing, particularly during the recent omicron wave of COVID-19. While other agencies have stepped up to help out, the deployed National Guard members will help perform non-clinical duties, like answering resident call lights, cleaning up after meals, performing COVID screenings, helping with manual labor, and conducting grounds work, among other jobs.

To thank the guard members for their work, the WDVA collected testimony from several veterans home residents, who shared their heartfelt appreciation.

“I think it’s really good that they’re so patriotic that they’d come out and help us," said Gilbert Tappin, a resident of the Washington Soldiers Home in Orting. "It’s nice seeing young people holding onto the flag because I once held onto the flag.”

“I think it’s very, very beneficial," said Joseph Fourbears, who lives at the Veterans Home in Port Orchard. "They’ve been extremely polite and kind, and I think it’s just a big help for everyone. It’s part of getting together to solve a problem. The captain is excellent, what a beautiful human being. She’s perfect for the job. There’s a great deal of care and understanding and love that she has for the veterans and her people.”