The New York State Veterans Home at Oxford. (File photo by Zachary Meseck)

by Sophia Root,

Commerce Chenango

OXFORD – Commerce Chenango would like to highlight The New York State Veterans Home at Oxford, the first and oldest Veterans Home in the State.

The New York State Veterans Home at Oxford (NYSVHO) is a skilled nursing facility with licensed capacity to care for 242 residents, comprised of veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star parents. A Gold Star parent is a parent of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict. 

Jennifer Scheuer, Health Facilities Management Assistant/Director of Recreation Therapy, Community Relations, and Volunteer Services has worked with the NYSVHO for 20 years. As a child and sister of dedicated service members, she enjoys giving back to the Veteran community. She said that working at the facility is “more than just a job” and that she appreciates the unique feel that a small town like Oxford provides the facility and residents. She is always moved by how many community organizations give back to the residents and how much more special the community support feels when it is tight knit.

Scheuer said, “These are the people who fought for our freedom, tucking them away is not warranted. We really try to make it so they can see the community and that the community can see them.” Last year was the facility’s first time participating in the Parade of Lights in Norwich, and Scheuer said that the residents loved being immersed in the community and they had a great time.

There are plenty of opportunities for the community to engage with the NYSVHO, such as internships and observation experiences for people studying healthcare fields. They also offer the Nurse Aid Training Program where interested parties can come to the facility to get trained without tuition costs. Once they pass their certifications, they are welcomed back to the NYSVHO to work full time. Scheuer stated that she is working with schools to get more school aged children into the facility for tours.

She said,“Many people pass by us and wonder what that beautiful building is, we are trying to teach them about what we do and who we are.”

NYSVHO is owned and operated by the New York State Department of Health under the direction of a subsidiary department called Health Facilities Management (HFM). HFM manages 4 New York State Veterans' Homes located in St. Albans, Batavia, Montrose, and Oxford.

NYSVHO provides long term/short term rehab, and specialized memory enhanced skilled nursing care.

The organization’s focus is honoring personal preferences in a family-oriented, home-like setting with over 98% private rooms and the remaining semi-private rooms set up to accommodate couples. According to Administrator Kurt Apthorpe, “We provide hands-on care as well as using innovative and proven technologies and equipment to deliver our services. NYSVHO’s mission is to provide the highest quality skilled nursing home care and services to New York State veterans and their families in a family-oriented environment through proven and innovative programs, services, and activities.”

Apthorpe stated, “Newsweek has named Oxford as one of their “Best Nursing Homes” for 2024 and ranked the Home at #22 in New York State.  The facility was ranked #37 in 2023 and #45 in 2022.  U.S. News and World Report has also recognized the Home as one of their “Best Nursing Homes” for Short-term Rehabilitation for 2024, which is given to the top 19% of homes that meet their criteria.”.

Apthorpe also shared some data on the achievements of the facility. NYSVHO has consistently maintained a CMS 5-star overall quality rating as well as a 5-star rating in each of the measurement categories.  More information can be obtained about CMS quality ratings at CMS.gov/nursing home compare.  The facility had an unannounced NYS DOH Survey inspection in October that resulted in an excellent inspection and is currently ranked #11 out of 601 nursing homes in New York State based on the Survey inspections. Also, NYSVHO has been receiving “Best in Class” customer satisfaction scores since it began participating over 8 years ago with Pinnacle, the company who surveys over 1200 senior living facilities nationwide. Only the top 15% of homes receive the “Best in Class” distinction. 

Scheuer highlighted some of the internal operations and events that makes the NYSVHO a great experience for the residents, such as their world tour food series where the Chef rotates a menu of international foods, trips to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for residents to embark on, bingo nights with prizes, and holiday decorating contests. “We always make sure people have fun here, the residents and everyone else based on the resident’s preferences”.

The facility has approximately 335 staff, including employees and contractors that work full-time, part-time or per diem.  NYSVHO’s major facility is a building constructed on 60 acres, has a square footage of 217,643, and is comprised of 6 neighborhoods.  Neighborhoods are separate resident units within the facility. According to Apthorpe, NYSVHO has a fully integrated fire detection, suppression, and alarm system, kitchen equipment to prepare and furnish all meals, a fleet of wheelchair-compatible lift vans and cars for resident transport. NYSVHO uses state of the art equipment and technology, including several rehabilitation treatment modalities (ultrasound, short wave diathermy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound), Omnicycles, networked computer system, access to Wi-Fi, and an electronic health record system, called ADL System. 

NYSVHO is currently looking to recruit more staff in all areas (especially Nursing, Housekeeping, Food Service, Recreation, Billing Office) to help with their growth. To learn more about NYSVHO, visit their Facebook page at New York State Veterans' Home, Oxford.