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In this edition:
Greetings from your WDVA Director:
David Puente Jr.
This land purchase is more than a site—it’s a promise to Spokane Veterans and their families. By placing the new home next to the Mann‑Grandstaff Federal VA facility, we’re strengthening care coordination, reducing travel burdens, and building a modern, homelike environment where Veterans can thrive.
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Your WDVA is proud to announce the recent purchase of 41.5 acres of land to build a replacement Spokane Veterans Home, marking a major milestone in WDVA’s long-term commitment to delivering dignified, modern, and high-quality care for Washington’s Veterans.
Gov. Ferguson also released his proposed FY 26 Supplemental Capital Budget which includes $10.9M to begin design of a Spokane Veterans Home replacement, in anticipation of federal grant award reimbursements. As WDVA continues the application process to the federal VA State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program, this funding should move our project up on the priority list.
A larger, thoughtfully designed campus will also help retain skilled staff, attract new caregivers, and provide single‑room, small‑house living that improves health outcomes and daily life for residents.
Take an aerial look of the new location selected for the Spokane Veterans Home
Learn more: Spokane Veterans Home Replacement Project | WDVA
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WDVA News and Current Events
Happy New Year
Wishing you a happy new year in supporting our service members, Veterans and their families!
Your support empowers us to honor and care for Those Who Served.
As we welcome the new year, we’re grateful for every partner, Veteran, family member, and community ally who walks this path with us.
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Medical Foster Homes
Update on the Veterans Health Administration Medical Foster Home Program in Washington State
Over the past year, The VA Medical Foster Home Program has made important progress towards implementation in Washington State. VA Puget Sound and VA Spokane health care systems worked closely with the Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Health and Adult Protective Services to finalize all terms and conditions necessary to ensure program compliance.
Across the state, the VA now has several prospective caregivers and homes who have initiated the onboarding process. These caregivers are moving through the required training, background checks and inspections. This program will provide Veterans, particularly those with complex medical and social needs, with an alternative to institutional care. This creative long-term care option allows Veterans to live in a safe, home like environment while still receiving the medical oversight and VA support they require.
For questions about the new program, reach out to Jamie Pillers at (509) 230-9357 or Jamie.Pillers@va.gov and Kari-Mae Miles at (206) 277-4410 or Kari-Mae.Miles@va.gov.
VIDEO: Overview of the Medical Foster Home Program
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Spokane Veterans Home
A Paws-itive First Visit at the Spokane Veterans Home
Residents at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Spokane Veterans Home enjoyed a special treat this week when Mitzi, a young therapy dog with the 348 Golden Angels – Mango the Therapy Dog organization, made her very first visit to the facility.
For a new therapy dog, the Veterans Home can be an overwhelming environment — full of unfamiliar sights, sounds, and activity. But Mitzi handled the experience with confidence and calm, quickly winning over residents and staff alike. Her gentle presence and friendly demeanor brought smiles throughout the home, marking a successful first step in what promises to be a meaningful ongoing connection.
The Spokane Veterans Home looks forward to welcoming Mitzi back for many more visits and moments of joy.
View more photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14SSV98XnGx/
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Washington Soldiers Home in Orting
The 2025 Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery in Orting brought the community together in a moving tribute to those who served.
Volunteers gathered to honor the 2,265 Veterans laid to rest here, including 847 Union Army Veterans of the Civil War and four Medal of Honor recipients.
Take a look at additional photos that capture the quiet gratitude, shared remembrance, and enduring commitment to ensuring that every hero is remembered.
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Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard
Holiday Cheer at the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard
Our residents at the Washington Veterans Home (WVH)in Port Orchard definitely made the nice list this year — and our annual Christmas celebrations were the perfect proof. Thanks to the generosity of the Associate Superintendents Project Association (ASPA), every Veteran in our skilled nursing facility and Transitional Housing Program received gifts through this year’s Christmas giving program. Over the course of the week, WVH hosted five festive holiday parties, each filled with lively entertainment and homemade cookies lovingly prepared by a volunteer group from the shipyard. Boy Scouts and shipyard personnel joined in the fun as well, helping distribute gifts and adding to the joyful atmosphere.
This long‑standing tradition has a meaningful history. The giving program began in 2000, when the crew of the USS Alaska, then stationed at the shipyard, decided to “adopt” all the Veterans at our facility for Christmas. The ASPA took up the effort the following year and has proudly carried it forward for more than two decades. The spirit behind this program continues to grow — and planning for 2026 is already underway.
View more photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/183k8uUWH5/
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Walla Walla Veterans Home
A Heartwarming Christmas Moment at the Walla Walla Veterans Home
This holiday season reminded us of the kindness within our community. At the Walla Walla Veterans Home, we were uplifted by a local family who visited with their children to spend time with our Veterans and deliver much‑needed donated items. Residents browsed the gifts while enjoying treats and Christmas piano music from Administrator Lonna L.
A highlight of the day was their joyful three‑year‑old, who greeted residents, shared “Merry Christmas,” danced with our musical military Santa, and even walked hand‑in‑hand with a Veteran — bringing smiles to everyone he met. The family’s warmth and willingness to listen to our Veterans made the visit especially meaningful.
Though they wish to remain unnamed, we are deeply grateful for their generosity.
View more photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G688hrozw/
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To learn more, visit VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs
 Click the flyer above to register
Program Videos
State Veterans Homes are Medicaid and Medicare Certified and provide 24-hour nursing care.
The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs serves veterans in four Veterans Homes, where Veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve in settings that provide a sense of belonging unique to Veterans.
Our State Veterans Homes are Medicaid and Medicare Certified and provide 24-hour nursing care, medical care and pharmacy services. We provide a number of supportive programs and services such as:
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Recreational Activities
- Social Services
- Hospice
- Community Involvement
- Religious Programs
- Transportation
- Beauty & Barber Shops
- Fishing Pond (Orting)
We’d like to welcome you to our home! Please e-mail or call our admission team at 1-877-838-7787 so we can arrange your tour. Check out more information and admission eligibility by visiting our Veterans Homes website.
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If you would like copies of this document in an alternate format, please contact communications@dva.wa.gov
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