Admissions & Cost

Admissions Process

Care at the OVHTD is an earned benefit offered by the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA). When a veteran has a United States Department of Veterans' Affairs (USDVA) physician’s certification that nursing home care is needed due to a service connected disability, they may be eligible to have some or all of the cost of care at the OVHTD covered by the USDVA.

We understand the unique needs of the men and women who served our county and our staff gladly assist veterans and their families during the application process to determine the best options for your living arrangements and cost of care.

Determine Eligibility

To be admitted to the OVHTD, an applicant must be:

• A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, as defined by the USDVA, discharged under general or honorable conditions; or
• The spouse, or surviving spouse of a veteran as defined by the USDVA; or
• Gold Star Parent (parent who lost a child to war-time service)

An applicant must also:

• Be able to pay the resident’s portion of the cost of care, if any
• Be in need of skilled or intermediate nursing home care as determined by physician AND USDVA
• Not require medical care for which the Home is not equipped or staffed to provide
• Not have violent traits that may prove dangerous to the veteran, residents of the Home, staff or others

Application

Admissions Process

Once submitted, OVHTD’s Admissions Coordinator will contact the applicant or the responsible party upon reviewing the application. Upon approval, the applicant will be scheduled for admission based on occupancy availability.

Cost

The Oregon Veterans’ Homes (both in The Dalles and in Lebanon) are a benefit meant to provide exclusive, first-class, long-term care at an affordable price exclusively as a benefit for Oregon veterans, their spouse, and Gold Star Parents (parents who lost a child to war-time combat).

Part of the Homes’ affordability comes from an established benefit which allows veteran residents to combine private, federal, and/or Medicare or Medicaid funding to cover daily costs. Both Homes experience a higher than state average occupancy rate primarily because of the commitment to providing the highest quality of care at lower costs to veteran residents.

Daily room rates include room, board, medication management and skilled nursing care, as well as amenities and activities. Specialized memory related care (for residents with Alzheimer’s or memory care needs) is an additional cost.

The base OVHTD veteran private pay rate (non-memory care) has been set at $180 per patient day (ppd), effective October 2016. Other rates include:

• $187 ppd, for veteran memory/Alzheimer care residents
• $232 ppd, for spouse general nursing care
• $239 ppd, for spouse memory/Alzheimer care residents

Effective October 1, 2018, rates are:

• Veteran General Care from $188 to $196 ppd
• Veteran Memory Care from $195 to $203 ppd
• Spouse General Care from $240 to $248 ppd
• Spouse Memory Care from $247 to $255 ppd