December 19, 2014

Carpino Votes for Recommendations to Overhaul CT Veterans Home

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HARTFORD- State Rep. Christie Carpino (Cromwell & Portland) voted to support legislative recommendations to strengthen the services and sustainability of Connecticut Veterans Home and Hospital in Rocky Hill.

The recommendations in the Legislative Program Review and Investigations committee, centered on five key goals, would:

Improve collaboration, oversight, program monitoring, and opportunities for residents’ views to be heard
Ensure the Home’s substance use treatment services are high-quality and possibly accessible to more veterans
Transform the Home’s domiciliary care into transitional and permanent supportive housing, in terms of program design, staffing, rules, responsibilities, fees, and accommodations
Maintain quality at the Health Care Facility

“I am shocked and disappointed with the findings of this study. CT should be embarrassed. Connecticut needs to do a better job of caring for and assisting our veterans and create a long-term vision for how the state provides residential services and care at the Veterans Home. Our veterans have sacrificed too much to be left without any decent place to live when they return home,” said Rep. Carpino.

Carpino was the first legislator to initiate and champion the Legislative Program Review and Investigations (PRI) committee study of the Veterans Home last legislative session. Carpino toured the facility and heard first hand stories from veterans regarding the conditions and treatment at the home.

The study uncovered many inadequacies with services and staff such as helping our veterans returning to civilian life find employment and housing. The Veterans Home has numerous facilities-related issues. The agency transformed its long-term health care program in 2008 through building a new facility, but has not taken any focused steps to do the same for its domiciliary care, which serves more people with different needs.

The PRI committee study also found that the Veterans Home has been deficient in oversight, program monitoring, public relations, and vision. The Home’s shortcomings have gone largely overlooked due to limited attention to performance by the Board of Trustees. Additionally, antiquated data systems and other data problems have contributed to the lack of oversight.

“It is our duty to help our Connecticut veterans, even in tough budgetary times,” said Rep. Carpino.