(KINSTON) – A new facility opened in Kinston Tuesday to provide long term-health care for U.S. Veterans.  “We always like to say that North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation and it really shows with the opening of the new N.C. State Veterans Home in Kinston,” said Gov. Perdue in remarks at the event.  “This is how we show appreciation to those who served and sacrificed to make our state and country a better, safer place to live and prosper.”

The 111,000 square-foot facility is designed to provide a home-like atmosphere with skilled-nursing care. It is outfitted with a state-of-the-art therapy center, including a therapy pool. The 100-bed Kinston facility provides residents with single rooms with private bath and features “neighborhoods” of 12-14 clients who share a common area with a large-screen TV, dining room and courtyard.

Other speakers included Sec. Moses Carey, Dept. of Administration; Tim Wipperman, assistant secretary for Veteran Affairs; Tommy Sowers, assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and other state and local officials.

The N.C. State Veterans Home program provides skilled care services to qualified North Carolina veterans. Over 765,900 veterans reside in North Carolina, and with pending end of hostilities and military drawdown, North Carolina anticipates a significant increase in its veteran population.

The State Veterans Home program is a fully receipt-based operation. Homes operate on funds from private pay, Medicaid/Medicare, Veterans Affairs pension and/or per diem, and other sources such as gifts and donations. The N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs, which is part of the N.C. Department of Administration, employs a private provider to manage the facility. North Carolina currently operates three other facilities: a 150-bed facility in Fayetteville, a 99-bed in Salisbury, and a 100-bed in Black Mountain. The Kinston and Black Mountain are twin facilities offering similar features with only minor differences including a Memory Support Unit.