The Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) opened the Transitional Support Unit (TSU) Sept. 2 at the Georgia War Veterans Home.
The unit provides comprehensive physical, mental, and behavioral health services to Georgia veterans suffering from a variety of ailments, including PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and limb amputations. According to a press release, it is the first state-run veteran’s home facility offering nursing care and comprehensive mental and behavioral health services.
The TSU was constructed through a combination of $11 million in federal funds and $6 million in state funds, for a total investment of $17 million.
According to Gov. Brian Kemp, who was the keynote speaker, Georgia is home to over 700,000 veterans and their families. More than 200,000 of those veterans live with a service-connected disability. “These American heroes often have a unique need for care because of their service and sacrifice to our great nation,” said Kemp. “Each one of them represents a hero who puts the safety and security of others above their own. These are men and women who have earned the right to the care that they need after returning to civilian life.”
Veteran patients at the TSU will have access to a range of therapies and services, for mental, physical, and emotional needs tailored to the individual.
Short- and long-term treatment options are available.
“The facility is equipped to serve aging veterans who may not have previously had access to advanced therapeutic services and younger veterans bearing both physical injuries and psychological trauma from the past two decades of warfare,” states the press release.
According to Commissioner of Veterans Service Dr. Trish Ross, it was the former GDVS Director of Health and Memorials Ernie Simons, who passed in 2018, that imagined this facility.
Ross stated his “spirit” was woven into the foundation of the facility. His wife, Carol, and other family members were present at the ceremony in his honor.
“He (Simons) carried with him an unshakable passion to serve his fellow veterans, especially those battling the invisible. It was Ernie’s dream that one day we would have a place like this,” said Ross.
“A place where mental and behavioral health challenges could be met with compassion and dignity, a place where veterans could heal and, when possible, return home to their families and reintegrate into their communities with strength and with hope.
“This facility is the embodiment of his vision, his heart, and his lifelong dedication to those who have served.”
Georgia War Veterans Home staff, The Georgia Department of Veterans Services, Gov. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp cut the ceremonial ribbon. Several local county, city, and school officials joined in the ceremonial cutting along with esteemed guests in the audience to officially open the facility.
“This center represents our sheer responsibility to support those who serve today, tomorrow, and for generations to come,” said Kemp. “As we cut this ribbon today, let us reaffirm our commitment to our veterans and their families, without whom we could not enjoy the freedoms we do or live in the greatest state in the nation.”
Following the ribbon cutting, Ross and GDVS Director of Health and Memorials Russell Feagin offered tours of the facility. During the tour, Feagin informed the public that while the facility currently has room for 14 veterans, it was built to expand to a 28-bed facility as needed.