My name is Michael Joel Held. Recently, I have become a resident of the Delaware Valley Veterans Home. I wish to express my delight having come from another VA facility in Hollidaysburg Veterans Home, in Altoona, PA. To be perfectly frank, I have rated my facility as five stars. There is so much for our residents to do, and being announced both. in the mornings, as well as in the evenings, There is always something doing in the main room on "Main Street." The activities include live bands, Bingo, movies, news, and various clubs which are available to one and all. I would also like to comment on the food preparation at the home. For what the cooks are given to prepare meals with, they certainly prepare the tastiest of many meals which are served daily. I must further comment, in every meal served, there are at least two main courses, and, if you do not like the choices, there is a complete salad bar where you can make your own selections. The food is, in deed, wholesome, and nutritious. The rooms are set as if you were in a hospital setting. Two men to a room with a toilet, shower, commode, and wash basins which are shared between two rooms. I am also proud to say that the cleanliness of the facility is top notch. There are always enough employees to make sure the rooms are extremely clean every day, and including the weekends. The only fault I can find is that the facility on B Wing will be closed this January, because of new construction, and making the facility for those who truly depend on help provided on the various wings. Residents seem to be happy, as I am as well. If there is a veteran who truly needs such care, I would strongly recommend the home.

My husband is in Delaware Valley Veterans Home. It is clean, and he seems happy there. He is well taken care of; he has all that he needs. For the most part, he says the food is pretty good. I have been there a few times and I talked to the nurses and staff. I believe it is a good place, because if it wasn’t good, my husband wouldn’t be there. However, the social workers and the staff need to understand from the family's perspective, what the real situation is. Like for example, because he has brain injury, he is saying things to them that are not true. Though I try to explain to them the certain habits that he has, they took his words as true. I have been dealing with this kind of behavior for the past five years, so I really think they need to get together with the family and get a background of the person first. They let him change his monthly check into a whole new account without letting me know, but that is my income also since I am still his wife. There are house payments to make and bills to pay. I asked the attorney “Why are you allowing him to change his checks? I have his bills I have to pay”. He says “Oh well, you know if he is able to speak for himself, then, we have to do it”. I had one heck of a time changing that back. It almost destroyed my whole life. However, everything is sorted out now and hopefully they will not let him go to another bank.

The facility is kept clean and the medical care is adequate. However, even though there are activities on the schedule, only the residents who are independent (with or without wheelchairs) seem t attend on a regular basis. The other residents are left in the community room, in their room or just sitting outside the nurses station. The fact that each resident pays what they can afford, when the resident passes, the estate is responsible for any balance and a lien is placed on the estate. So if any money or housing is owned by the resident when he/she passes, the State will placed a lien on the estate. I have to say that I have mixed feelings. I am not sure but I feel they may medicate a little strong if a resident causes a little noise.

Nice decent place for veterans. Lots of activities, full calender of events for residents, live entertainment, easy trips. etc. It is more like a social retirement village than nursing home. The facility is kept very clean and they sanitize the rooms and wipe things down frequently. The staff is attentive to questions and concerns. Bright, cherry atmosphere which encourages interaction among residents. The physical therapy department is very professional with caring workers. Residents must bathe, which is a big plus. Rooms are decorated to reflect personal taste. The only negative about this facility and any other veteran facility, at least in PA....your loved one is getting billed monthly as a lien against his/her estate, so the PA department of revenue can collect money for rent not paid when your family member passes away. Most people do not know this fact. Yes, veterans can live here and pay according to monthly income, so some pay very little. All residents are being charged the monthly rate for a nursing home, and the difference between the rate and what is paid in rent gets liened to the estate of the deceased when it happens. Sad for our veterans and their families.

The staff is very friendly and always treat the residents with care and respect. The staff is easy to talk to and helpful with any and all questions. The resident's are rarely in their rooms, they have many areas for the residents to enjoy and fresh fruit is always out on the lobby tables. The facility is kept very clean and is laid out in a very easy to navigate way. Parking is very easy as they have a large parking lot just in front of the entrance. Security is on staff and does their jobs very well no on comes in or goes out with out them knowing. I have only seen the resident's treated wth respect and care, even when a resident is easy to deal with. The resident's have many area's they can go to and enjoy the beautiful land that delaware valley sits on. And from my experience they are always outside enjoy it, or looking from the many windows threw out the building.