The end of the American Civil War left many Hoosier soldiers disabled and in need of housing and medical care. In 1895, Indiana established the Indiana State Soldiers Home on more than 187 acres in Tippecanoe County to care for these wounded heroes. Now, 125 years later the Indiana Veterans Home (IVH) provides quality care for more than 160 veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents.
The Home’s legacy of caring and commitment to maintaining top staff and facilities begins with board-certified physicians, highly skilled nursing, independent living and memory care staff. On-site medical care includes physical and occupational therapy, podiatry, dentistry, optometry, x-ray services, pharmacy and transportation to Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.
Furthermore, the Home has two memory care units for the care of residents who have been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's. Residents are placed in the unit based on their level of functioning, high or low, with care and activities specifically tailored to their level of need.
IVH is a large facility with nearly 300 beds available and more than 200 dedicated employees working tirelessly around the clock to ensure Indiana’s veterans receive the best care available during these challenging times. I have complete faith and confidence in all of the staff, and I trust them to make the best decisions for Indiana’s finest.
In addition to excellence in medical care, residents of IVH also enjoy a library and media center, a chapel and full-time chaplain, beauty salon and barber shop, fishing ponds, sprawling gardens, lounges and game rooms. An activity that makes the Indiana Veterans Home so special is its connection with veteran communities across the state. Almost every week there is an organization that reaches out to the Home and connects with residents and the staff. All residents have the added benefit of participating in these veteran and patriotic events throughout the year.
Recreation is very important and helps makes IVH a place to call home. Our residents love to play Bingo, so we have made sure they can continue playing while practicing social distancing.
IVH prides itself on providing clean, comfortable rooms and furniture, appetizing and nutritious meals made by registered dietitians, and beautiful, scenic gardens throughout the sizable campus.
The pride and excellence of the Veteran Home staff has been seen in the current pandemic. In early March, the leadership team took immediate action to prevent COVID-19 from entering the campus by implementing procedures to limit infection potential. Currently no residents have tested positive for COVID-19. It is incumbent upon us to make sure those who gave so much to our country can live and thrive in a healthy and caring environment, free from fear. This commitment is particularly important during a time when conflict lives on and battles continue, even after their military service has ended.
It is our duty and our honor to keep the Indiana Veterans Home to the highest standards now and for future generations of veterans and their families.
Carnival Day 2020
Residents enjoy outdoor games, food
by Emily Larimer
IVH hosted Carnival Day Aug. 5, an enhanced resident event with staff serving as activity helpers. Residents were able to get outside on a beautiful day and earn tickets for prizes by playing putt putt golf, planko, cornhole, water balloon toss and other games. They also enjoyed fresh popcorn, cotton candy, our resident-favorite Tiki Bar mocktail selection and other refreshments. It was a fun and safe event for our residents and staff.
Did you know?
IVH's medical director hails from Texas and has a passion for serving veterans. Dr. Daniel A. Anzaldua is responsible for providing comprehensive medical care to nearly 200 patients who live at the Home or who reside in our 120-day program. Working along-side him are nurse practitioners:
- Winona Pitts, NP: General Medicine
- Pat Ginda, NP: General Medicine
- Andrea Tiffin, NP: General Medicine
- LaDema Gallagher, NP: Specializing in Psychiatry
- Megan Tolen, NP: General Medicine
Our dedicated and caring medical professionals ensure the highest standards of care around the clock, 365 days a year.
Employee Spotlight
Meet Deanna Zimmerman, LPN. Deanna is a unit manager responsible for COVID-19 isolation and step-down units. “The layout of our building provides a tremendous advantage that other facilities do not have,” said Deanna. “We have a separate building and unit where we can keep our residents comfortably isolated. At the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms, we can further isolate residents.”
Deanna also teaches Certified Nursing Aide classes, with an upcoming class set to be the largest to date.
Big Fish Tale
IVH resident and U.S. Army veteran, Larry Witty proudly displays his catch May 24 from Legion Lake. Residents have many opportunities for fishing in campus lakes, as well as other recreational activities like painting and gardening.
Art is passion for IVH resident Gary Anderson
by Kirsten Clark
For Indiana Veterans Home (IVH) resident Gary Anderson, his art is his passion. The retired Navy veteran’s dedication is leading him on new adventures across Indiana where his artwork is part of a larger multimedia collection centered on four characters in a story series titled The Ladies Flying Club. To read more, click here.
Department of the Year 2020
Courtesy IVH
Congratulations to the Maintenance Department on being named the 2020 IVH Department of the Year! Great work, guys!
IVH is a big campus and it takes a hardworking and selfless team to keep it looking beautiful and running smoothly each and every day.
Who is eligible?
The Indiana Veterans Home is operated by the State of Indiana and the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs for the care of honorably discharged Indiana veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents.
In order to be eligible for admission an individual must be:
- An honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces, or the spouse (or surviving spouse) of an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces.
- Veteran’s Gold Star Parent (parents any of whose child died while serving in the Armed Forces).
- An Indiana resident for at least one (1) year immediately preceding application for admission. Residency waivers may apply for service members who enlisted from, or discharged to, the state of Indiana.
All applicants must pass a criminal background check conducted by the Indiana Veterans Home to be eligible for admission.
There is no wartime service requirements in order to be eligible to apply.
Questions? Ready to tour our beautiful campus?
Contact the Admissions and Marketing Department for more information and to schedule your tour today:
E-mail: admissions&marketing@ivh.in.gov
Call: (765) 497-8072
Ready to apply?
Click here for our application!