Ten of the 115 long-term-care spaces reserved for veterans of the Second World War and Korean War at the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead will now be open to all Canadian and allied veterans.
Federal Minister of Veterans Affairs Kent Hehr was in Victoria Tuesday and announced changes to give a wider range of veterans a chance to qualify for long-term care at Broadmead.
The change is included in a revised agreement between Island Health and Veterans Affairs Canada that formerly reserved 115 of Broadmead’s 225 long-term care beds for Second World War and Korean War veterans.
The 10 beds will be available to veterans who performed peacekeeping duties, for example, as well as those who served with allied forces alongside Canadian Armed Forces, such as American and British veterans.
The Lodge at Broadmead is one of six care facilities across Canada where the federal government has struck agreements to provide access to long-term care for veterans.
The Broadmead announcement followed a morning appearance by Hehr at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre, one of 32 military family resource centres across Canada.
Hehr noted measures in the 2017 federal budget to better assist veterans and their families. For example, the new Caregiver Benefit puts up to $1,000 monthly into the hands of people who care for veterans at home.
He also pointed to the $133.9-million, six-year Veterans’ Education and Training Benefit. The program provides money for veterans to attend post-secondary school or technical training or certification.
Veterans with 12 years of service qualify for up to $80,000 and six-year vets for up to $40,000.
Hehr said he and his ministry are doing their best to take a “holistic” approach to assisting veterans of all ages and needs.
For example, a veteran might have no interest in returning to school, but could still get assistance to earn a certificate to become a real estate agent.
“I have veterans who are 20 years old and I have veterans who are 100,” Hehr said in an interview. “We have to do our best to give them all the opportunities.
“We are trying to give veterans of different ages and stages help.”
