Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home sits in Hilo, Hawaii, right below the Hilo Benioff Medical Center at 1180 Waianuenue Avenue, and opened back in 2007 with a focus on serving veterans, being Hawaii's first State Veterans Home and the only one on the Big Island, and these days, the East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation manages it since early 2021. This community holds 95 beds for residents who need intermediate or skilled nursing care, and it's got staff who provide personalized, 24-hour skilled nursing care, working closely with physicians and nurse practitioners to deliver care that focuses both on health and emotional needs. Residents and patients get treatment plans made just for them, because the care teams here believe in coordinated care and always look for ways to help their residents reach their fullest potential and keep as much independence as possible.
The facility is built to feel homelike, with a roomy open-air design and both private and semi-private rooms, where folks can enjoy a bit of privacy or companionship as they choose, and there's plenty to eat, since the dining staff serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, suited to each resident's needs, and bring out snacks, hydration, and special meals on holidays. Veterans living here or coming for care get a broad range of services, including residential long-term placement and short-term rehabilitation, plus specialized post-acute and rehabilitation care made for veterans. There's also an Adult Day Health Care Program for veterans who don't live there full-time.
Staff and volunteers offer help getting to medical appointments with transportation on the island, and when it comes to daily life, the place keeps busy with activities five days a week, even on weekends and holidays, so residents get to play games like Bingo, Hanafuda, Poker, or Pokeno, enjoy music, creative activities, spiritual programs, reminisce with others, take part in indoor and outdoor events, and connect with family or friends through virtual visits. They'll go out for Kupuna shopping days, fishing trips, visits to Coconut Island, or a drive for some fresh air and a change of scenery. There's help and support for people nearing the end of life with hospice and comfort care, and there's respite care for families who need a break for a while.
The home encourages friendships among veterans and brings in community volunteers and veteran organizations to keep those ties strong, always keeping focus on courtesy and compassion. The place is certified by the VA and Medicare/Medicaid, and sticks to a high standard of care, with programs built to help each veteran live as well and as independently as they can.
