HCA Awarded NYS Health Foundation Grant to Address Homebound Veterans’ Needs  

Situation Report | November 9, 2020

In the approach to Veterans Day this week, we are pleased to announce that the New York State Health Foundation has recently awarded a grant to HCA Education and Research (E&R), in conjunction with HCA member Selfhelp Community Services, to address the psychosocial and health needs of homebound veterans.

The program will be created and piloted by HCA E&R and Selfhelp through the Virtual Senior Center (VSC) platform currently operated by Selfhelp. 

The initiative will connect homebound veterans with daily peer socialization, wellness, personal health management, cultural enrichment, professional assistance and other supports that will be specially tailored to veterans and their needs. It also includes development of a tool to assist providers in assessing the need and appropriateness of VSC for their patients, the development of a VSC platform app, and funds to help individuals who are unable to afford or access the technology needed to participate.

HCA E&R and Selfhelp will work with veterans’ organizations to develop the program for an initial capacity of 40 veterans as a basis to pilot the model for wider access by veterans.

This initiative complements another partnership between HCA E&R and Selfhelp to provide home care patients with access to the VSC through their providers. The statewide VSC initiative is funded by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. Please visit the statewide VSC page here to learn more or begin the enrollment process.