On behalf of the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Colorado Health Institute conducted an assessment of veterans’ health and aging needs to inform strategic planning for the state’s five Veterans Community Living Centers (VCLCs). VCLCs are nursing homes that provide care to veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star families through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The assessment examined the health and well-being of Colorado’s nearly 400,000 veterans and recommend improvements to VCLC services. CHI’s assessment included analyzing multiple state and federal data sources to quantify the need; modeling the health and long-term care needs of Colorado’s veterans in 20 years; conducting a comprehensive literature review of health care needs and services available to veterans; and interviewing more than 40 veterans and their allies.
The resulting report outlined the research findings and provided actionable recommendations to improve the services and infrastructure of the VCLCs. CHI’s team also produced a one-page fact sheet and slideshow presentation to share high-level findings from the report. The final report and accompanying materials are available on the VCLC website.
