Community Living Center
The Community Living Center teams provides 24/7 long and short-term care for its residents
The Washington DC VA Medical's Community Living Center
This year's Nursing Home Week theme, "The Spirit of America" exemplified the bond staff, volunteers and residents display every day in the Capitol View Community Living Center (CLC).
The CLC is a 120-bed residential community for Veterans recovering from a variety of conditions, as well as those who are living with chronic conditions requiring skilled comprehensive nursing care. The diverse and interdisciplinary team provides long and short-term care in a home-like setting for DC-area Veterans.
It takes a special environment to make skilled nursing care feel like home for the residents. The CLC is composed of two units: Freedom Way East and Freedom Way West. Each unit is further divided into "neighborhoods" to provide residents with a sense of community. When possible, caregivers are scheduled to consistently work in one neighborhood.
According to Associate Chief Nurse for Geriatrics and Extended Care Frances Henderson, RN "This not only fosters camaraderie among Veterans and staff, but allows caregivers the opportunity to learn the residents’ personal needs and preferences."
While staying in the CLC, Veterans are cared for by an interdisciplinary team of: primary care providers, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, dietitians, physical, occupational and recreational therapists, psychologists, and pharmacists. Care is delivered in an environment that promotes patient autonomy and independence.
The CLC has a number of programs and activities to make the Veterans’ stay as comfortable as possible. Physical therapy, chaplain services, mental health counseling, pain management and fun recreation therapy activities such as music, art, computers, Wii video gaming and field trips help improve Veterans’ physical and emotional well-being. The CLC also offers special programs for younger Veterans recovering from wounds received in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hostile areas.
If you have any questions about the CLC, long-term care or palliative care, we would be happy to speak with you. Please call 202-745-8338.
