Vashon Community Care Programs
Vashon Community Care has three main programs within its facility: 40 assisted living apartments; a skilled nursing facility for 30 people providing 24-hour nursing care and an adult day program for adults who live at home but come to VCC during the day for life-enriching activities, facilitated projects and friendships. VCC provides exemplary and compassionate care for residents and no resident will ever be asked to leave for lack of ability to pay.
In 2011 VCC began providing Rehab Services (physical, occupational and speech therapies) for Islanders who have had a qualifying hospital stay due to injury, illness or surgery. No longer does an Islander have to stay off- Island for rehabilitation. Our goal is to help people gain strength and independence and return to the life they want to live with a renewed sense of greater self-sufficiency.
Other services VCC offers for seniors living independently in the Vashon community include the VCC “foot fairy” providing a foot exam and assessment, nail trim and foot massage; short term respite care giving seniors the option of staying at VCC from a week to several months when extra care is needed or their caregiver isn’t available; and nutritious lunches for members of the Vashon-Maury Island Senior Center. This lunch can be the main meal of the day for many seniors.
While Vashon Community Care has its roots in providing outstanding assisted living and skilled nursing services, we are dedicated to the well-being of all Vashon Islanders, whether through support services for the aging, for the most in need or through sponsoring stimulating and interesting activities for all of Vashon Island.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Vashon Community Care is expanding rehab services in 2013 to offer outpatient therapies to the general Vashon Island community. VCC identified there were no other Island options available for Islanders to receive either occupational or speech therapies. We are working with Group Health and United Healthcare (among other health insurance providers) to finalize contracts. Very soon, even more Vashon community members can benefit from Vashon Community Care Rehab Services and not have to travel off-Island for physical, occupational or speech therapy sessions.
While Vashon Community Care is sized right for Vashon and has managed successfully for the past 17 years, it continues to lack the economies of scale of larger facilities, faces continuing cuts to Medicaid reimbursements and increasing costs of healthcare supplies and salaries. This community run, non-profit senior living home will not ask a resident to leave for lack of ability to pay. Currently 80% of skilled nursing residents and 40% of assisted living tenants are on Medicaid. Medicaid now covers 74% of our skilled nursing costs and only 49% of our assisted living costs. VCC is receiving less government support than ever before and must rely on support from generous donors to help cover this increasing gap in funding.
Please help Vashon Community Care ensure quality services for the growing senior population on Vashon Island for generations to come.