Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Height thirty nine in the morning.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Kevin Gordon in for Brian Thomas fifty five KR see
the talk station. It's my pleasure to introduced since AAVA
Fisher House Manager Kerrie Hagen.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Welcome to the program, Kerrie, thank you so much, Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
My pleasure. What is Fisher House?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
The Fisher House program was established in nineteen ninety by
Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher in response to their recognized need
for housing for military families while their loved ones were hospitalized.
In nineteen ninety one, the first Fisher House Wood was
inaugurated at the National Naval Medical Center now Walter Reed
in Bethesda, Maryland, with the presence of President George Bush
(00:50):
Senior during a dedication ceremony. The Fishers entered into a
public private partnership with the government, allowing Fisher House to
construct these homes on government owned land. Subsequently, these homes
were gifted to the military or the VA to operate.
Their aim is to provide families with a home away
from home, enabling to be part of the healing process
(01:12):
while their loved ones admitted. The Cincinnati, VA Fisher House
opened up in two thousand and one and is located
on the VIA premises. The house is beautifully decorated. It
has sixteen private suites, completely a common kitchen, laundry facilities,
spacious dining room and living room area for families to
gather and offer each other support and friendship while their
(01:33):
loved ones are receiving treatment at the Cincinnati BA Medical Center.
It's a wonderful place.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Well, that sounds wonderful, a fantastic idea, and of course
can't do enough for our veterans and their families. So
who can stay at Fisher House?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Well, the Cinnati, Va Fisher House welcomes guests to one
have a loved one receiving care at the Cincinnati VIA
Medical Center or receiving care at a local hospital that
is authorized by the VA Health Administration. They must live
at least forty to fifty miles and more away from
the medical center or the treating facilities that they're going to,
(02:07):
able to stay in a non medical, unsupervised setting, and
they have to follow all the rules of the house,
you know, in respect of our other fellow guests that
are in the house, and the veterans may stay as
long as they have a caregiver that can accompany them
at all times whout the Fisher House.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Now this uh facility. Now, when when I'm thinking house,
I'm thinking house, this is probably what is this? Is
it a house or is it a building that has
different suites like a kind of like an apartment complex
type of thing, or.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Well, yeah, yeah, it's a eleven thousand square foot facility
that actually looks like a house, and inside it has
the sixteen suites. It's a common living room, dining room,
and everything for people to join in. But they have
their little private area, their private room which has the bathroom,
and their bed facilities. Everything else is located on the
first floor as a common facility.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That is cool, That really sounds fantastic. Yeah, is there
a cost to stay there?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
No, absolutely not. There's no cost at all for any
of the family members to stay here while their loved
ones admitted.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Is there a time limit or anything along those.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Lines, don't we know? We just we don't have a
time limit. There's no minimum amount of stay. It could
be one day or it could be up to two weeks.
And you know, depending on the patient's care, what they're
receiving at the VA and what kind of how long
term nurse day is that's what we go by as
the manager.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, and as I said before, there's to me, there
is nothing that we can't do more. I mean we
can do we can't do enough for our veterans and veterans,
and this is one of those things that would is great,
especially for the families. I do know that you know
(03:58):
there there are US senior care facilities where somebody is
in a especially in your rural areas, where somebody is
at a particular hospital. And then of course, as you said,
some of these people live forty to fifty miles away,
and it's very difficult for them to be there and
to be with their loved one who's in the medical facility.
And so an opportunity like this, especially with our veterans,
(04:21):
to be able to either have their family nearby, because
again I think one of the big points is is
that if you know your loved ones are there and
they are there as a support to you, that can't hurt.
I mean, that has to help tremendously the healing process.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Absolutely, You're absolutely correct. It does help the healing process.
And you know, and the families they take pictures of
the house to take them over to their loved one.
To show them where they're staying at so then they
admitted veteran feels more at ease, more comfortable with receiving
the care, and then their loved one is going to
be their next room during their entire time of their mission.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Now, I'm going to go out on a line here
and I'm going to assume that most of these people
that are veterans that they are probably a kind of
take charge person and a protector person. So as they're
in the hospital, as they're receiving care, part of their
concern is how's my family doing. Are they being taken
(05:19):
care of? Are they okay? Which should be probably the
last thing on their mind. But because of how they
are built, how they are constructed, and the type of
personality they have, they are concerned about their family members
and to be able to have this facility for their
families should be a big sign of comfort for them.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Oh yes, I see it daily. Absolutely, you are correct.
With the veterans, they're very you know, in their ways
and want to make sure their loved one is taken
care of, even above their own needs. So when they
realize that you know, they're going to be staying, their
family members going to be staying at the Cincinnati be
a Fish House and they see the comforts and they
(06:02):
see everything. They meet us as the staffing here. They
are very comfortable and that's when they can go over
and you know, enjoy, take care of their healing process
to make them get better and well to go home.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Absolutely very good.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Can you hang with us through the break? We got
to take a quick break here and we'll come back
and pick this up because there's a lot more things
I want to find out about this for our listeners
and for the people certainly appreciate it. My guest is
since ANAVA Fisherhouse Manager, Carrie Hagen. I'm Kevin Gordon in
for Brian Thomas, fifty five KR. See the talk station.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Cybersecurity Awareness a month They're still going strong.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Eight forty nine in the morning. Kevin Gordon in for
Brian Thomas, fifty five KR. See the talk station. Continue
our conversation with Cincinnati, VA Fisherhouse Manager Carrie Hagen. And
during the break, I pulled up this website and that
is one attractive house that is really attractive, a nice
layout and looks like a very comfortable facility. Yes it is.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
It's very beautiful, you know, and each year we go
through and and update make sure every it all has
all the comforts of home for the families that are
here in the veterans.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
That is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Now in terms in terms of this, how do veterans
and how do they make arrangements for this or what
are they what's the process there use of.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
The families that they're needing Fisher House lodging. They're usually
referred vi a consult by a member of their their
their husband, their sorry, their caregivers, healthcare team meaning physician, nurse,
or social worker. And then it's kind of they the
results come over to me, and it's kind of based
on eligibility and room availability. They're often assigned on you know,
(07:52):
first come first or basis, so that there's no there's
no guarantee, but we strive to accommodate all requests for lodging.
And we have the sixteen room, so each family is
allowed one private guest suite to share with a maximum
occupancy of three people.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And again going back to the type of people that
are involved in the military, their loved ones that are
in the hospital and so on.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I would say that these people are as a.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Whole somewhat rugged individualists and kind of would is there
Some people will think, oh gosh, you know, we don't
take charity and we're just you know, we're not that way.
This is something that you've earned. This is something that
your family member have earned by putting their life on
(08:42):
the line for this country, and it's the least we
can do and to provide this. So don't feel as
though that you're taking something that would you know, push
somebody else out. This is to make sure that your
loved one gets the best care possible and that you
can provide the support for them. Is that a thing
(09:03):
that has to be overcome? Or do you see that
at all?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Or I see that quite frequently here. There'll be a
lot of them that don't feel that they deserve, you know,
to even be lodging because it might be a simple
procedure or something. You know, maybe maybe someone else needs
it more than they do. That's not how we work here.
You know, if you if you are that one hundred
(09:27):
and fifty miles away and you need to be here
early at six am for a surgery, we're going to
help you. You know, we're going to get you in
this house and you know, not only that, because of donations,
I'm able to if I'm full here, I'm able to
lodge at a local hotel. So we we've got them covered,
you know, as long as they meet the eligibility and
(09:50):
we take care of them completely so that they're here
one hundred percent for their loved ones.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Fantastic. Now, how much what kind of statistics do you
have or well?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Currently, right now now, there's ninety eight houses in operation
in the United States. Those are on vas and DODS
military installation. As of todate, there's over five hundred thousand
families that have been served, six hundred and ten millions
in savings for the families, and over twelve million days
of lodging provided to families. So those are amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Those are astounding statistics. Yes, yeah, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And if because our listeners and because the American public
are so generous with their for people of groups that
they support, how can somebody help or or how can
they help out or where can they donate?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Oh definitely the Sinsiniba Medical Center Fisher Hoouse. We operate
on donated funds and rely on support from individuals and
groups to provide the ongoing daily needs of the Fisher
House and also enhance the stay of the Fisher House
and expand our program and those things such as fresh flowers,
daily newspaper magazines in the house. Things like that. We
(11:02):
have a wish list that we can provide or to
find out how you can support the military veterans families
of the Cincinnai Fisher House, you can call us at
five one three four seven five six five seven one
and we'll be happy to help you.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, and that's fantastic. Now, with the economy being as
it is, how is uh, how are your donations doing?
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Is there a critic?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well, I'm sure there's always the need, but in compared
to other years and so on, up.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
There's always a need, but it's surprisingly good. There is
still a lot of you know, outreach as far as
what is a Fisher House. There's quite a few people
that don't know what a Fisher House is and aonomi
I think it's a.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Builder, but these are exactly locally here.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Getting this out is wonderful, you know, to bring awareness
and even bring in more donations and more activity here
at the house for the families.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
I mean, it looks like an amazing foray and I
can just imagine the good that is done. And as
for the patient that's in the VA facility, how much
of a comfort that gives to them and then of
course to their families. So hats off to you and
then all the best and appreciation coming on the program.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Certainly appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Thank you so much for having me on here to
discuss the house that's where the families serve.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
And thank you. We're there and we're here for you.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
If you need something, to make sure you give us
a call and we'll get the word out. I thank thanks, Carrie.
I certainly appreciate it. VA since a VA Fisherhouse manager
Carrie Hagen, Well, folks, we're up against the clock here.
Time for me to get out of here has been
a I can't believe we've gone through four hours already,
but I could do another four if you want. Have
(12:48):
a great day. Kevin Gordon in for Brian Thomas. Fifty
five KR see the talk station.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
You're twenty twenty four election headquarters. Every voter should be
asking whether America can survive four more years of fifty
five KRC the talk station. This report is sponsored by
Pure
Height thirty nine in the morning.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Kevin Gordon in for Brian Thomas fifty five KR see
the talk station. It's my pleasure to introduced since AAVA
Fisher House Manager Kerrie Hagen.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Welcome to the program, Kerrie, thank you so much, Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
My pleasure. What is Fisher House?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
The Fisher House program was established in nineteen ninety by
Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher in response to their recognized need
for housing for military families while their loved ones were hospitalized.
In nineteen ninety one, the first Fisher House Wood was
inaugurated at the National Naval Medical Center now Walter Reed
in Bethesda, Maryland, with the presence of President George Bush
(00:50):
Senior during a dedication ceremony. The Fishers entered into a
public private partnership with the government, allowing Fisher House to
construct these homes on government owned land. Subsequently, these homes
were gifted to the military or the VA to operate.
Their aim is to provide families with a home away
from home, enabling to be part of the healing process
(01:12):
while their loved ones admitted. The Cincinnati, VA Fisher House
opened up in two thousand and one and is located
on the VIA premises. The house is beautifully decorated. It
has sixteen private suites, completely a common kitchen, laundry facilities,
spacious dining room and living room area for families to
gather and offer each other support and friendship while their
(01:33):
loved ones are receiving treatment at the Cincinnati BA Medical Center.
It's a wonderful place.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Well, that sounds wonderful, a fantastic idea, and of course
can't do enough for our veterans and their families. So
who can stay at Fisher House?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Well, the Cinnati, Va Fisher House welcomes guests to one
have a loved one receiving care at the Cincinnati VIA
Medical Center or receiving care at a local hospital that
is authorized by the VA Health Administration. They must live
at least forty to fifty miles and more away from
the medical center or the treating facilities that they're going to,
(02:07):
able to stay in a non medical, unsupervised setting, and
they have to follow all the rules of the house,
you know, in respect of our other fellow guests that
are in the house, and the veterans may stay as
long as they have a caregiver that can accompany them
at all times whout the Fisher House.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Now this uh facility. Now, when when I'm thinking house,
I'm thinking house, this is probably what is this? Is
it a house or is it a building that has
different suites like a kind of like an apartment complex
type of thing, or.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Well, yeah, yeah, it's a eleven thousand square foot facility
that actually looks like a house, and inside it has
the sixteen suites. It's a common living room, dining room,
and everything for people to join in. But they have
their little private area, their private room which has the bathroom,
and their bed facilities. Everything else is located on the
first floor as a common facility.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That is cool, That really sounds fantastic. Yeah, is there
a cost to stay there?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
No, absolutely not. There's no cost at all for any
of the family members to stay here while their loved
ones admitted.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Is there a time limit or anything along those.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Lines, don't we know? We just we don't have a
time limit. There's no minimum amount of stay. It could
be one day or it could be up to two weeks.
And you know, depending on the patient's care, what they're
receiving at the VA and what kind of how long
term nurse day is that's what we go by as
the manager.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, and as I said before, there's to me, there
is nothing that we can't do more. I mean we
can do we can't do enough for our veterans and veterans,
and this is one of those things that would is great,
especially for the families. I do know that you know
(03:58):
there there are US senior care facilities where somebody is
in a especially in your rural areas, where somebody is
at a particular hospital. And then of course, as you said,
some of these people live forty to fifty miles away,
and it's very difficult for them to be there and
to be with their loved one who's in the medical facility.
And so an opportunity like this, especially with our veterans,
(04:21):
to be able to either have their family nearby, because
again I think one of the big points is is
that if you know your loved ones are there and
they are there as a support to you, that can't hurt.
I mean, that has to help tremendously the healing process.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Absolutely, You're absolutely correct. It does help the healing process.
And you know, and the families they take pictures of
the house to take them over to their loved one.
To show them where they're staying at so then they
admitted veteran feels more at ease, more comfortable with receiving
the care, and then their loved one is going to
be their next room during their entire time of their mission.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Now, I'm going to go out on a line here
and I'm going to assume that most of these people
that are veterans that they are probably a kind of
take charge person and a protector person. So as they're
in the hospital, as they're receiving care, part of their
concern is how's my family doing. Are they being taken
(05:19):
care of? Are they okay? Which should be probably the
last thing on their mind. But because of how they
are built, how they are constructed, and the type of
personality they have, they are concerned about their family members
and to be able to have this facility for their
families should be a big sign of comfort for them.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Oh yes, I see it daily. Absolutely, you are correct.
With the veterans, they're very you know, in their ways
and want to make sure their loved one is taken
care of, even above their own needs. So when they
realize that you know, they're going to be staying, their
family members going to be staying at the Cincinnati be
a Fish House and they see the comforts and they
(06:02):
see everything. They meet us as the staffing here. They
are very comfortable and that's when they can go over
and you know, enjoy, take care of their healing process
to make them get better and well to go home.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Absolutely very good.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Can you hang with us through the break? We got
to take a quick break here and we'll come back
and pick this up because there's a lot more things
I want to find out about this for our listeners
and for the people certainly appreciate it. My guest is
since ANAVA Fisherhouse Manager, Carrie Hagen. I'm Kevin Gordon in
for Brian Thomas, fifty five KR. See the talk station.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Cybersecurity Awareness a month They're still going strong.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Eight forty nine in the morning. Kevin Gordon in for
Brian Thomas, fifty five KR. See the talk station. Continue
our conversation with Cincinnati, VA Fisherhouse Manager Carrie Hagen. And
during the break, I pulled up this website and that
is one attractive house that is really attractive, a nice
layout and looks like a very comfortable facility. Yes it is.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
It's very beautiful, you know, and each year we go
through and and update make sure every it all has
all the comforts of home for the families that are
here in the veterans.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
That is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Now in terms in terms of this, how do veterans
and how do they make arrangements for this or what
are they what's the process there use of.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
The families that they're needing Fisher House lodging. They're usually
referred vi a consult by a member of their their
their husband, their sorry, their caregivers, healthcare team meaning physician, nurse,
or social worker. And then it's kind of they the
results come over to me, and it's kind of based
on eligibility and room availability. They're often assigned on you know,
(07:52):
first come first or basis, so that there's no there's
no guarantee, but we strive to accommodate all requests for lodging.
And we have the sixteen room, so each family is
allowed one private guest suite to share with a maximum
occupancy of three people.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And again going back to the type of people that
are involved in the military, their loved ones that are
in the hospital and so on.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I would say that these people are as a.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Whole somewhat rugged individualists and kind of would is there
Some people will think, oh gosh, you know, we don't
take charity and we're just you know, we're not that way.
This is something that you've earned. This is something that
your family member have earned by putting their life on
(08:42):
the line for this country, and it's the least we
can do and to provide this. So don't feel as
though that you're taking something that would you know, push
somebody else out. This is to make sure that your
loved one gets the best care possible and that you
can provide the support for them. Is that a thing
(09:03):
that has to be overcome? Or do you see that
at all?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Or I see that quite frequently here. There'll be a
lot of them that don't feel that they deserve, you know,
to even be lodging because it might be a simple
procedure or something. You know, maybe maybe someone else needs
it more than they do. That's not how we work here.
You know, if you if you are that one hundred
(09:27):
and fifty miles away and you need to be here
early at six am for a surgery, we're going to
help you. You know, we're going to get you in
this house and you know, not only that, because of donations,
I'm able to if I'm full here, I'm able to
lodge at a local hotel. So we we've got them covered,
you know, as long as they meet the eligibility and
(09:50):
we take care of them completely so that they're here
one hundred percent for their loved ones.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Fantastic. Now, how much what kind of statistics do you
have or well?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Currently, right now now, there's ninety eight houses in operation
in the United States. Those are on vas and DODS
military installation. As of todate, there's over five hundred thousand
families that have been served, six hundred and ten millions
in savings for the families, and over twelve million days
of lodging provided to families. So those are amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Those are astounding statistics. Yes, yeah, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And if because our listeners and because the American public
are so generous with their for people of groups that
they support, how can somebody help or or how can
they help out or where can they donate?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Oh definitely the Sinsiniba Medical Center Fisher Hoouse. We operate
on donated funds and rely on support from individuals and
groups to provide the ongoing daily needs of the Fisher
House and also enhance the stay of the Fisher House
and expand our program and those things such as fresh flowers,
daily newspaper magazines in the house. Things like that. We
(11:02):
have a wish list that we can provide or to
find out how you can support the military veterans families
of the Cincinnai Fisher House, you can call us at
five one three four seven five six five seven one
and we'll be happy to help you.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, and that's fantastic. Now, with the economy being as
it is, how is uh, how are your donations doing?
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Is there a critic?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well, I'm sure there's always the need, but in compared
to other years and so on, up.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
There's always a need, but it's surprisingly good. There is
still a lot of you know, outreach as far as
what is a Fisher House. There's quite a few people
that don't know what a Fisher House is and aonomi
I think it's a.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Builder, but these are exactly locally here.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Getting this out is wonderful, you know, to bring awareness
and even bring in more donations and more activity here
at the house for the families.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
I mean, it looks like an amazing foray and I
can just imagine the good that is done. And as
for the patient that's in the VA facility, how much
of a comfort that gives to them and then of
course to their families. So hats off to you and
then all the best and appreciation coming on the program.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Certainly appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Thank you so much for having me on here to
discuss the house that's where the families serve.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
And thank you. We're there and we're here for you.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
If you need something, to make sure you give us
a call and we'll get the word out. I thank thanks, Carrie.
I certainly appreciate it. VA since a VA Fisherhouse manager
Carrie Hagen, Well, folks, we're up against the clock here.
Time for me to get out of here has been
a I can't believe we've gone through four hours already,
but I could do another four if you want. Have
(12:48):
a great day. Kevin Gordon in for Brian Thomas. Fifty
five KR see the talk station.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
You're twenty twenty four election headquarters. Every voter should be
asking whether America can survive four more years of fifty
five KRC the talk station. This report is sponsored by
Pure
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