June 9, 2025 • 29 mins
Northern Virginia's veteran community has been eagerly watching the construction of the Puller Veterans Care Center, and now we're getting closer to its highly anticipated opening. Mary Tietjen, the center's Director of Admissions, will join us to explain precisely what makes this facility so special and what veterans and their families can expect.
As Virginia's fourth state-run veterans nursing home, the Puller Center represents a significant investment in our aging veteran population. Unlike typical institutional settings, this 128-bed facility features an innovative "neighborhood" design where residents have private rooms but share intimate household spaces with just 15 other veterans. Each household includes its own kitchen, dining area, and community spaces to foster the camaraderie that many veterans miss after leaving service.
Mary walks us through the meticulous process of preparing such a facility, from the physical setup to the complex certification requirements involving the Department of Health, Medicaid, Medicare, and ultimately the VA. While these necessary steps mean the center won't open until sometime later in 2025, the wait promises to be worthwhile. The facility will initially offer short-term and long-term rehabilitation, with plans to incorporate memory care services.
What stands out most is the overwhelming community response. Mary's phone rings constantly with not only veterans and families hoping to secure a spot but also community members eager to volunteer their time and talents. From gardening to reading to musical entertainment, the surrounding community is ready to embrace these veterans and enhance their quality of life.
For those with veteran family members who might benefit from this level of care, Mary explains the waitlist process and how to connect with additional veteran resources through Virginia's robust Department of Veteran Services. With nearly 900,000 veterans in Virginia and approximately 55,000 in Prince William County alone, facilities like the Puller Center are essential to meeting growing care needs.
Do you have a veteran in your family who might benefit from the Puller Veterans Care Center? Contact Mary at (540) 680-5200 or PVCCAdmissions@dvs.virginia.gov to learn more and join the waitlist. Want to volunteer your time and talents? They're collecting information now about when the doors will open!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Larry Zilliox (00:00):
Good morning.
I'm your host, Larry Zilliox,Director of Culinary Services
here at the Warrior Retreat atBull Run, and this week we're
joined by our co-host veteran,John Wall.
Welcome, John.
Thank you, larry, it's great tobe here.
And our guest this week is MaryTegent.
She is the Director ofAdmissions at the Puller
(00:22):
Veterans Center, which is herein Northern Virginia.
It's located over in theVinhill section of Falkirk
County.
We've been waiting for thePuller Center to open for some
time.
Many of you remember our firstepisode in season three.
Our guest was CommissionerChuck Zingler and I asked him
about it and he was a littlecagey as to what was going on,
(00:46):
which I understand, becausethere's some construction issues
and whenever there'sconstruction issues there's
usually legal issues and I getthat.
But today we're very excited tohave Mary here so she can tell
us about the facility itself andI believe it's 128 beds, but
(01:07):
we'll confirm that and what ittakes to get a property like
this up and running, which Ifind fascinating because it's
not as easy as you might think.
But, mary, welcome to thepodcast.
John Wall (01:22):
Thank you for having me.
Larry Zilliox (01:23):
Yes, good to have you here today.
Let's start by tellingeverybody a little bit about
your background and how youbecame involved with the Puller
Center.
John Wall (01:34):
Well, my background has always been in marketing and
admissions for senior living.
So I live right around thecorner from Benton Hill and I've
seen the Puller Center from theground up and I just kept
watching for that right sweetspot of a job and I got it.
So very, very excited.
(01:55):
Congrats, thank you, thank you.
Larry Zilliox (01:57):
So for those listeners who aren't in the area
, and I just want to give alittle bit of background and I
just want to give a little bitof background is that the Polar
Center is actually funded andwill be run by the Virginia
Department of Veteran Services.
So it's not a VA facility, it'sa state-owned and run facility
(02:23):
and the employees there arestate employees, part of DVS
Department of Veteran Services.
And this, while it did receivesome federal funding, most of
the money came from the stateand this is not the first
veterans center that the stateruns.
There are others throughout thestate.
I believe there's two others.
John Wall (02:40):
So there's actually three others.
This is the fourth state-runnursing home for the state of
Virginia.
Larry Zilliox (02:46):
Wow.
John Wall (02:47):
So there's the first one was Roanoke, and then
there's one in Richmond, andthen the most recent one is
Virginia Beach.
Larry Zilliox (02:58):
Down in the Tidewater area Well, which makes
sense because there's a hugeveteran population in the
Tidewater area that's great aswell as here in Northern
Virginia.
Mary Tietjen (03:08):
Yeah, and those three are fully operational
currently.
John Wall (03:12):
They are.
Mary Tietjen (03:12):
Okay, great, minus the one that you are now
managing correct.
That's correct, okay.
John Wall (03:18):
So the most recent one, virginia Beach.
They opened just under twoyears ago and they, I believe
they opened up their lastsection.
So they're all of them are.
They all have wait lists andthey're getting full.
Larry Zilliox (03:33):
Wow, was I correct this one's 128 beds, or
how many beds will this have?
John Wall (03:39):
You are correct, it's the exact same layout as the
most recent one in VirginiaBeach.
It's the exact same layout asthe most recent one in Virginia
Beach.
It's 128 single rooms, so theyhave their own room, own
bathroom, shower, everything.
Larry Zilliox (03:54):
Wow.
So if you would just kind ofbriefly talk about where are we
at in the process, are we closeto this opening?
John Wall (04:06):
So every day we're getting closer, I know.
Every day we're getting closer,you know, one step in front of
the other.
There are some processes thatwe have to go through.
Right now we're in a setupphase.
Not only you know people thinkabout oh, you need a bed to lay
(04:27):
in, you know, and furniture andchairs to sit on and tables to
eat at, but you know there's alot that goes on behind the
scenes security, door access, it, everything has to be set up.
So we're working every day toget that done.
Not only so that's the setupphase, but then there's also the
certification phase.
So Department of Health willcome in, grant us their blessing
(04:47):
and then we'll have Medicaidand Medicare and then from there
the VA will come in and we'llhave a per diem.
So, even though that was allsaid in about four or five
(05:11):
sentences that I said, that cantake several months, anywhere
from three to eight months.
Mary Tietjen (05:17):
Yeah, Well, it's a long time, but it's just a lot
going on in the background andto get this place up and running
and I know the community and Iassume veterans are really
looking forward to you knowsomewhere to go in this area
that needs it Right, and so Ican't wait for those doors to
open.
John Wall (05:36):
And not only the veterans.
I mean, I get phone calls allthe time from people who want to
volunteer and offer theirservices.
People who want to volunteerand offer their services.
You know some people.
They love to write cards andthey want to be able to, you
know, give these cards to theveterans, whereas others want to
help with a garden bed, readingto veterans, singing.
There's just so much.
(05:56):
I mean, the whole community isjust so, so excited.
Mary Tietjen (06:00):
They're anticipating this.
They're ready to go.
John Wall (06:03):
They are ready.
Mary Tietjen (06:03):
They're charged.
That's great.
They are definitely ready.
Yeah, that's good.
You know we need moreorganizations like this in the
area to keep pushing this.
You know these missions andvisions to keep helping veterans
and you know service membersthat are going to be coming out
and you know that's good that wegot people in the community are
waiting to sign up ready to go,so that's good.
Larry Zilliox (06:24):
So we're fortunate here in the
Commonwealth we have a verystrong Department of Veterans
Services.
Not all states have it.
I don't know of another statethat has four state-owned
nursing homes facilities forveterans.
I don't think there's anotherone out there.
We do have a large veteranpopulation.
(06:46):
Here in Prince William Countywe're looking at about 55,000 or
so.
Statewide we're looking at750,000 veterans.
Mary Tietjen (06:55):
Yeah, I think, larry.
The last time I checked we'reapproaching 900.
Larry Zilliox (06:59):
Yeah, well that's a lot, and every year about
200,000 service members separateand become veterans.
So that population is growingall the time and this is
certainly as your veterans ageout of their own homes the Iraq,
afghanistan veterans,especially some that have
(07:22):
serious medical issues that aregoing to cut their lives short.
There's a growing populationthat needs these kind of
services and I think it'simportant for our listeners to
understand that.
Here in Virginia there are alot of VSOs and the state in
particular really does try toaddress the needs of its veteran
(07:46):
population, and this is just areally good example.
Now, getting it done is likepulling teeth, but it's getting
done, and I know everybody inthis area has been like when is
it opening?
When is it opening?
What's the deal?
You know it was constructionrelated and that is out of a lot
(08:09):
of people's hands and it's.
It really has nothing to dowith the crew that's there now.
What are the programs thatyou're standing up right now?
I imagine?
Are you hiring for culinary?
Are you hiring nursing folks,nursing assistants?
Where is the manpower processright now?
John Wall (08:29):
So, and I'm not, you know, in the hiring process, but
I can just speak to what I know.
Most of the department headshave been hired and we're
starting to look at those thatfall in place behind the
department heads CNAs and, youknow, dietary aids and
(08:50):
housekeeping.
I don't think we're there yet,but I do know that pretty much
all the department heads arethere and we're just everybody's
trying to fine tune theirdepartment along with working
together.
Larry Zilliox (09:05):
Yeah Well, also, too, it has to be a sort of
scalable issue in the sense thatyou can't hire, you know, 25
nurses and 35 nursing assistantswhen you have only three
veterans in house.
Have only three veteransin-house.
(09:29):
So I get where.
As you get the veterans in, youget the certifications, which
is something that we really wantto talk to you about.
That process, so our listenersunderstand it's really in-depth.
But as you get thecertifications that you need and
I imagine you'll fill up prettyquick after that and you'll see
this kind of really boost inhiring, which you know,
(09:50):
listeners, if you're out thereand you know you have these
professional skills and you wantto think about a way to give
back, you know working for theDepartment of Veterans Service
is not a bad gig.
You know you're a stateemployee, you get a lot of
benefits, you get retirement,you get a lot and it can be a
(10:12):
career field when you're talkingabout nursing homes with a high
rate of turnover, not very manybenefits, low pay, long work
hours.
So you know, think about thePuller Center when you're
thinking about employment.
It's my understanding that youneed to get some private pay
(10:33):
veterans in there first so thatyou can demonstrate the
facility's ability to provideservices to in-house residents
so that you get thesecertifications from Medicare,
medicaid and the VA.
Is that correct?
John Wall (10:50):
That is correct.
That is correct.
Once we get our certificationfor Medicare, medicaid, we'll
need another set of veterans inthere.
I believe it's up to 20veterans at that time and
(11:11):
everything.
You know the way that we'resupposed to and there's no dings
or anything like that.
And then then we'll becontracted through the VA.
Mary Tietjen (11:28):
Now that means that at that point we would be
able to.
The veterans will be eligibleto either receive full, but they
can't because you haven't gonethrough the procedural side of
the house yet to get you andthose folks in the beds.
John Wall (11:42):
So I have two phones and I think my work phone brings
more than my personal phone andmy family's always told me I'm
always on the phone, so it'spretty miraculous.
I get phone calls all the timefrom family members, whether
it's son, daughter or spouse.
Sometimes it's the veteranthemselves that call.
You know when are you guysgoing to be open?
(12:03):
I'm ready, I need assistance orI'm coming out of the hospital.
I just had a hip replacement, Ineed rehab, you know all of
that, things of that nature, butthey are ready to come.
We have plenty that are readyto come and, you know,
unfortunately I do get thosephone calls and my husband just
(12:24):
passed away, or my dad passedaway, or my grandpa passed away,
and those are really.
Those are the hard.
Those are the hard phone callsbecause nobody.
That's not what we want.
If we could have had the doorsopen years ago, we surely would
have.
But it also has to be a safeplace because we want to be able
to provide the best care forthe veterans.
Mary Tietjen (12:46):
And speaking of a safe, you know, good care for
the veterans there, I believe Iread something about creating
little communities within afacility.
Is that true?
John Wall (12:55):
So this facility is set up very differently from any
other facility that I've everbeen in.
There's not a centralizedcafeteria, for example.
So there are two neighborhoods.
Each neighborhood has eighthouseholds in them, and so each
household will have 16individual beds in there.
(13:20):
Within that household.
It's like a home that anybodywould live in.
They've got a kitchen in there,you know, dining area, a little
family room area, book area, soit's all within that household.
So it's very special, it's veryintimate, it's very, you know
(13:40):
the camaraderie that theseveterans have with one another.
It's amazing to see it and allthe other in our sister
facilities and I can't wait tosee it in ours.
But it is great how it is setup into different households
where they can sit around and doa puzzle, they can watch a show
together, share a meal together.
(14:02):
It's wonderful.
Larry Zilliox (14:04):
So, to be clear though, it's sort of like a
centralized community room, thatkind of thing.
But when you said 16 beds inthere, those would be individual
rooms with a bed off of this,not a dormitory style.
Okay, I just wanted to makethat clear because I know some
of our listeners are going whoa,what you know okay, these rooms
(14:27):
are great.
John Wall (14:27):
They're very spacious .
Actually, there's a built-in.
They have a desk, a TV area andtheir own bathroom and there's
a bed in there and they alsohave a sitting chair in there as
well.
Larry Zilliox (14:40):
Yeah, so they're in their room and then they come
out into the community spacewhere they can connect, and you
know, I'm sure you're going tohave all sorts of volunteer
programs where people come inand do crafts with them and
things like that.
It just sounds amazing really.
How is it divided up?
I mean, you're going to havesome permanent residents,
(15:03):
nursing home residents.
There will be temporary or likerehab rooms and then will there
be a memory care unit, or is itjust going to be regular
nursing home?
John Wall (15:16):
So for starters it's going to be short-term rehab and
long-term care.
All beds will be dual certified, meaning some facilities are
broken up where they might have15 beds that are only for
short-term rehab, the rest arefor long-term care.
With our facility, each bedwill be dual, so you can have
(15:37):
short-term rehab or long-termcare in that room.
For memory care, we will havethe capability to help those
veterans that do have somememory impairment when it comes
to eloping or trying to escape.
Those are the veterans thatneed to be in a locked unit.
We will not be opening withthat at this time.
(15:58):
Our main goal is to get thedoors open as quickly and safely
as we can so that we can helpall the veterans that are out
there at this time that need us.
Larry Zilliox (16:09):
Is there a design element to it that will enable
you to incorporate a memory careunit at a future date?
Yes, okay.
John Wall (16:17):
Yes, and so basically a memory care unit is just a
unit that has the ability to belocked down and there's some
discrepancies with memory careunit.
Just because you go into onedoesn't mean you stay in there
for forever.
I mean you do age and thedisease progresses.
Unfortunately, there's only aone-way slope with it.
(16:38):
At that time those veteranswill be able to join everybody
else and then that will free upa bed that you know a veteran
needs that is eloping at thattime.
But so unfortunately we won'tbe opening with that.
It takes a specialcertification.
I think it has a certification,but it does take special staff
(17:01):
to handle those types ofresidents and their care needs.
Mary Tietjen (17:06):
That's good.
Make sure we protect you, knowthem and get the help they need
eventually.
What brings me to a thought?
You know we talk a lot aboutthe veteran and you know how
they're going to be there andget the assistance for long-term
, short-term, you know, andmaybe for our listeners and even
myself, what if I was alistener and I'm thinking like
(17:26):
well, I have a dad or a mom,that, or an uncle or someone
like that that needs to stay inthis place.
Where do I fit in as a familymember?
Are there certain hours?
Is it open all the time?
Can they stay on the facility?
You know stuff like that.
John Wall (17:41):
So there is no room for anybody to stay.
There's literally the 128 roomsfor the veterans.
But we welcome all familymembers, all visitors, all
volunteers.
I don't believe we've come upwith a certain time frame of you
know hours.
I think it's open.
I think the goal is to have itopen whenever, but obviously be
(18:04):
respectful of others that aregoing to be sleeping or trying
to get ready in the morning andall that kind of stuff, even
though they have their privateroom.
But still, no, we welcome allvisitors and all families.
Larry Zilliox (18:17):
Is there a process in place now for
veterans or family members whothink that a veteran and their
family would be best served bythis facility to sign up for it?
Is there a webpage or is it toosoon for that?
John Wall (18:38):
Not at all.
I have people calling all thetime and whether they need help
now or in the future, we do havean ongoing wait list.
I take very basic informationand I will add them to the wait
list.
When we start making the phonecalls to you know, when we're
ready to rock and roll and startfilling the beds, I will go
(18:59):
down from the top down to makethose phone calls.
And you know there's probablygoing to be some that have not
called in to inform us that theypassed away.
There's going to be others thatyou know decide to go live with
their son or daughter inFlorida and that's where they've
relocated and that's fine.
At that time we'll take themoff the list.
(19:20):
If we come down to somebodythat's, you know, not ready yet,
for whatever reason, they'llremain where they are and I'll
just go to the next individual.
I do have a lot of veterans thatcall in and I ask them if
they're service connected.
Do you know if you have anybenefits?
And we can't help with thatprocess, but I can guide them in
(19:41):
that way.
I started here in this position.
I just hit my six months SinceI've been in this position.
I have met so many people outthere willing to help.
You know whether it's abenefits officer or whether it's
, you know, somebody who dealswith veterans and homelessness.
So I have a lot of contacts andI don't like to just say, oh,
(20:04):
google, this or Google, that Idefinitely guide them in that
way to certain individuals wherethey'll be able to get the help
that they need.
So, whether I put them on thewait list or not, at least I can
give them a little bit of hopeof you know, go here, go there,
and they can get that assistance.
Larry Zilliox (20:22):
Well, our listeners should know that the
Virginia Department of VeteransServices can provide virtually
every service that the VAprovides absent benefits,
financial benefits, soeverything else that the VA
provides its veterans.
(20:44):
The Department of VeteransServices here in Virginia can
provide those services, whetherit's homelessness, job support,
peer counseling,justice-involved veterans If you
have a family member who has aveteran who's in jail or
currently engaged with thejustice system, there are
(21:06):
justice-involved veteran serviceemployees from DVS that can
help.
Employees from DVS that canhelp and I can't spring them
from jail, but they cancertainly help with managing
their caseload and trying tohelp them when they eventually
get out so that they can helpand they're not repeat offenders
(21:29):
.
And you know a lot of thejustice-involved veterans we
have in the Commonwealth arethere because of situations that
they got themselves in, becauseof substance abuse.
They're self-medicating,they're having problems and DVS
can help with that.
So all those resources that youget from the VA are available
(21:51):
from the state as well, and ofcourse, they can help veterans
with claims.
In fact, my claim both myinitial claim and a PAC Act
claim that I had were both filedby DVS for me on my behalf, and
so I'm very familiar with theservices that they offer, and
we've had a number of folks fromDVS in different departments
(22:13):
join us here for episodes, andwe're very fortunate that
they're open to sharinginformation about their services
with us.
What about volunteers?
Are we at a point now wherepeople can call up and say, I
want to volunteer, or shouldthey hold off until maybe
there's a big announcement thatthey're going to open soon or
(22:35):
something?
What would make your job easier?
I don't want to say, hey,volunteer, and then you're
getting a million calls that youcan't do anything with.
So what's going to make yourjob easier?
John Wall (22:48):
Honestly.
I have a spreadsheet that hasmy marketing leads and I have
the waitlist and I have a hugespreadsheet with volunteers.
So if you feel the need thatyou want to give back in any way
, shape or form, give me a call,let me know and I'll definitely
take your information down.
We have not hired yet adirector of life enrichment but
(23:14):
at that time when we do, I amgoing to gladly give that huge
list to that special him or herso I can lighten up my load a
little bit, so I can focus ongetting these veterans in.
Larry Zilliox (23:27):
Here you go, welcome, yeah.
So if you honestly.
John Wall (23:30):
If you feel the need you know, just give me a call,
we can talk about it.
I can jot down your informationand do know that if you do call
and give your name andinformation, you know we do save
it and you will be called andcontacted.
But also, if you want to followup, just give a call.
Larry Zilliox (23:47):
What's the number they should call?
John Wall (23:49):
So the main number for Polar Veterans Care Center?
It's on the website.
Welcome to call that.
Larry Zilliox (23:56):
Okay.
John Wall (23:56):
It comes straight to my cell phone at this time.
There's also an emailpvccadmissionsdvs.
Or at dvsvirginiaorg or gov.
So definitely feel free toreach out at dvsvirginiaorg or
gov.
So definitely, you know, feelfree to reach out at any time.
Larry Zilliox (24:15):
We'll have that information in the show notes
for all of our listeners, and Iknow we're here at the Warrior
Retreat.
We're very excited aboutpartnering with you and one of
the things we were justdiscussing the other day is that
we recently had a luncheon forelderly veterans age 70 and
(24:35):
older, and we focus on theseelderly veterans who have
mobility issues.
They don't get out much and webrought them here to give them a
chance to connect with otherveterans, to connect with
veteran organizations that canhelp them with whether it's food
, insecurity, nova vets we had alot of folks here that could
(25:01):
provide these veterans withservices and we were just
talking about.
Hopefully we'll be able to getsome of the Puller Center
veterans over for lunch in thespring when we do the next one.
We were very excited that wegot 10 veterans elderly veterans
from DC, and there's a programthere where an entire apartment
(25:22):
building has been converted intoveteran housing and they were
all formerly homeless and sothat's one of the things we're
looking forward to, so you canalways find elderly veterans at
a nursing home.
So there's probably not goingto be any shortage and maybe by
the time you fill up, we'll havea couple of these events
(25:44):
throughout the year, so we'revery excited about that.
We just don't have a date foropening yet, do we?
Or?
a target anything.
John Wall (25:52):
Not yet, anywhere from three to eight months.
Larry Zilliox (25:56):
Okay, that's the easiest answer.
So within the year 2025 is theyear we are.
John Wall (26:02):
that is what we are pushing and pulling, that is the
goal, that is their mission,that is our mission.
Mary Tietjen (26:08):
I like it.
I do too Really looking forwardto this.
It'd be good to you know, goover to the Polar Center and
help them out, or bring theveterans here and do something
for them as well.
I'm going to go over and pickout my room Kidding.
Well, I think someone elsewould have something to say
about that.
Larry Zilliox (26:27):
I think you're going to no no, She'll be ready
to get rid of me, Trust me.
Yes, no, that's not a problem.
She'll help me pick out a room.
Let me tell you so well as wesort of wrap this up here Mary,
I can't thank you enough forjoining us, but what's the one
thing you want our listeners toknow the most about the Polar
(26:49):
Veterans Center?
John Wall (26:51):
one thing you want our listeners to know the most
about the Puller Veterans Center.
I want everybody to know that,even though it's taken a long
time to get to even where we aretoday, you know we're doing
everything in our power that wecan to get the doors open safely
, efficiently.
We want to be the best carecenter around for our veterans.
Um, everybody that, all of allof the team, everybody that's on
(27:13):
the team right now, our heartsare so in it.
We're in it to win it.
We're ready to go.
Larry Zilliox (27:19):
Wow.
Well, we wish you all the luckand if, certainly if there's
anything that we can do and I'msure there's not much we can do,
but anything you can think ofthat we can do to help, we're
there for you because this isgoing to be such an important
addition to the community andthe veteran community here and
(27:40):
the community overall, becausewhat we've found here is that
having a place for people tovolunteer to come and interact
with veterans or at leastprovide a service that helps
veterans is something that givesback to the community, and I
(28:00):
can't wait for volunteers to getin there and experience how
what they do has such an impacton others, especially the
veterans who have given so muchfor our country.
So we just really appreciateyou coming.
John Wall (28:15):
Thank you, thank you for having me, thank you very
much.
Mary Tietjen (28:18):
You're welcome.
It's our honor to have you here, so appreciate you being here.
Larry Zilliox (28:22):
So, for our listeners, we'll have another
episode next Monday morning at0500.
Those of you who'd like to getup early and listen to podcasts,
you can find us on all themajor podcast platforms.
We're also on YouTube andWreaths Across America Radio.
So thanks for listening.
Good morning.
I'm your host, Larry Zilliox,Director of Culinary Services
here at the Warrior Retreat atBull Run, and this week we're
joined by our co-host veteran,John Wall.
Welcome, John.
Thank you, larry, it's great tobe here.
And our guest this week is MaryTegent.
She is the Director ofAdmissions at the Puller
(00:22):
Veterans Center, which is herein Northern Virginia.
It's located over in theVinhill section of Falkirk
County.
We've been waiting for thePuller Center to open for some
time.
Many of you remember our firstepisode in season three.
Our guest was CommissionerChuck Zingler and I asked him
about it and he was a littlecagey as to what was going on,
(00:46):
which I understand, becausethere's some construction issues
and whenever there'sconstruction issues there's
usually legal issues and I getthat.
But today we're very excited tohave Mary here so she can tell
us about the facility itself andI believe it's 128 beds, but
(01:07):
we'll confirm that and what ittakes to get a property like
this up and running, which Ifind fascinating because it's
not as easy as you might think.
But, mary, welcome to thepodcast.
John Wall (01:22):
Thank you for having me.
Larry Zilliox (01:23):
Yes, good to have you here today.
Let's start by tellingeverybody a little bit about
your background and how youbecame involved with the Puller
Center.
John Wall (01:34):
Well, my background has always been in marketing and
admissions for senior living.
So I live right around thecorner from Benton Hill and I've
seen the Puller Center from theground up and I just kept
watching for that right sweetspot of a job and I got it.
So very, very excited.
(01:55):
Congrats, thank you, thank you.
Larry Zilliox (01:57):
So for those listeners who aren't in the area
, and I just want to give alittle bit of background and I
just want to give a little bitof background is that the Polar
Center is actually funded andwill be run by the Virginia
Department of Veteran Services.
So it's not a VA facility, it'sa state-owned and run facility
(02:23):
and the employees there arestate employees, part of DVS
Department of Veteran Services.
And this, while it did receivesome federal funding, most of
the money came from the stateand this is not the first
veterans center that the stateruns.
There are others throughout thestate.
I believe there's two others.
John Wall (02:40):
So there's actually three others.
This is the fourth state-runnursing home for the state of
Virginia.
Larry Zilliox (02:46):
Wow.
John Wall (02:47):
So there's the first one was Roanoke, and then
there's one in Richmond, andthen the most recent one is
Virginia Beach.
Larry Zilliox (02:58):
Down in the Tidewater area Well, which makes
sense because there's a hugeveteran population in the
Tidewater area that's great aswell as here in Northern
Virginia.
Mary Tietjen (03:08):
Yeah, and those three are fully operational
currently.
John Wall (03:12):
They are.
Mary Tietjen (03:12):
Okay, great, minus the one that you are now
managing correct.
That's correct, okay.
John Wall (03:18):
So the most recent one, virginia Beach.
They opened just under twoyears ago and they, I believe
they opened up their lastsection.
So they're all of them are.
They all have wait lists andthey're getting full.
Larry Zilliox (03:33):
Wow, was I correct this one's 128 beds, or
how many beds will this have?
John Wall (03:39):
You are correct, it's the exact same layout as the
most recent one in VirginiaBeach.
It's the exact same layout asthe most recent one in Virginia
Beach.
It's 128 single rooms, so theyhave their own room, own
bathroom, shower, everything.
Larry Zilliox (03:54):
Wow.
So if you would just kind ofbriefly talk about where are we
at in the process, are we closeto this opening?
John Wall (04:06):
So every day we're getting closer, I know.
Every day we're getting closer,you know, one step in front of
the other.
There are some processes thatwe have to go through.
Right now we're in a setupphase.
Not only you know people thinkabout oh, you need a bed to lay
(04:27):
in, you know, and furniture andchairs to sit on and tables to
eat at, but you know there's alot that goes on behind the
scenes security, door access, it, everything has to be set up.
So we're working every day toget that done.
Not only so that's the setupphase, but then there's also the
certification phase.
So Department of Health willcome in, grant us their blessing
(04:47):
and then we'll have Medicaidand Medicare and then from there
the VA will come in and we'llhave a per diem.
So, even though that was allsaid in about four or five
(05:11):
sentences that I said, that cantake several months, anywhere
from three to eight months.
Mary Tietjen (05:17):
Yeah, Well, it's a long time, but it's just a lot
going on in the background andto get this place up and running
and I know the community and Iassume veterans are really
looking forward to you knowsomewhere to go in this area
that needs it Right, and so Ican't wait for those doors to
open.
John Wall (05:36):
And not only the veterans.
I mean, I get phone calls allthe time from people who want to
volunteer and offer theirservices.
People who want to volunteerand offer their services.
You know some people.
They love to write cards andthey want to be able to, you
know, give these cards to theveterans, whereas others want to
help with a garden bed, readingto veterans, singing.
There's just so much.
(05:56):
I mean, the whole community isjust so, so excited.
Mary Tietjen (06:00):
They're anticipating this.
They're ready to go.
John Wall (06:03):
They are ready.
Mary Tietjen (06:03):
They're charged.
That's great.
They are definitely ready.
Yeah, that's good.
You know we need moreorganizations like this in the
area to keep pushing this.
You know these missions andvisions to keep helping veterans
and you know service membersthat are going to be coming out
and you know that's good that wegot people in the community are
waiting to sign up ready to go,so that's good.
Larry Zilliox (06:24):
So we're fortunate here in the
Commonwealth we have a verystrong Department of Veterans
Services.
Not all states have it.
I don't know of another statethat has four state-owned
nursing homes facilities forveterans.
I don't think there's anotherone out there.
We do have a large veteranpopulation.
(06:46):
Here in Prince William Countywe're looking at about 55,000 or
so.
Statewide we're looking at750,000 veterans.
Mary Tietjen (06:55):
Yeah, I think, larry.
The last time I checked we'reapproaching 900.
Larry Zilliox (06:59):
Yeah, well that's a lot, and every year about
200,000 service members separateand become veterans.
So that population is growingall the time and this is
certainly as your veterans ageout of their own homes the Iraq,
afghanistan veterans,especially some that have
(07:22):
serious medical issues that aregoing to cut their lives short.
There's a growing populationthat needs these kind of
services and I think it'simportant for our listeners to
understand that.
Here in Virginia there are alot of VSOs and the state in
particular really does try toaddress the needs of its veteran
(07:46):
population, and this is just areally good example.
Now, getting it done is likepulling teeth, but it's getting
done, and I know everybody inthis area has been like when is
it opening?
When is it opening?
What's the deal?
You know it was constructionrelated and that is out of a lot
(08:09):
of people's hands and it's.
It really has nothing to dowith the crew that's there now.
What are the programs thatyou're standing up right now?
I imagine?
Are you hiring for culinary?
Are you hiring nursing folks,nursing assistants?
Where is the manpower processright now?
John Wall (08:29):
So, and I'm not, you know, in the hiring process, but
I can just speak to what I know.
Most of the department headshave been hired and we're
starting to look at those thatfall in place behind the
department heads CNAs and, youknow, dietary aids and
(08:50):
housekeeping.
I don't think we're there yet,but I do know that pretty much
all the department heads arethere and we're just everybody's
trying to fine tune theirdepartment along with working
together.
Larry Zilliox (09:05):
Yeah Well, also, too, it has to be a sort of
scalable issue in the sense thatyou can't hire, you know, 25
nurses and 35 nursing assistantswhen you have only three
veterans in house.
Have only three veteransin-house.
(09:29):
So I get where.
As you get the veterans in, youget the certifications, which
is something that we really wantto talk to you about.
That process, so our listenersunderstand it's really in-depth.
But as you get thecertifications that you need and
I imagine you'll fill up prettyquick after that and you'll see
this kind of really boost inhiring, which you know,
(09:50):
listeners, if you're out thereand you know you have these
professional skills and you wantto think about a way to give
back, you know working for theDepartment of Veterans Service
is not a bad gig.
You know you're a stateemployee, you get a lot of
benefits, you get retirement,you get a lot and it can be a
(10:12):
career field when you're talkingabout nursing homes with a high
rate of turnover, not very manybenefits, low pay, long work
hours.
So you know, think about thePuller Center when you're
thinking about employment.
It's my understanding that youneed to get some private pay
(10:33):
veterans in there first so thatyou can demonstrate the
facility's ability to provideservices to in-house residents
so that you get thesecertifications from Medicare,
medicaid and the VA.
Is that correct?
John Wall (10:50):
That is correct.
That is correct.
Once we get our certificationfor Medicare, medicaid, we'll
need another set of veterans inthere.
I believe it's up to 20veterans at that time and
(11:11):
everything.
You know the way that we'resupposed to and there's no dings
or anything like that.
And then then we'll becontracted through the VA.
Mary Tietjen (11:28):
Now that means that at that point we would be
able to.
The veterans will be eligibleto either receive full, but they
can't because you haven't gonethrough the procedural side of
the house yet to get you andthose folks in the beds.
John Wall (11:42):
So I have two phones and I think my work phone brings
more than my personal phone andmy family's always told me I'm
always on the phone, so it'spretty miraculous.
I get phone calls all the timefrom family members, whether
it's son, daughter or spouse.
Sometimes it's the veteranthemselves that call.
You know when are you guysgoing to be open?
(12:03):
I'm ready, I need assistance orI'm coming out of the hospital.
I just had a hip replacement, Ineed rehab, you know all of
that, things of that nature, butthey are ready to come.
We have plenty that are readyto come and, you know,
unfortunately I do get thosephone calls and my husband just
(12:24):
passed away, or my dad passedaway, or my grandpa passed away,
and those are really.
Those are the hard.
Those are the hard phone callsbecause nobody.
That's not what we want.
If we could have had the doorsopen years ago, we surely would
have.
But it also has to be a safeplace because we want to be able
to provide the best care forthe veterans.
Mary Tietjen (12:46):
And speaking of a safe, you know, good care for
the veterans there, I believe Iread something about creating
little communities within afacility.
Is that true?
John Wall (12:55):
So this facility is set up very differently from any
other facility that I've everbeen in.
There's not a centralizedcafeteria, for example.
So there are two neighborhoods.
Each neighborhood has eighthouseholds in them, and so each
household will have 16individual beds in there.
(13:20):
Within that household.
It's like a home that anybodywould live in.
They've got a kitchen in there,you know, dining area, a little
family room area, book area, soit's all within that household.
So it's very special, it's veryintimate, it's very, you know
(13:40):
the camaraderie that theseveterans have with one another.
It's amazing to see it and allthe other in our sister
facilities and I can't wait tosee it in ours.
But it is great how it is setup into different households
where they can sit around and doa puzzle, they can watch a show
together, share a meal together.
(14:02):
It's wonderful.
Larry Zilliox (14:04):
So, to be clear though, it's sort of like a
centralized community room, thatkind of thing.
But when you said 16 beds inthere, those would be individual
rooms with a bed off of this,not a dormitory style.
Okay, I just wanted to makethat clear because I know some
of our listeners are going whoa,what you know okay, these rooms
(14:27):
are great.
John Wall (14:27):
They're very spacious .
Actually, there's a built-in.
They have a desk, a TV area andtheir own bathroom and there's
a bed in there and they alsohave a sitting chair in there as
well.
Larry Zilliox (14:40):
Yeah, so they're in their room and then they come
out into the community spacewhere they can connect, and you
know, I'm sure you're going tohave all sorts of volunteer
programs where people come inand do crafts with them and
things like that.
It just sounds amazing really.
How is it divided up?
I mean, you're going to havesome permanent residents,
(15:03):
nursing home residents.
There will be temporary or likerehab rooms and then will there
be a memory care unit, or is itjust going to be regular
nursing home?
John Wall (15:16):
So for starters it's going to be short-term rehab and
long-term care.
All beds will be dual certified, meaning some facilities are
broken up where they might have15 beds that are only for
short-term rehab, the rest arefor long-term care.
With our facility, each bedwill be dual, so you can have
(15:37):
short-term rehab or long-termcare in that room.
For memory care, we will havethe capability to help those
veterans that do have somememory impairment when it comes
to eloping or trying to escape.
Those are the veterans thatneed to be in a locked unit.
We will not be opening withthat at this time.
(15:58):
Our main goal is to get thedoors open as quickly and safely
as we can so that we can helpall the veterans that are out
there at this time that need us.
Larry Zilliox (16:09):
Is there a design element to it that will enable
you to incorporate a memory careunit at a future date?
Yes, okay.
John Wall (16:17):
Yes, and so basically a memory care unit is just a
unit that has the ability to belocked down and there's some
discrepancies with memory careunit.
Just because you go into onedoesn't mean you stay in there
for forever.
I mean you do age and thedisease progresses.
Unfortunately, there's only aone-way slope with it.
(16:38):
At that time those veteranswill be able to join everybody
else and then that will free upa bed that you know a veteran
needs that is eloping at thattime.
But so unfortunately we won'tbe opening with that.
It takes a specialcertification.
I think it has a certification,but it does take special staff
(17:01):
to handle those types ofresidents and their care needs.
Mary Tietjen (17:06):
That's good.
Make sure we protect you, knowthem and get the help they need
eventually.
What brings me to a thought?
You know we talk a lot aboutthe veteran and you know how
they're going to be there andget the assistance for long-term
, short-term, you know, andmaybe for our listeners and even
myself, what if I was alistener and I'm thinking like
(17:26):
well, I have a dad or a mom,that, or an uncle or someone
like that that needs to stay inthis place.
Where do I fit in as a familymember?
Are there certain hours?
Is it open all the time?
Can they stay on the facility?
You know stuff like that.
John Wall (17:41):
So there is no room for anybody to stay.
There's literally the 128 roomsfor the veterans.
But we welcome all familymembers, all visitors, all
volunteers.
I don't believe we've come upwith a certain time frame of you
know hours.
I think it's open.
I think the goal is to have itopen whenever, but obviously be
(18:04):
respectful of others that aregoing to be sleeping or trying
to get ready in the morning andall that kind of stuff, even
though they have their privateroom.
But still, no, we welcome allvisitors and all families.
Larry Zilliox (18:17):
Is there a process in place now for
veterans or family members whothink that a veteran and their
family would be best served bythis facility to sign up for it?
Is there a webpage or is it toosoon for that?
John Wall (18:38):
Not at all.
I have people calling all thetime and whether they need help
now or in the future, we do havean ongoing wait list.
I take very basic informationand I will add them to the wait
list.
When we start making the phonecalls to you know, when we're
ready to rock and roll and startfilling the beds, I will go
(18:59):
down from the top down to makethose phone calls.
And you know there's probablygoing to be some that have not
called in to inform us that theypassed away.
There's going to be others thatyou know decide to go live with
their son or daughter inFlorida and that's where they've
relocated and that's fine.
At that time we'll take themoff the list.
(19:20):
If we come down to somebodythat's, you know, not ready yet,
for whatever reason, they'llremain where they are and I'll
just go to the next individual.
I do have a lot of veterans thatcall in and I ask them if
they're service connected.
Do you know if you have anybenefits?
And we can't help with thatprocess, but I can guide them in
(19:41):
that way.
I started here in this position.
I just hit my six months SinceI've been in this position.
I have met so many people outthere willing to help.
You know whether it's abenefits officer or whether it's
, you know, somebody who dealswith veterans and homelessness.
So I have a lot of contacts andI don't like to just say, oh,
(20:04):
google, this or Google, that Idefinitely guide them in that
way to certain individuals wherethey'll be able to get the help
that they need.
So, whether I put them on thewait list or not, at least I can
give them a little bit of hopeof you know, go here, go there,
and they can get that assistance.
Larry Zilliox (20:22):
Well, our listeners should know that the
Virginia Department of VeteransServices can provide virtually
every service that the VAprovides absent benefits,
financial benefits, soeverything else that the VA
provides its veterans.
(20:44):
The Department of VeteransServices here in Virginia can
provide those services, whetherit's homelessness, job support,
peer counseling,justice-involved veterans If you
have a family member who has aveteran who's in jail or
currently engaged with thejustice system, there are
(21:06):
justice-involved veteran serviceemployees from DVS that can
help.
Employees from DVS that canhelp and I can't spring them
from jail, but they cancertainly help with managing
their caseload and trying tohelp them when they eventually
get out so that they can helpand they're not repeat offenders
(21:29):
.
And you know a lot of thejustice-involved veterans we
have in the Commonwealth arethere because of situations that
they got themselves in, becauseof substance abuse.
They're self-medicating,they're having problems and DVS
can help with that.
So all those resources that youget from the VA are available
(21:51):
from the state as well, and ofcourse, they can help veterans
with claims.
In fact, my claim both myinitial claim and a PAC Act
claim that I had were both filedby DVS for me on my behalf, and
so I'm very familiar with theservices that they offer, and
we've had a number of folks fromDVS in different departments
(22:13):
join us here for episodes, andwe're very fortunate that
they're open to sharinginformation about their services
with us.
What about volunteers?
Are we at a point now wherepeople can call up and say, I
want to volunteer, or shouldthey hold off until maybe
there's a big announcement thatthey're going to open soon or
(22:35):
something?
What would make your job easier?
I don't want to say, hey,volunteer, and then you're
getting a million calls that youcan't do anything with.
So what's going to make yourjob easier?
John Wall (22:48):
Honestly.
I have a spreadsheet that hasmy marketing leads and I have
the waitlist and I have a hugespreadsheet with volunteers.
So if you feel the need thatyou want to give back in any way
, shape or form, give me a call,let me know and I'll definitely
take your information down.
We have not hired yet adirector of life enrichment but
(23:14):
at that time when we do, I amgoing to gladly give that huge
list to that special him or herso I can lighten up my load a
little bit, so I can focus ongetting these veterans in.
Larry Zilliox (23:27):
Here you go, welcome, yeah.
So if you honestly.
John Wall (23:30):
If you feel the need you know, just give me a call,
we can talk about it.
I can jot down your informationand do know that if you do call
and give your name andinformation, you know we do save
it and you will be called andcontacted.
But also, if you want to followup, just give a call.
Larry Zilliox (23:47):
What's the number they should call?
John Wall (23:49):
So the main number for Polar Veterans Care Center?
It's on the website.
Welcome to call that.
Larry Zilliox (23:56):
Okay.
John Wall (23:56):
It comes straight to my cell phone at this time.
There's also an emailpvccadmissionsdvs.
Or at dvsvirginiaorg or gov.
So definitely feel free toreach out at dvsvirginiaorg or
gov.
So definitely, you know, feelfree to reach out at any time.
Larry Zilliox (24:15):
We'll have that information in the show notes
for all of our listeners, and Iknow we're here at the Warrior
Retreat.
We're very excited aboutpartnering with you and one of
the things we were justdiscussing the other day is that
we recently had a luncheon forelderly veterans age 70 and
(24:35):
older, and we focus on theseelderly veterans who have
mobility issues.
They don't get out much and webrought them here to give them a
chance to connect with otherveterans, to connect with
veteran organizations that canhelp them with whether it's food
, insecurity, nova vets we had alot of folks here that could
(25:01):
provide these veterans withservices and we were just
talking about.
Hopefully we'll be able to getsome of the Puller Center
veterans over for lunch in thespring when we do the next one.
We were very excited that wegot 10 veterans elderly veterans
from DC, and there's a programthere where an entire apartment
(25:22):
building has been converted intoveteran housing and they were
all formerly homeless and sothat's one of the things we're
looking forward to, so you canalways find elderly veterans at
a nursing home.
So there's probably not goingto be any shortage and maybe by
the time you fill up, we'll havea couple of these events
(25:44):
throughout the year, so we'revery excited about that.
We just don't have a date foropening yet, do we?
Or?
a target anything.
John Wall (25:52):
Not yet, anywhere from three to eight months.
Larry Zilliox (25:56):
Okay, that's the easiest answer.
So within the year 2025 is theyear we are.
John Wall (26:02):
that is what we are pushing and pulling, that is the
goal, that is their mission,that is our mission.
Mary Tietjen (26:08):
I like it.
I do too Really looking forwardto this.
It'd be good to you know, goover to the Polar Center and
help them out, or bring theveterans here and do something
for them as well.
I'm going to go over and pickout my room Kidding.
Well, I think someone elsewould have something to say
about that.
Larry Zilliox (26:27):
I think you're going to no no, She'll be ready
to get rid of me, Trust me.
Yes, no, that's not a problem.
She'll help me pick out a room.
Let me tell you so well as wesort of wrap this up here Mary,
I can't thank you enough forjoining us, but what's the one
thing you want our listeners toknow the most about the Polar
(26:49):
Veterans Center?
John Wall (26:51):
one thing you want our listeners to know the most
about the Puller Veterans Center.
I want everybody to know that,even though it's taken a long
time to get to even where we aretoday, you know we're doing
everything in our power that wecan to get the doors open safely
, efficiently.
We want to be the best carecenter around for our veterans.
Um, everybody that, all of allof the team, everybody that's on
(27:13):
the team right now, our heartsare so in it.
We're in it to win it.
We're ready to go.
Larry Zilliox (27:19):
Wow.
Well, we wish you all the luckand if, certainly if there's
anything that we can do and I'msure there's not much we can do,
but anything you can think ofthat we can do to help, we're
there for you because this isgoing to be such an important
addition to the community andthe veteran community here and
(27:40):
the community overall, becausewhat we've found here is that
having a place for people tovolunteer to come and interact
with veterans or at leastprovide a service that helps
veterans is something that givesback to the community, and I
(28:00):
can't wait for volunteers to getin there and experience how
what they do has such an impacton others, especially the
veterans who have given so muchfor our country.
So we just really appreciateyou coming.
John Wall (28:15):
Thank you, thank you for having me, thank you very
much.
Mary Tietjen (28:18):
You're welcome.
It's our honor to have you here, so appreciate you being here.
Larry Zilliox (28:22):
So, for our listeners, we'll have another
episode next Monday morning at0500.
Those of you who'd like to getup early and listen to podcasts,
you can find us on all themajor podcast platforms.
We're also on YouTube andWreaths Across America Radio.
So thanks for listening.
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