St. Cloud VA Celebrates 100 Years, Highlights Shift Towards Mental Health Focus

(KNSI) – American flags lined the stately front lawn of the St. Cloud VA Medical Center on Saturday, welcoming visitors to the facility’s 100th anniversary celebration.

A resource fair helped enroll eligible veterans for care and spotlighted different VA programs. One of the busiest booths was caregiver support. Manager Jess Behrends says caring for a loved one with dementia or other conditions is a learning experience in and of itself.

“They have complex or multiple needs, and it’s really easy for caregivers to put themselves second, third, last, and they forget to do their own health appointments, take a breather, [or] access respite.”

Behrends says caregivers range from spouses and other family members to neighbors or friends. She says the dynamic between the veteran receiving treatment and who is providing the care matters. “There are absolutely different factors depending on the relationship to the veteran. So, an adult child, they’re suddenly put in a situation where they’re caring for their parent. Big role reversal, right? A spouse, even they’re changing a role from being a spouse and a partner to being a caregiver now.”

The program offers monthly support groups, education, and a specialized focus on caregivers looking after someone with dementia.

The resource fair included a live demonstration of tai chi, one of the activities put on by the whole health program. At the adult day care booth, a wooden dragonfly was displayed that had been made by one of the veterans enrolled there. Staff discussed their most recent project, a highly detailed dollhouse fully furnished with beds and kitchen appliances.

The results of a local and national art competition and a suicide prevention walk provided more evidence of the shift in focus at the VA to include mental health.

Veterans put on a concert at the oval parking lot in the lead-up to a program featuring remarks from local politicians like Mayor Dave Kleis and U.S. congressional representatives. Dr. Carolyn Clancy, the Veterans Health Administration Assistant Undersecretary for Health for Discovery, Education, and Affiliate Networks, gave the keynote address.

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