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VA Pittsburgh Now Offers Mobile Adult Day Health Care

ADHC Mars VFW
Mars VFW Post 7505 Commander Russell Christiana, left, Kari Zana, nurse manager, Dr. Steven Handler, associate chief of staff/ADHC medical director, Jamie Vaughn, associate chief nurse, and Jeston Robinson, interim assistant director, cut the ribbon during the event in June.
By Nathan Ferraro, Public Affairs Volunteer

We are pleased to announce we now offer adult day health care (ADHC) for eligible Veterans at select VFW and American Legion posts. In June, we visited Mars VFW Post 7505 to commemorate our first mobile ADHC program, which allows Veterans to socialize and explore Veteran-oriented organizations.

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System now provides adult day health care to eligible Veterans at select American Legion and VFW posts.

The health care system in June held a ribbon cutting at the Mars VFW Post 7505 in Butler to officially launch its new Adult Day Health Care Mobile Veteran Program (ADHC-MVP).

ADHC-MVP provides Veterans with the opportunity to socialize and participate in various physical activities at American Legion and VFW posts near their homes. It is staff by VA Pittsburgh employees who work with each Veteran and their caregiver to develop individualized care plans.

Prior to the pandemic, VA Pittsburgh provided adult day health care on-site at its H.J. Heinz III campus in O’Hara Township, near Aspinwall. Under the new mobile format, VFW and American Legion Veterans service organizations host the program in their facilities on a rotating basis. The program is currently available at locations in Mars, Natrona Heights, West View, Carnegie and New Kensington. VA Pittsburgh expects to add more sites.

Vincent Sommariva, an Army Special Forces Veteran who attended the ribbon cutting, said having the program close to Veterans’ homes makes it easier for them to participate. It will also help Veterans learn more about VA services.

“When it comes to the VA, there’s a lot of [opportunities] that aren't recognized by Veterans (because they) don’t know what’s available to them,” said Sommariva.

Mars VFW Commander Russell Christiana, a former Army sergeant major with 39 years’ military service, spoke about the importance of Veterans having a place to visit to socialize with their peers.

“That interaction really helps,” said Christiana. “We have [Veterans] that don’t talk a lot, and this gives them the opportunity to interact.”

ADHC-MVP allows Veterans to connect with other Veterans they otherwise might not meet.

The Mars VFW will host the program once weekly. Christiana said he’s optimistic having ADHC-MVP at the Mars VFW will attract more Veterans -- especially younger ones -- to join the VFW.

Veterans must be enrolled in VA health care to participate in the program. For more information, visit VA Pittsburgh Adult Day Health Care Mobile Veteran Program.