Fresno Veterans Home wants to fill new residential care facility

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- After listening to a short Memorial Day ceremony outside the Fresno Veterans Home, World War Two veteran Jack Tolladay was fed hamburgers and cherry pie. Tolladay says all of the food at the home is good.

And so is life, whether he's just watching TV or practicing his short game on the artificial turf. But life wasn't always easy before he applied to live at the Fresno Veterans Home.

"It was tough," he said. They talk about getting used to it, you don't."

After his wife died, Tolladay lived alone in a double-wide trailer for five years. Truitt Dixon, another World War Two vet, found himself in a similar situation.

"I had lost my wife, living by myself, so I just applied for it, and I got in...I was one of the first ones to come down here," Dixon said.

Both men say the home is a wonderful place, where they're well taken care of. And that's the message the home has for any other vets as they try and attract more to live here, in the new residential care facility for the elderly, unit four.

Unit four has 60 rooms, and a common kitchen and library. Fresno Veterans Home Public Information Officer Julie Cusator says it's affordable.

"Basically we charge veterans on a sliding scale," she said. "It's based upon their income. And to live here in the RCFE it's 55% of their income."

That includes room board medical care, and activities-and activities are important, she says.

"The last thing we want to do is have them coming in here and sit around and watch TV and be inactive," Cusator said. "We want to keep them active and keep them alive and vibrant and create a dynamic living environment for them."

To apply, you must be a California resident, be 55 or older or be permanently disabled, and you must have an honorable discharge from the military.

To start the application process, click here.