Robert E. Spiller Veterans Center prepares to welcome first residents, continues hiring ahead of opening

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A new facility dedicated to caring for Kentucky veterans is preparing to open its doors in Bowling Green.

The Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veterans Center is nearing completion and will soon begin welcoming veterans who need skilled nursing care.

Administrator Jason Gumm said the mission of the facility is centered around honoring those who served.

“Our mission is to serve Kentucky’s veterans by fostering independence, preserving dignity and providing compassionate care,” Gumm said.

The 60-bed facility will provide long-term skilled nursing care for eligible Kentucky veterans. To qualify for admission, veterans must be Kentucky residents, not dishonorably discharged and meet the required level of skilled care.

Gumm said what separates the facility from other long-term care centers is that it is a state-operated facility dedicated exclusively to veterans, while also offering higher staffing ratios and resources focused on individualized care.

The new center features private suites with individual bathrooms, therapy areas, activity spaces and a restaurant-style dining experience designed to give residents a greater sense of dignity and independence.

“We want to make sure that we serve them because they served us,” Gumm said.

Inside the facility, residents will live in four different neighborhoods named after Kentucky landmarks and traditions: Corvette Lane, Derby Drive, Bourbon Boulevard and Bluegrass Way.

Each neighborhood includes artwork and design elements that match its theme, creating a more personalized environment for veterans who call the facility home.

Gumm said the goal is for the center to feel less like a traditional healthcare facility and more like home.

“We want the veterans to feel like, hey, this is your home. There’s no barriers. You can go where you want to go,” Gumm said.

The facility also includes a dining area, therapy room with views of the surrounding Kentucky landscape, a large multipurpose activity room and an on-site bank designed to help veterans manage their personal finances while maintaining independence.

While construction on the facility is complete, officials are finishing final inspections and preparing to build the team that will care for residents.

The center is currently hiring registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, security officers, dietary workers, cooks, housekeepers and other support staff.

Gumm said nurses working second and third shifts could earn between $45 and $50 per hour when combining base pay, locality premiums and shift differentials.

“Our biggest controllable thing that we have is that staffing part,” Gumm said.

Those interested in employment opportunities at the Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veterans Center can visit the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs website at https://veterans.ky.gov/Veterans-Centers/Pages/Bowling-Green.aspx.

Applicants can also search for open positions through the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s job portal by selecting Warren County and looking for Veterans Center positions.

Gumm said the people who join the team will have the opportunity to be part of a mission-driven workplace.

“When you have a great mission, you have an engaged workforce, and then you have a good culture, you can really make something special,” Gumm said.

Officials are targeting the middle of August for the first veteran admissions, pending final approvals and staffing levels. An open house is expected after the first resident is admitted, giving veterans, families and community members an opportunity to see the new facility.

The Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veterans Center is one of five state veterans homes in Kentucky, expanding long-term care options for veterans across the Commonwealth.