07-02-2025
Ruthven Community Care Center approved to accept veterans benefits
RUTHVEN, Iowa (KCAU) — The Ruthven Community Care Center was recently approved as a Veterans Affairs-approved facility, meaning that veterans that use the facility can now use their veterans benefits.
The center first applied to be an approved facility back in May. After they applied, there was a process where the facility's financials were reviewed, as well as survey scores. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also came in for a tour and interview before making a decision to make the center VA-approved.
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The facility was able to start taking veterans benefits on Feb. 1
'It really is a big deal,' Ruthven Community Care Center Administrator Ryan Sikora said. 'It allows the care center to not only give back to those that gave so much for us, but it allows those veterans to utilize those benefits here in a way they hadn't before.'
The Ruthven Community Care Center is one of 33 facilities partnered with the VA out of Sioux Falls, and it may be the smallest of the 33 to accept veterans benefits.
'I would put us on the lower tier of certified beds for a facility of our size, yes, we're actually small. That's why it's surprising they chose us,' Sikora said. 'But ultimately, for what we offer here, I would consider us a big-time facility with what our options are for healthcare here.'
Being a smaller community-based facility, it also means they can be more flexible to help veterans get the help they need.
'If there is a service that we don't offer that the veteran would potentially need, we'll find that,' Director of Nursing Sarah Rabel said. 'We'll find that, we'll find a way so that they can get the care that they need.'
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Besides the costs of healthcare, being VA-approved makes it easier for veterans to access the healthcare they need.
'Being able to utilize those benefits that they so rightfully deserve takes a lot of the burden off,' Rabel said. 'Whether it comes to paying for their transportation, the VA helps with that. Setting up doctor's appointments, medications. All those things that go into the cost. You're not able to accept those benefits if you're not fully vetted and partnered with a VA facility.'
Right now, the Ruthven Community Care Center has 13 veterans who are able to apply to use veterans affairs benefits.
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